Advice on Preschooler Reading

My daughter is four and a half and has been reading well since January. She had started asking to read so I taught her. I think anytime a child expresses an interest in something go for it. She is in pre-school three days a week for 2-1/2 hours a day and it hasn't affected her behavior. Now she is a little on the shy side and has a type A personality, she does not like to break the rules. So that may have more to do with it. If he is getting bored, have him start cursive writing when he is doing his sheets. My daughter has started that on her own at school, I'm not even sure where she saw it b/c I alway print, so maybe she does get a little bored but can find a way around it. I know you had a bad experience with that teacher, but don't let that hold your son back from learning. Tell the teachers that as long as he has completed his assigned task to allow him to him to print other words or draw- whatever as long as it doesn't distract the other children.

I agree with the other posters. It's best to keep him learning even if it means he may be ahead of the class.
On another note, you may want to read some information on gifted children. See if some of the gifted criteria matches your child. Once I figured out that connection with my own child, my attitude towards her changed. I used to keep her back from learning (I would think, "Why would a 4 year old need to know that?"), but I realized that she was thirsting for knowledge and challenges. She has a right to learn and grow just like everyone else. Life got so much easier once my attitude changed. Now when ever she gets bord, I have a list of science activites that she can do. I also keep lots of craft supplies so she can create her own books, etc.
One of the best resources for gifted kids is http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/

B.-
I don't know that I have any "advice", but I'm in the same predicament. My son is 3 now, but when he was 2, I decided that he needed to start developing his socialization skills, so he started preschool. While he was home with me, I taught him sign language (about 100 words), shapes, colors and letters. When he started school, he already knew all the letters, shapes and colors, so his loving teacher had to find something else for him to do during that segment of the day because he'd yell out the answers before any of the other children could even open their mouths. I refused to "dumb him down", but we couldn't have him showing up the other kids every day either. The solution that we came up with was that he could be her "Big Boy Helper". He was to be quiet unless somebody needed help, and then he was allowed to whisper the answer in their ear. It made him feel good, and it didn't take away from the learning experience of the other children. Maybe if you teach your son to read, he can be a "Big Boy Helper", too!

I feel for you and your son... I have a 4 yo son too, in the exact same situation. Teach him to read... why would you not if he's ready?!? Just to accomidate a pre-school's lesson plan? You may very well have a gifted child who is just very ahead of the pack. Don't stifle his thirst for knowledge because it's not what other kids his age aren't doing the same thing.

If you're in a good preschool program, and your son is already reading, they can ask him to help read to the class. That's what my son did, and it worked out well for everyone. The kids loved that he read to them, and he wasn't bored, and felt special because he could help the teacher instead of "different" because he knew too much. A child should never be punished because he is a bit more advanced than his peers.

You should really have a conference with his teacher to discuss this issue. A good teacher will find a way to keep your son involved and challenged, without disrupting the rest of the students normal lessons. But for heaven's sake, don't hold him back at home- if you can teach him, do it! There is a great program you may want to check out: www.headsprout.com
My son loves it, and it helps explains some phonics better than I can. Best of luck to you and your son!

Children learn what they are ready to learn. Your son certaily seems interested in reading, so by all means, let him learn. But, you don't need a "program" to "teach" him at this age; just read with him and let him learn and absorb as you read. The goal is not only that he learn to read but also that he enjoy reading. Too many structured learning situations are not healthy for preschoolers, I believe. And this includes his preschool program that has the children tracing letters. Preschool is a learning environment, of course, but it should be learning in a comfortable environment. I'd find a new preschool, perhaps Montissori, as suggested in other responses. I'm sad for so many little people already in so much structure in their lives.

J.

Like everyone else has said, teach him to read. If you want, you can talk to your kindergarten school and ask the teachers their method for teaching reading and try to do the same program or method. Don't hold him back if he wants to learn.

But, more importantly I think, you need to teach him how to act when he is given something that he finished fast or is bored with. Also, he needs to be taught how to react if someone isn't doing something he wants to do (teacher won't teach reading this year so he yells at her?) He needs to be taught patience and how to act when he is bored. These important social skills are just as important as educational skills if he is going to succeed in life. With preschoolers, a lot of going to school is educational learning and social learning. My son is way advanced in his educational skills for preschool like your son. But, he is still learning the social side of things and that is very important in life.

