My 6-year-old, who will be in first grade this fall, learned to read rather early (age 3), and has been a strong and avid reader ever since. He scored in the 99th percentile on his standardized reading test in kindergarten and currently reads some pretty advanced series for his age: the Chronicles of Narnia, Magic Tree House, a bunch of nonfiction NatGeo books, etc. I received his summer reading list in the mail, and by the time the school year starts, first graders are required to have read a certain series of very easy books - about the level of Green Eggs and Ham. We'll do the assignment as asked, of course, but he's so bored with what he calls "baby books" that I know it'll be hard to get him enthused about writing the reports he has to turn in (we struggled with that in kindergarten).
In addition, parents are asked to read their child some books that they can comprehend on a listening level but may not be able to read themselves. My problem is that he can read virtually anything, adult books included. Even if the content is over his head, he has no trouble with most of the actual words. Anything I could read him that he couldn't read on his own would be completely unsuitable for kids.
I'm unsure about how to handle this. By the time we know who his teacher will be, the assignments will have been done. Should I talk to the principal, assuming I can reach her over the summer? As other parents of advanced kids know, it is very hard to raise legitimate concerns about your child without coming across as smug or bragging - definitely not my intent. I don't want to ruffle feathers first thing in the school year, but I also want to be sure he's appropriately challenged.
So many great suggestions! Thank you all! We have every intention of doing the assignment - I was just trying to figure out how to make it fun instead of something he dreads. The idea of having him read to younger kids is a great one! I'm pretty confident in his ability to understand the more advanced material he's reading - we talk about his books all the time. I think he would definitely love some higher-level nonfiction books.
He's advanced in areas such as science and math as well, not just in reading (the other day he asked me what algebra was and I explained it, and before I knew it he was inventing algebra problems for me). Something tells me we might deal with similar situations throughout his school years, so I am glad to have these tips in my tool kit.
try the non fiction area of the childrens library. I get lots of good kid books there.. there are science books for kids -written for early elementary level. my kids have learned a lot from these books.. I still read to them even though they can read.
they love books about weather, facts about animals.. etc.. lots of topics.
Honestly - I would contact the teacher (or principal) and explain to her what he is reading. I would let her know that the summer is for fun - reading is fun - not for work and then I would NOT DO THE REPORTS. There is ZERO evidence that homework is beneficial to elementary school children. I suspect there is even less evidence that summer work is of any value.
My boys are advanced readers, too, and I teach AP Language, so I'm used to working with g/t students, although they are much older than your son. The approach we have taken with our boys is that they do the assignments they are given in school, and if they breeze through them, fine. That gives them more free time to read the more challenging books that they enjoy. They have also benefitted from excellent teachers/programs that have challenged them appropriately.
I do agree with others who have mentioned that it would be a good idea to discuss the books with your son to be sure he is comprehending well. So many kids read the words and zip right through books, but don't comprehend what they are reading. That becomes a big issue in about 2nd grade, and a much bigger issue if it isn't corrected.
Once your son's teacher gets to know him next year, and realizes his abilities, hopefully s/he will challenge him appropriately challenge him, either by adapting the curriculum in the classroom, or through a g/t program.
Good luck! It sounds like you are a wonderful mom who is looking out for her son. :)
Have him read those books, just in case they come up for discussion in the upcomming year. Then go to a library or bookstore and ask their advice for books that are good for his advanced reading skills, and have age appropriate content.
good luck to you and yours,
F. B.
Let him read books that interest him but ALSO fulfill the assignment for the summer. He can read the "baby books" to another child. If you let him not do the assignment, then you are sending a message to him that "I don't have to because I am advanced, etc". NOT saying you are doing that at all.
It is great that he is so advanced but you still need to balance things out, make sure he comprehends, make sure he reads aloud well, and also keep up with math, science, etc.. It is not all about reading.... the children need a good balance and with time, they usually even out.
Good luck!
www.scholastic.com under the parents section has summer reading list suggestions - check it out, then go to your library and see what they have that is on the list or simmilar.
My daughter is 10 now and going into 5th grade. We still read to her every day, because she loves it! She was slow to learn to read, so earlier on, we read to her a lot!! Then, in 3rd grade she suddenly excelled in reading and is now a top reader in her class. She still loves to be read to, even if it's a book she is perfectly capable of reading herself. Reading together is "together" time.
Just because your son CAN read a book by himself, doesn't mean you both can't enjoy you reading it to him.
I don't see the problem. Throw away the list and go get him some more books!
