At what age could you read/write... and what are your academic/professional qualifications?

[wonderingwondering]

And do you think reading young is generally linked to greater academic/professional achievement overall? Whether that is because of intelligence, nurture, an innate love of or aptitude for reading/learning? Or are the two completely unrelated?

Habbibu, that has been my starting point - we've got DS down for a prep school as at that point (7-ish) I'd like him to move to a more academic environment. Until then, I like the idea of him playing, and learning about the things around him.

I say I benefitted from reading early, but as others on here have mentioned, being top of the class isn't always the best place to be. I never had to stretch myself, until I started my law degree and realised that there are actually quite a lot of clever people around. And there's a lot to be said for being more rounded.

And if the ability is there, surely reading earlier won't make a difference overall? But it does seem there's a lot of early readers on this thread, with some pretty impressive outcomes!

I was reading at 5/6yo
Writing at the same age I think.

I done 9 Gcse's and the highest grade was a C, the lowest a F.

I could read aged 3 and at 8 had a recorded reading age of 15 (just asked my mum!). I wrote short stories and drew pictures to illustrate them all the time. I passed 11 plus and went to an oldschool Grammar.

BUT I am a complete numpty and scraped an average amount of O levels and A Levels.
I don't have a degree but I have a professional qualification.
I am no longer working in that field and no work for barely over minimum wage. I never cease to be amazed at how ignorant I am. I also have a crap memory, so no matter how much I read (and I read constantly), none of it is ever retained.

MillyR, that is a good point about writing and motor skills.

I started reading at age four and always had a reading age way in advance of actual age - although as far as I can remember comprehension was never checked.

I have a BA Hons in Modern Languages, a Post-graduate Diploma in Translation Studies and am due to start PGCE in September.

In my case I wouldn't say I have achieved academic or professional "greatness" but I still love reading.

how old is your DS? If you read him stories every night and do 10 mins of phonics a day he'll learn to read without you even noticing. There will still be plenty of time for playing.

I am going to work with lots of Scandinavian people this Summer, and I am going to ask exactly how they teach their children to read. I have seen tv programmes about it, and Scandinavian teachers seem to be teaching very young children how to break down words into phonics, during action games. They are teaching reading but without books or flash cards, which presumably come in later. They also did letter recognition by making plasticine letters and drawing letters in sand. So I am never convinced by this idea that they do no reading work until 7. It just seems that they don't do formal reading and writing.

But I don't really know, which is why I want to find out.

so what the hell went wrong with me then?

I could read short sentences before I was 3, and was on chapter books by 4, but wasn't writing until I started school at nearly 6.

I have a BA (Hons) in law, a PGCE and an MA in translation. I definitely feel I've always been more literary than mathematical (can remember really struggling with maths in year 1 and never quite "got" it) and this has influenced my career paths.

I could read and write before 4 years old, although I'm not sure at exactly what age. I was a voracious reader as a child.

I won a scholarship to an independent school, got top GCSEs, A Levels and S Levels, have a degree from Oxford, an MA from London, and qualified as a lawyer (but never practiced).

My brain has dribbled away since having children though.

I could read at 3 and write at 4.

I have a first degree in law, a second degree in political science & journalism, I'm an NCTJ-qualified journalist and have just been accepted on to a masters course.

I have always loved and felt comfortable with words. Hideously bad at maths, however. Never got it. Still don't

I can't remember in the slightest! Don't think I would read before I went to school. I was probably having a go at writing beforehand. I have GCSEs, A Levels and a degree in teaching. Have done other courses since.

DH def couldn't read before school. Not sure about writing. DH has GCSEs, A Levels and a law degree, plus solicitors exams.

IME the age you learn to read/write has no bearing on future academic ability. Certainly doesn't seem the case for the people I know.

MillyR, I'm really interested in what you say about the scandinavian methods.