Hi B., we use a website called timeforlearning.com and it has langueage arts and math. My 5 year old loves it, he can move along at his own pace. It sounds like your son is excited about learning, you should maximize this time as much as you can. Good luck!

That sounds awfully familiar. My older daughter had the same problem with 4 year old preschool. She had gone to preschool the previous year and loved it. She came home from the second day at 4 year old preschool and said, "Mom, they are teaching me my letters... AGAIN." After a couple months trying to work with the teacher I pulled her out and began to homeschool her. For reading I used a combination of Explode the Code and on online program called Headsprout. Now a year later she reads at a 4th grade level. For us the answer was continuing to homeschool because she very far ahead of the public school curriculum (she is also one of the oldest in her class). She may go to public school in a couple years when the curriculum isn't all about teaching the kids to read.

So I guess I don't have a lot of advice. My gut tells me that if he wants to learn to read now is the time. But be advised that the problem will continue when he attends kindergarten-2nd grade because the priority there is teaching kids to read.

Good Luck, J.

Hi B.,

My son is 4 and is reading. He knew all his numbers and letters early and like your son has always loved books. When he showed an interest in trying to sound out words my husband and I ran with it. We figured why not expand on his interest rather than try to keep him at the level that society deems normal for his age.
I have talked to my son's pre-school teacher and she is fine with the fact that he can read. Although she doesn't teach reading in the class she does try to expand on the fact that he can read. For example: when they are playing a game and there is a picture with the word below she will ask the other children what is it by showing the picture but when she ask's my son she will show him the word.
I agree with your husband - I think you should teach your son to read - why hold him back from something he is hungry for.
It sounds to me that your son's teacher doesn't want to get out of her normal routine and expand on the different levels children are on. I would talk to her and let her know what you are doing. Tell her you understand that she is not going to teach reading but I would ask her if a child was having problems recognizing letters or numbers would she just stop and not do anything? I don't think so - she would keep working on letters and numbers with this child. The same goes for your son - expand on their unique needs and interests.
Good Luck!!!!

I am a teacher and I think you should absolutely teach him at home. What a joy to have a child who is so interested in learning! Children at this age all learn at different times and most seem to even out around first or second grade. (where the early learners and the later learners catch up and are pretty much at the same level) I also would start the new school year out with a call to your child's teacher and just tell him/her where your son is in his reading and give her a little warning about issues that may come up if he is bored. You can also teach things to do when he is bored and finishes something early. This too is an important life skill. Most teachers are ready and more than willing to make accomodations for fast/early learners. Good luck and Good job!

Hi B., Sounds like you have a pretty rigid teacher. All children can "read", even 4 year olds. All she had to do was give him a book and tell him to "read" the pictures. As a Kindergarten teacher for 20 years, I had children of many abilities. It's very challenging to try to address each and every one, but that's the job. Depending upon how many children in her class and how much help she has in the classroom, the teacher may not have the time to differentiate for all individual children.
One of the things you can do is go to a teacher store, like Constructive Playthings, and buy a pre-school phonics book with pictures for each letter of the alphabet. Take one letter at a time and work on the beginning sounds of words.
Leave the vowels for last and use only short vowels at this time. Once you are sure that your son knows all the consonant sounds and vowel short sounds, you can start blending into 3 letter words of the same word family. For example: the "at" family would be bat, rat, hat, cat, fat, mat, pat, sat. You can go to the library and get some pre-primers or first readers with words that are repeated. Build a "sight vocabulary" with words like: the, and, at, I, see, look.
The bottom line is that the school should try to engage each child at his own level, but realistically speaking, not many teachers have the time or the inclination. Sometimes, just reading to your child, and pointing as you read, can be a great help. Pretty soon, your child will be reading some of those sight words with you.
Good Luck. S. G.