We are often in the same boat -- both my kids are advanced readers. If your school district has a gifted and talented office, I would contact them and tell them your concerns. We are in a large school district that operates that office all summer and is very receptive to questions like this. If it were I, I would give the books you are supposed to read to your child to read, but I would read it along with him on your own, book club style, and discuss it with him when he's done to be sure his comprehension is where it should be. Include that he should create discussion questions for you just as much as you should for him. I suspect you will find the challenges of his "gifts" only just starting.
Time to visit the children's librarian at your local library and ask for a talk about books that are both age-appropriate and at his reading level. This can be tough. You want to keep him interested, but the things he is able to read are not necessarily things you would want him to read -- believe me. My daughter has always been a very advanced reader and could read a lot of "young adult" fiction but much of it contains subject matter I don't want for her yet.
As for the school list: I would bet that the school is just not going to deal with this over the summer if you call. If you ask the principal, he or she is likely to say, "Sorry, but this is a topic you'll need to take up with the classroom teacher in the fall." If he must read these books, have him do it quickly; make them as engaging as you can by talking with him about them (don't just read, for instance, "Green Eggs and Ham," but read it with him and then talk about rhythm and rhyme in language, find some other more complex examples like the kids' poems of Jack Prelutsky or Shel Silverstein, and so on). In other words -- get through this list and expand on it with him at home, rather than just having him see it as a chore.
When school starts, talk with the teacher about your concerns about his being bored. Keep a close eye on it. Our first school had a reading specialist who not only helped remedial readers but had special weekly sessions for kids who were highly advanced readers -- these kids did small plays, read poetry, etc., with the specialist. It was a good way to challenge kids who were academically advanced but not old enough yet for any gifted and talented program through the school. See if your school has a reading specialist on staff and if that person does more than teach remedial reading and might offer some more challenge to your son and other kids.
It's early in the summer. I'd have a reading list week, in which my child would polish off the stuff on the list, just to say it had been done.
Perhaps he could invite some younger friends over and read the books to them - accompanied by refreshments, of course. The boy can have the great experience of reading aloud, with expression, to toddlers who *love* "Green Eggs and Ham"! (And the refreshments to go with that book could be interesting.)
The rest of the summer I'd let him read upper-level books, and together we'd also pick some books that I would read to him, because listening is a different skill from reading to oneself - maybe some classics, like "Treasure Island," which is a great read-aloud book.
At the end of the summer I would make a list of everything that was done/read/listened to and turn the list in to the teacher privately. I wouldn't say much about it to anyone else beyond, "Yes, he got the reading list done, too."
I know you are not bragging. Raising a gifted child is not easy. I raised two of them. As for reading, I would find either books on history or science that are on the adult level for your child. There are many non-fiction books such as biographies for your first grader to read. I would also use some of your time during the summer purusing museums. My kids absolutely adored them. Best of luck with your bright little one. You have a lot of rewards coming your way by encouraging his gifts and talents. My children are now grown. They are successful professionals who love education.
K.
Licensed Teacher
Hi! My husband read to our kids every night into their teens, even when he was away on business. The Bible (first the little kid version, later the adult), all of the Wizard of Oz books, The Lord of the Rings, all of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe, oh, many, many books over the years. Take the school out of it and make it a family event, he will get much more out of it. There is nothing comparable to the love of reading, making it a chore only makes kids hate it. Have fun!
The suggestions to read and discuss the reading list books are good ones.
As for the other - the "read some books they can comprehend...but may not be able to read themselves..." ; I think you are taking the assignement too literally. This is probably a blanket statement to all of the parents, to encourage them to expose their children to something other than very basic children's books. There are an awful lot of parents who have to be reminded to read to their children. It sounds like this is not a problem for you. In this case, just keep reading what you guys like. He is being exposed already, to exactly what you are being asked to introduce him to, so you are already there.
Congratulations on having a great reader! Enjoy!
My son was reading extremely advanced books in Kindergarten-beyond even the Treehouse type books, but still loved picture books too. Green eggs and Ham and Skippy Jpn Jones and books like that would crack him up. Heck, he STILL laughs at those books. So don't assume that your chilid would not like them or agree with him about them being baby books. Read them and have fun with it! If you have a younger sibling or neighbor have him read to them. But then supplement with books that are at a higher level so that he will have some challenge. But keep in mind that just because he CAN read something doesn't mean he SHOULD. I learned this after being reprimanded for letting my son read the Wimpy Kid series in Kindergarten.
