reading stamina

[3bunnies]

Ds is 5 and in reception. He can read early chapter books - although basically his teacher said he can read almost any word he can sound out and once read he can recognise it again. If he doesn't understand a word he will ask. She said that his phonics understanding was very good too so not just based on sight words. I do know if he is g&t but thought you folks might be most likely to have experience of this.

He doesn't like to read for a long time. He will do short bursts but certainly not the school's 20mins. I don't make him do this, I figure that he is already ahead of his classmates and reading far more in 5 min than they do in 20 min. He might do that across a whole day though and he does read for pleasure (mainly non-fiction) as well as the school books. I am currently trying to encourage him to read to himself as well as to us. Is not wanting to read for long normal for his age?

His sisters had very different early experience of reading - dd1 was probably about his level at the end of yr2 but would at that stage then curl up with a book and just read it. Dd2 is in yr3, a little behind ds in reading now and reads with tinted glasses, she has never willingly read for anything like 20mins. I guess that is the bit I am concerned about with ds as he is in some ways similar to her (hates bright lights, travel sick etc), I am concerned that his good reading could mask other issues such as Irlen's syndrome. On the other hand he is only 5 and maybe 5yr olds aren't made to read that amount of information in 20 minutes. He still enjoys having picture books read to him at bedtime rather than chapter books.

If your dc was reading fairly fluently at this age did they read for long periods of time or just short bursts?

[3bunnies]

Sorry should read 'don't know if he is G&T'

[Tzibeleh]

My dc were all good readers, though not quite as early as yours. Two of them went through reading rebellions where they either refused to read at all, or refused to read for more than a couple of minutes, or refused to read books at their levels, etc. Both times the teacher said not to push it. Far more important was to help them keep their pleasure in books and not turn them off reading. As long as they wanted to interact with reading in some form, whether that was through listening, browsing, reading (anything: comics, cereal packets, road signs) they would come back to reading when they were ready.

She was right.

[Roisin]

In my mind it's about bridging the gap between being a fluent, capable reader and becoming a lifelong lover of books. IMO the best way to achieve this is for you reading more challenging/exciting/stimulating material to him at bedtime. If he wants you to continue reading picture books occasionally, then great, fine. But try moving on to chapter books. You can ask him to read a paragraph or a page to you from time-to-time. Then also leave the story on a cliffhanger, but when he begs you to continue, tell him he may read on himself (half an hour lights on time).

Don't be constrained by modern children's books either. At 5 we were reading The Hobbit and the Railway Children and similar to ds1, as well as Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton, Dick King Smith, Horrid Henry, etc.

[3bunnies]

Thanks for the tips, I don't push him to read, we try to read every day because the school ask us to but he doesn't have to read for 20mins, he reads for as long as he wants to, I am just aware that he hasn't reached that tipping point of loving reading. He reads and comments on everything when we are out (he loved the (s) elf checkout signs in Sainsbury's). He is asking to read harder books but he is happy to just read a few pages and then stop.

I think you are right Roisin we need to read more challenging books to him. He loved having the Hobbit read over the summer holidays. I suppose I am imprinting my experience of the girls who didn't really have chapter books read to them until yr1. Having said that they are younger in the year.

[Mistigri]

I think this just takes much longer with some kids than with others, depending on their particular interests and abilities.

My DD started reading at 3 and within weeks she was reading simple chapter books - by her fourth birthday she was reading long books alone (Narnia, famous five etc). Around age 4 I have vivid memories of her puking blackberry crumble all over the car because she couldn't put her book down on a windy road :-/

DS was also an early reader but progressed much more slowly - able to read most words and sentences by reception age, simple chapter books in small doses by age 5, longer ones (ROald Dahl type difficulty) not until maybe age 7. He read more non fiction and comic-book type literature (we're in France where comic books are popular and often excellent) - both of these require much less reading stamina. He is a good but not exceptional reader now and still prefers non-fiction.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

I would get him to see a behavioural optometrist myself. my eldest could read beautifully before starting school, was capable of reading chapter books etc BUT she could literally read about 3 pages before completely crashing and reading words and letters in completely the wrong order, rubbing her eyes terribly and so on. fast forward to coloured glasses and stamina increased greatly. she couldn't see half the letters clearly and was having to work so incredibly hard to read that it was exhausting. If your daughter is the same then it does sound likely your son is too.