My Sugesstion is to read with him. Or find another preschool that will help him learn. Don't squash his want to learn more, you just might have a gifted child.
Encourage him. Go to the libary and find some new book. Get some I spy Books that he can read alone if he gets bored, And always talk to the teacher and find other ways to keep him occupied. If they won't work with you, keep going up the ladder to find someone who will.
Teachers are there to help your child learn. maybe he can move up to the next level of Preschool .

We got my Daughter a Chalkboard/white board at IKA , w chalk and makers. She loves to draw and write on it . So when she gets bored I have her practice her words on it. She also plays School w her dolls and writes on it .

Again, never discourage him from reading, just stand up and fight for him. You can always do more at home than they do in school .

Hope this helps.

Hello B.,

It sounds like you have a gifted child and you should embrace and nuture that attribute. As for your child possibly getting bored, I would suggest that you keep in close, constant communication with your childs teachers both now and in the future and request that a seperate lesson plan be developed for your child in order to avoid boredom. You are your childs #1 advocate therefore you have the right to push for those things that would benefit his overall development. If he has the desire and pssion to learn how to read, tap into it. Visit the libraries and start checking out books. Visit the book stores (i.e. Borders, Walden). Also another resourse to check out would be the teachers store. They offer various classes and activites for children on weekends and during summer and holiday breaks. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Jazzy's mom

First of all, I'm sorry your child is having such a difficult preschool experience. Filling out worksheets IS NOT typical or appropriate preschool experiences (I've been a preschool teacher for 20 years).
You should definitely support your child's interest and excitement about reading, but you do not need a formal program to do it. First of all, recoginize all the reading he is doing now: when he recognizes McDonalds, Dominicks, Jewel, etc he is "reading" these are words he knows by sight. Make a book of all the words he can recognize in this way(you can use digital photos to help you out...let him tell you the words he knows!). Another way to support and encourage reading is to go back to those baby books that have a picture/photo on a page and the word. Begin reading these together. This too will build "sight" vocabulary and is reading. If he already knows all the letters, begin practicing the letter sounds together. Break words up into the sounds and put them back together. Rhyming books and nursery rhymes are great ways to listen and work on the sounds in words.
A word of caution, these are things to do with a child who is curious and has expressed an interest in reading. These activites can be too stressful and too difficult for many 4 year olds.
As for being "bored" when he gets to the next grade level, that should not be a concern. Work with your child where he is at this time; the trained qualified professionals who will get to know your child in the future should be doing the same thing!
Good Luck!

I totally agree with the last poster. I think that you should definately help teach him to read as it's wonderful that your son has expressed an interest advanced of what he is learning in school. You definately should praise him for wanting to learn. He should not be punished or get a time out for his behavior right now - if he has finished his work, the teacher should move him along to the next letter or show him how to right cursive - they need a back up plan. I'm not putting my daughter into preschool until next year. She just turned 4. We skipped 3 yr old preschool and I'd skip 4 yr old preschool except for the social things she'll learn. She's also shy, like the other poster's daughter. My daughter has always loved books and has always pretended to read books to her little brother, expressed an early interested in writing and so, I taught her how to write the alphabet and her name, which she learned before turning 4 (just before turning 4). We also work with numbers and adding and subtracting and much more at home. My husband has taught her things like why it gets dark - the movement of the earth and sun, etc. He also plays school with them while I work 3 evenings a week. They raise their hands and wait to be called on. So cute. I started taking them to story hour when my daughter was 6 months old. She wants to read so badly and I don't want to be the one to hold her back. So, keep reading to your son and sounding out words so he can see on a page. Buy him some of those workbooks for preschoolers and go a step up to the beginning reading workbooks or books. I bought a workbook for my daughter and on the way home, she was saying from her carseat, "this says hot and this says cold" and "this says high and this says low". She's also said, "that sign says no parking". You don't want your son to get fustrated because he's bored and start not liking school. My brother has a high IQ and had trouble in school. He would rather read on his own and my mom just barely got him to graduate highschool. He read the bible front to back in junior high and never stopped reading but when it came time to sit and follow instructions, he had a tough time. Each child is different and not every school or teacher is right for every child. Have a meeting with the teacher or director of the preschool and let them know that he isn't acting out, just getting bored and see if they can give him additional things to do. As long as he wants to learn, they should want to teach him. Sounds like you have already done a great job with your son. Don't stop now. Thank you for your post - I may be dealing with a similar situation with my daughter and will keep teaching her all that I can at home and will just work around the teacher's inadequacies. My sister had problems with her daughters' school district. Her middle daughter was having difficulties in math and they weren't doing anything to work with her to help her out. My sister ended up homeschooling her three girls for one full year. She learned from that after getting all the homeschooling books and doing field trips with the other homeschooled kids, that there are things that you need to do at home to supplement your childs education. My middle niece is now in the gifted program in her school and my oldest niece got acepted into a gifted program for her first year in highschool - it's a broadcasting/communications program. So, there are so many possibilities down the road and so many things to teach our kids while we can. Good luck!