I tend to do things like read the road signs, shop names, so picking up phonics from things around us. For example, he saw my peach and apricot yoghurt pot and asked is that peach and apple - he recognised the 'ap' in apricot. Which is all fine, I'm happy with what he's doing, and I've made it clear to his school that on the couple of days he's there, I don't want him sat down at a desk being 'taught'. But I was taught in a much more focussed way from a younger age, and I wondered whether reading and so on from a young age actually makes any difference overall.

How on Earth do you all know that you were reading early unless your mums told you! No rose tinted glasses of course. Einstein was a late reader.

I know because, urm, I can remember.

Hulababy, I do remember quite vividly being taught before I went to school. And I know I was always ahead of the others, in most things. But I think that was exceptional then, and even more so now, with the idea that formal learning might be better at a later age.

But then on the other hand, the (contentious) new Early Years Foundation Skills suggest that 25% of 5 year-olds should be able to write and use simple punctuation. Which when I look at my DS, seems madness, but when I think back to what I did, seems attainable.

I can't remember much about being 3, certainly not reading. Perhaps I am just too old. (sigh)

I think it is nicest if you teach him the reading so that he can have fun at Montessori school with his friends. Both of mine were in state school. They went into a mixed nursery/reception class full days the September after they were 3. Neither seemed to do much formal work or sitting at desks; it was almost all play for 2 years.

I taught them both reading, writing and maths at home. I used a fox glove puppet that always got the words wrong and thought everything was about chickens. My DD would correct him. This was during reception year. She learnt a year later than DS, but she loves to read and write now (8).

So 3,4,5,6... it probably doesn't matter!

Cornsilk, on the other hand, being taught is about the only thing I can remember before I was about 6 or 7, so perhaps that rather makes my point that it is best just to play until then!

I could read, just, when I started in reception - I remember sitting on the sofa deciphering a Puddle Lane book at the age of 3 or so. Didn't really take off until I started school, but learnt very quickly - I was off the chart at the age of 8.

I have a 1st from Oxford (also Lit Hum, tigerdriver!). But I am very, very lazy.

I clearly remember the day I recognised words properly. I was at Montessori and one of the teachers was reading something off a blackboard in the staff room and I realised I knew what the words were.

And I remember the first time I read a book myself. It was called something like 'the little hedgehog'.

I was a fluent reader on starting school at 4. August birthday.

I have a DipHE level qualification - wanted to be a social worker and that was the industry qualification then so stopped there.

My brother on the other hand was a late reader, had lots of problems learning - probably was 8 before he really could read. Hated school, came out with literally nothing. Now he makes his living as a writer and was recently invited over to guest lecture some uni students as his most recent book is on their reading list. He's also the most highbrow, knowledgable-about-everything person that I know.

So FWIW I really believe that a nurturing environment at home, accepting the child for what they are and NEVER hanging their worth on what they acheive at school, is the way to go!!!

I can remember watching Mungo, Mary and Midge but I don't think that counts as a learning experience despite the alliteration.

wonderingwondering - I haven't questioned if/how others can remember. Just commenting that I haven't the slightest idea whether I could or couldn't before school, nor whether anyone at school could either.

But I still don't think early reading leads to high future achievement. Just thinking of the people I know of and it doesn't seem to be related.

I agree with smallchanges. I found primary school very easy and I think you can get in a habit of coasting through life if your personality is such. So overall doing really well must be a combination of intelligence AND effort.

I suspect reading young per se isn't hugely important.

Not all kids can be taught to read young. Some have got their priorities right and are determined to use that time for playing . Go them.

A certain type of parent pushes their kids to learn to read early. I doubt that once their kid learns to read they will then sit back and say "well now dear, you can read, so off you go and play as much as you like.". For better or worse, the attitude to academic learning in households that push pre-school reading will generally differ to those who are more relaxed about it, and this will rub off on the kids.

Also, some kids are just more interested in books than others. I suspect that there is some correlation to family interest in reading, and I think especially to parents themselves reading for pleasure (I think a lot of people overlook that one) but I think its worth recognising that some kids are just more interested in other forms of storytelling, or ways of getting information and some just are not that into stories.