I should add that DD1 says regularly - "I want to like reading but it is just so tiring for my eyes" so she rarely reads for pleasure. She loves listening to stories and sometimes we have days where once she gets started reading she will read for ages but she does struggle with her eyes (she is also long sighted and has an adjustment problem but no convergence issues)

[3bunnies]

nonickname that is what I am concerned about. With dd2 it seems to have really delayed her learning to read. She was screened for dyslexia (and I know that it isn't the same as a full assessment) and there were no signs of problems with her auditory processing and phonics knowledge. Having the glasses though seems to make a huge difference for her.

We hadn't quite finished the Hobbit, so we read some more of that today. Ds read about a page. He doesn't seem to have the same problem with the word size that dd2 has. Her eyesight is 20:20 but she likes to read with a magnifier and tinted glasses, and that is on fairly large print. If there is a problem with ds then it clearly isn't as severe but it is good to be aware. He never seems fatigued and doesn't complain, just decides he's had enough and stops.

I might watch and wait for a few months as he may click more as he gets more used to chapter book formats (he is getting a few for Christmas). If not I will get him tested too.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

I think just keep an eye on it.

yes DD passed the dyslexia screening too, and her phonological awareness or whatever it is called was excellent and way beyond her age when her SALT tested it (she has a language problem which is often linked with dyslexia and dyspraxia - sometimes she can see sh or th and read sh or th in her head but can only say h or s, or t. or other times can see a letter in the word but can't say it - very odd)

[iKnackered]

DS is the same age and similar reading ability. He is daunted by chapter books so we've stuck to picture books. There is no rush to read chapter books, for some, there is too much text on the page or not enough pictures...or simply not the interest.
DS likes reading but he doesn't love it. His stamina is short but then he is only 5, he can manage picture books but I can see the time taken to read a chapter book is off putting.

[3bunnies]

I know, in many ways they are still in the target audience for picture books, so don't want him growing up too quickly. With all his siblings older than him it would mean the end of picture books in our house :( . He has been enjoying reading The Hobbit. He reads a page and I read 5-6. It is extending his vocabulary and stretching his comprehension. With no pictures he is having to rely on the words. I think though for the next book I am going to encourage an easier one. It was his idea for him to read, but it is a bit beyond him still. I guess that the great thing is that he has the luxury of time until the others catch up.

The behavioural optometrist recommended waiting until dd2 was 7/8 so that is probably a good yardstick, I guess it is just the other markers of photophobia and travel sickness which makes me cautious.

[3bunnies]

Just to update the thread he is now enjoying Harry Potter, he reads a page and we read some back to him. His teacher is happy for him to be a free reader at home and they have some more books in class for him to read too. He is finding it more stretching and he loves adding to his vocabulary. He chooses each night between non-fiction, HP and shorter chapter books.

[CastlesInTheSand]

Sounds to me like he might have convergence insufficiency.

It can make your eyes sore after you read for a while.

Engaging Eyes helps with convergence problems.

[3bunnies]

Ds is now happily reading chapter books. He tends to have 3 or 4 books on the go at one time and will split his time between them. He is reading Paddington, the Wombles and a Deadly 60 book at the moment. He is itching to read the second Harry Potter which dd2 is currently ploughing through. He also sometimes gets his old picture books out and will read 6 or 7 in one sitting. He says that reading is his favourite thing and will sit for hours on end reading if we let him. I think that it is safe to say that he now loves reading.

Dd2 has been using engaging eyes and has made good progress on it and with her reading.