Hi B.,

If he is showing interest in reading then he should get help reading. I think you can spend little time with him and get big results. My son just turned 4 a month ago and he is reading books by himself. He can read 6-7 letter words no problem.
What you can do to start is make sure your son knows the sounds each letter makes. You can spend some time with him each day doing that. Get him some DVDs that teach him that too (you can get them at the library so you don't have to buy them). My recommendations are Leap Frog Letter Factory and ABCs by Brainy Baby. They teach the sounds real well.
When he knows the sounds, start with simple 3 letter words like CAT and DOG stuff like that. Write it on a piece of paper or use a magna doodle like we did and make a game of it. Then ask him to make the sound each letter makes (So C - A - T sounds) and then tell him to make them fast and put them together. soon he'll get the hang of it and will be telling you all the sounds and moving on to bigger words and then not even making the sounds slowly.. he'll just read the word out. Its great to watch it. My son reads everything he comes across now. Its amazing. If he shows the interest to read then encourage him. If his teacher is not starting, its not her fault. He's at preschool and she's just following the curriculum. You can just start him at home.

Good luck. Its a fun thing to see them read.
Aarti.

Hi B. - I have a 7 yr old son and a 4 yr old son, so I've been through this twice now. You absolutely should encourage and work with him to read if he's asking for it. My 4 year old is almost 5 and is having a great time learning to read and write. His preschool teachers, just like with my older son, have found a way to work with him. You may need to find another preschool, or talk to someone else there at the school. I do not want to say anything bad about the teacher, but in this instance not encouraging your son isn't helping him one bit. Good luck!

My son also learned to read and write before the other students. I was blessed with wonderful teachers who were willing to give him extra work so that he would stay busy while they continued to teach the rest of the class. When he was in kindergarten his teacher would reward his good behavior by letting him take home a book and then at the end of the week he could read it to the class at story time. In the 3rd grade he was allowed to slip his library book out of his desk and read while she continued to work with the class. As a former school board member I would suggest that if a meeting with the teacher did not work I would request a meeting with the teacher and the principal to try to correct his behavior constructively.

My daughter learned to read at four, we didnt have any special program, I just read to her alot and she picked it up on her own, more or less. When she started kindergarten the next year I ran into the problem you are worried about, she was bored. So bored that she was reading to the other kids! But after just nine weeks we had a meeting at the school and she was moved up to first grade. So glad that it worked out this way. She is still advanced for age, in all the special and gifted programs at school but at least she is where she belongs now. There is nothing wrong with him learning to read if he is ready. If he ends up bored next year in school, then you talk to his teacher and principal and with them you can formulate a plan on how to handle that. I would say never to stop him from the next level, if you do that it might discourage him and that is never good.

Good Luck, and mom to mom - you know your child better than anyone, so you need to make the decision. Take advice from the professionals but at the end of the day he is your son and you are the one who really has his best interests at heart.

maybe talk to a guidance counselor at the school about placing him in an accelerated program. I learned how to read before kindergarten and had it not been for scholastic book sale program and the library, my mom & dad wouldn't have been able to keep up with my reading habits. Most kids wanted toys, I just wanted more books. It's important to foster his quest for reading knowledge. I know kids who were still having reading problems in high school. So go ahead and start teaching him to read. maybe you can get his teacher to allow him-and I'm sure there are other kids like him-reading time at the library while the rest of class is working on the other stuff he already knows.