Ah yes, in kinder there was a young boy who was reading on a 5th grade level at the end of the year, even more advanced. They allowed him to read on his level etc.. But the school librarian did have to request books from the middle school also.. She said the main problem were the subject matter.
It needed to interest him, but his emotional development and some of the subject matters were not always appropriate.
I agree to go to the main Library in your city and make an appt to meet or to at least communicate with the children's librarian for suggestions..
Also if you have a good local book store, see if you can speak with the children's and teen book buyer..
Here in Austin Book People ((800) 853-9757) is an amazing locally owned book store.. Their children and youth sections are always spot on..
Take him to the library and speak with the Children's librarian for suggestions. Explain your situation and he or she can direct you to more challenging books. i wouldn't concern myself with ruffling feathers the first day of school, he can continue to read more challenging material throughout the school year in addition to his required reading, my daughter always did.
I liked the suggestion of having your son read these "baby books" to a younger child. My boys often help me babysit. My six year old reads all his old board books to the toddlers. He feels very grown up helping me this way, he gets to practice reading, and I get them all out of my hair!
Have him maybe write the reports comparing/contrasting the books. Maybe set a goal for him...make it a game. We had to do this with our advanced reader...she hated the "baggy books"...she'd bring it home read it and say "too easy"...so we chose to enhance her writing skills by comparing it to a more advanced book maybe on the same topic. She liked that. She'll be in 2nd grade in the fall.
How about Roald Dahl books? I read James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 1st grade and loved them!
I was an early reader too, but I remember still loving picture books well into 3rd grade. So he might still enjoy those too.
A funny thing that happened though is that as I got older and more advanced at reading in 1st grade I started reading Judy Blume which eventually led to furtive stealing of my mom's novels (think racy airport paperbacks) which were not always child-friendly material, LOL!
I definitely say you should read with him for the "read TO him" assignment. Take turns alternating pages, or just read it at bedtime TO him as a chapter a night bedtime story.
I'd go with something like "The Hobbit". If he enjoys that (and most kids like your son probably would--meaning, he's going to have the kind of attention span to actually listen and keep up with it, especially if YOU are a good reader also--one who does "voices" and really animates the story)... then you could move on to "The Lord of the Rings".
ETA: by the way. I read a LOT to my own kids when they were smaller. They are almost 14, and 11 tomorrow. Just this morning, they were sitting on the sofa waiting on me (getting ready to go to the water park) and had gotten out some of their old books. One read The Tale of Ms. TiggyWinkle to the other, and then the other one read The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin to the first one. They were two of their favorite Beatrix Potter stories when they were little. And it was so fun to come out and hear them reading to each other. They were being silly of course, but how fun! Those are such neat books too.
Ask your Librarian for some 2nd - 3rd grade suggestions.
As for you reading a book to him, have him read a book to you. Counts the same.
I would do as you are doing and read the required books. Don't call them baby books, he definitely won't do it then. I like the suggestion of reading them to younger kids, or if you are friends with some of the kids from school maybe they could read them together, then act them out in a play... make it fun! My oldest is not as high of a reader as your son, but he is reading about 2 grade levels above where he should be. He actually enjoys reading some of the simpler books now and then and finds things in them that he forgot from when he was younger or understands better now.
As for the reading to him... I think the schools goal is to expose these young children to more literature. In general most incoming 1st graders are not ready for chapter books and such. I think they are hoping that the parents would take the time to expose them to age-appropriate harder reading materials by reading them aloud. Since his reading level is so high, I would stick to age appropriate books to read aloud to him. Share some books that were your favorites when you were young. Even good readers enjoy listening to a good story. At this point we usually have two chapter books going at once- one that my son reads by himself and one that I read aloud at bedtime.
Read hi m The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane! He'll LOVE reading it with you. Great book.
Have him whip through the easy books in a day and then read what he wants.
My daughter was/is a great reader as well. I was completely unsuccessful in having the school challenger her in elementary school although she did have a GIEP and was in the gifted program.
My advice to you is to challenge him yourself and take him to your local library frequently.
FYI... Middle school was much more challenging since the kids were tracked by their ability. Therefore, my daughter was able to take honor classes for all main subjects with other "gifted" kids.
Knowing how to read is one thing. Understanding what is read is another. How is his ability to comprehend what was read? How can he properly and effectively express his understanding in the written form?
How are his math skills? Being a well rounded student requires many skills and it is so much more than just being able to read. My guess is your role would be to show him that along the way. Much success to you and your little one.