You're his teacher too! Teach him about letters and how they work together to make words and how words together create sentences that tell an idea that matches the pictures! If he's curious to learn to read, encourage it. His teachers should be encouraging him as well. Even in a preschool setting I'd hope that projects and activities would be differentiated and appropriate for variety of levels of kids. Once he's in kindergarten he'll have more opportunities and his teachers will be more qualified to meet his needs. Does your school district offer an all day kindergarten program? Don't fear that he'll forever be bored in school just because you teach him to read at 4. The best thing you can do for your child is expose him and encourage him to love books and reading at even the earliest of ages.

I ditto the response about Montessori. We have 3 in the Montessori program, and I wish it had been in place for our first child. It's self-directed and caters to individual needs. The teachers will model any 'work' that the child is interested in.

They teach writing before reading and the process is pretty cool - large wooden letters are used to form phonetic words on the floor into a sentence such as "I love my mom" which usually comes home as "I luv mi mom" (at age 4 - it's corrected by 5, but if they can write it, they can read it).

They then copy the sentence they've formed on the floor by writing it onto paper. The paper is mounted on a colored backing like a formal piece of literature. It takes a good 15 minutes to do just one sentence, but it's challenging all the way through, and they're very proud of their work.

Schooling (public or private - we've done both) is always a challenge for teacher, student and child. Personally, I've always found that staying involved, letting the teachers know you are your child's never-ending advocate, volunteering to help if you can, etc. is the best way to ensure a great experience. Pre-school can just be about socialization and learning to take direction, preparing children for full-day learning. You'll always have to supplement at home, because one classroom can never supply everything you know your children need.

Hi, B., I too have a 4 yo preschooler who is anxious to read. I don't have the knowledge of how to do it myself, so I'm sending him to a daycare provider who can. As for your situation if you feel capable of teaching him, I think you absolutely should. Who are we to deny our children knowledge. I think alot of school programs are failing to keep up with some of the learning demands of children who learn faster or different. They seem to be stuck teaching the same old way. You may need to find a different school that is capable of keeping his interest, like a magnet or gifted school. My son loves to be read to, looks at books all the time, and even recognizes some words. He is graduating from preschool next month. So over the summer we plan to look for a school that will be right for him and his learning speed. I've heard a lot of parents having this same issue with their children being bored in school. One good thing is, if you teach him to read, maybe his teacher will allow him to read a book quietly while the other students are finishing their work. It could be the best thing for him at this point. Best wishes and good luck to you.

Hello B.,
I worked in preschools for almost 8 yrs.-
This is not typical preschool practice or curriculm- unless you accept this behavior from teachers that act like they no it all. A good teacher will know their students and pick up on the childs learning needs. try finding a different preschool and really talk with the teacher before enrolling your child- if they don't let you get to know the teacher don't send your child there. Some may argue and say that a teacher is so busy in a classroom, they can't spend so much time with one student BLAH BLAH BLAH....
THE FACT IS A GOOD TEACHER KNOWS HER/HIS STUDENTS AND DOES EVERYTHING IN THE CLASSROOM FOR THEM TO LEARN TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. Teach your child how to read, educate him and teach him even more- Don't wait for a school or anyone else to do it.

Hi,
Have you ever thought about homeschooling your son? He sounds quite smart and lots of kids who are not challenged at school, end up acting out. It is not as overwhelming as it may sound, and at least at home you can challenge him and go at his speed (as fast or slow as he wants). Why slow him down just because they wait until kindergarten to start to learn to read? My daughter learned to read at 3 and we did not send her to preschool/kind. We have homeschooled for about 7 years now. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to help you or point you to some great websites. There is a lot of support out there and lots of great field trips to expand your kids minds and creativity. Homeschooling is not for everyone, but it doesn't hurt to check it out for a smart one like your son! Best to you, C. PS. It is fun too to see your kids blossom and learn! They love to receive your attention. (at least mine do)

Bored after learning how to read? Not with the number of books that he will have to read!

Go for it, Mom. You'll be glad you did.
.

B.:

I agree with your husband. Go ahead and teach your son to read. There's no reason to hold your son's interest in learning to a false schedule. Through the 3rd grade it's very common for a teacher to need to address wide varieties of skill sets within one classroom. Some children come to school with absolutely no preparation or skills and others begin school already knowing numbers, letters, colors, etc.

I would also have a talk with the school. Ask them who his teacher will be next year and then talk with that teacher about your son's ability level and interests.

Good luck!

C.

If he wants to learn, go ahead and teach him. But also teach him how to occupy himself when he gets bored in an appropriate way. This may mean speaking to the teacher about allowing him to bring a book or a scratch piece of paper to draw on, etc. You're his mom and you need to advocate for him. You should be able to work with the teacher to find a solution that works for everyone.

As a teacher, I hope I get this kid in a few years!

As with anything with kids, when they are ready for something (big kid bed, potty training, etc.), they'll let you know. Since he appears to be ready, I would go ahead and work with him at home. Yes, he may be ahead of the curve of the other kids, but you run the risk of him getting bored either way. So, he can be bored and learn how to read or be bored and get mad because he's not reading. Likewise, if he's that much ahead of his agemates (like it sounds), when he gets to kindergarten and in more of a structured curriculum setting, they were will be ways of enriching his education.

If I were in this situation, I would go ahead with the program. Additionally, I would send books with him to school to read if gets done with his work ahead of the other kids. As a parent and a teacher, I'm surprised that the school does not have a back up plan for students like this.

Best wishes!

Teach him to read. If he is smart he will grow beyond the other kids and be bored anyway! Trust me on that, most of my kids have been wayyyy beyond their peers in reading! Teach him now that all kids won't be at his level and he needs to find productive things to keep him busy. If you let his teachers know that he needs to be kept motivated a GOOD teacher will keep an eye on him and give him something to do. When he gets to the point where he is reading all the time, ask the teacher if it is ok if he has a book in class that he can read WHEN he is done his regular schoolwork.
But we are putting the cart before the horse. =) Teach him to read. My pre-schooler could spell her name when she was 2 and now is reading Hop on Pop. Teachers are used to kids of all levels. He will do just fine. =)

You stay home and you send your kid to a school you and he are not happy with? There are SO MANY preschools the market is very competitive. I say, find one with a philosophy more to your liking. I was SO lucky. I sent my daughter to a small park district preschool that was very academic. There was no letter tracing. Even show and tell was academic--bring something made of corn, bring something that starts with the letter I, etc.

Where do you live? The Elk Grove library has a program for three year olds called, "Ready to Read," that teaches phonics. My daughter REALLY learned how to read in that class (and it's free). I wish every library had that program. Anyway, my daughter is five and she is going into second grade. She reads at a middle school level or maybe even higher. Teach your kid to read as soon as you can because it's EMPOWERING. Some moms don't want their kids to read because it's a step away from being dependent. Early readers are lifetime learners. I say, do it. Your son sounds so ready, and he will be so grateful to you.

I would say go ahead. I have. I taught for many years in SC. I have been using the pre-school, kindergarten, and 1st grad curriculums from that state to guide my daughter at home. I have her and her friend that I watch both through most of it and they start kindergarten in the fall. It is the school's responsibility to accomodate the needs of your child. If he/she is advanced then they have to find a teacher that will accomodate them. If they need to be tested and advanced that is their job. You may have to request these things, but don't be afraid to do so.

Working with your son at home can not hurt him. I've found that the teacher's unions in this state like to discourage parents from doing anyting with their children at home. I was working with my neice when her parents were told that I needed to stop because it would confuse her later.

I've never heard of such a silly notion. My mother, two aunts and two cousins all worked with little people. Their biggest complaints were how far behind some kids were when they started school because their parents never read to them or taught them anything at all the first four years of their life.

If you want your child to excell, succeed and be happy then encourage him in anyway you can. If you have to supplement him at home, then so be it. Work hard to find a teacher that will work with your son and encourage him. Offer to find supplemental materials that he can work on that go along with her curriculum. Maybe if you offer to do the leg work and research to develop some extra materials for your son, then she will be more likely to accomodate him and less defensive about having extra work to do. (most teachers are very over worked and neglect their own life at home to prepare properly)

Don't be afraid to work with him. And please don't be deterred because you will find some resistance in school.

Every child is different and has different capabilities, which the school system does not account for in their curriculum, so I would definitely go ahead and teach your son how to read, as long as he's wanting to and willing. Kids are sponges at this age, and should be taught as much as they are willing to learn. When he gets to school, he may be bored for a while and get in trouble (I have the same fear about my son), but there's no reason to punish him for being intelligent either. So do what YOU want to do. He's YOUR child, not the school system's. And hopefully your school system has a program for gifted children that will accomodate your child's desire to learn beyond what other kids his age are learning.

One more thing...you need to find a new pre-school. If the teachers are too lazy to accomodate a child's desire to learn, he needs some new teachers.

Hi, B.! Wow, aren't you lucky! You have a bright little boy! He may be gifted. Unfortunately, you may not find this out for sure for many years. Especially with the way schools are having funding issues, etc... these days. You are going to be his biggest advocate. My guess is that you are already seeing that in pre-school. Many kids who are bored will have what looks like behavioral problems in school. By all means, teach him what he is hungry to know! Then, be ready to act on his behalf. Good luck with this and don't let him lose his love of learning.

My, you touched a nerve, didn't you - just look at all these posts, some not even answering your questions but talking about their own terribly precocious little ones.

You don't really have to teach kids to read. Expose him to it - read to him, give him simple books, etc. You probably need a different preschool - the one he's attending sounds pretty rigid. There are many private schools and public schools, when he reaches kindergarten age, that don't require kids to be put in a box and all taught exactly the same thing. I wouldn't homeschool unless he has health issues or other reasons he shouldn't be around a lot of other kids, because of the socialization problems it can cause.

Read to him. If he is interested, please read to him. We read to my son when he was little (now 23) and he still loves to read. I know other people his age and older who hate to read and I think the earlier you get them interested in reading the more they want to learn and the more information they will get from reading. I know other parents who didn't read to their kids and the kids won't pick up a book so start off with something simple like the Bernstein Bears. They were great books and they do have a reason behind them.

B.,
First of all, if your child is getting bored in school, that needs to be addressed before he starts acting out and begins to hate school. Tracing letters may be beyond his needs and interests. Perhaps if he knows how to form his letters, you could ask the teacher if he could do an alternative piece of work at that time--maybe drawing the letter and then drawing things that begin with that sound? I am a retired literacy teacher and I'd suggest that you do NOT get a reading "Program" or flash cards or any of that. Get good pictures books, sit him on your lap and just read to him! Let him see the book pages as you go. Eventually you could begin pointing under the words, drawing your finger under the letters as you read them. He will eventually figure out words and then you can ask him to "read along" with you, especially when using repeatedly read books (another good idea). Then talk about what you've read. Ask him questions, have him compare this story to others you've read or to things in his own life. Don't rush or force him; take the lead from him. Make it fun and let him know how valuable reading is to you and the world. Last word--he may be a bit young for this, but if can understand that sometimes in life we just have to do stuff we don't really want to do he'll be ahead of the game. But tracing the letters if he's far beyond that can be too too boring.
L.

Have you considered home-schooling? He sounds like the perfect candidate and you can go at your own pace. Consider attending your State's annual homeschooling convention and read up on books about the subject. Also see if you can find a learning co-op in your area to get involved with. You can go to www.rainbowresource.com to check out curriculum. Learning is fun and shouldn't start out being so stressful when they want to learn so badly.

I do not understand why you would deprive him of learning to read just because he'll be bored at school. I know it's hard to find other schools, but they are out there and obviously he is gifted in that area. If the teacher won't work with you then go over her head and explain the situation to the higher ups until you are heard. Or switch schools or since you are home have him wait it out at home until regular school. Not teaching him to read is like telling him he can't eat, sleep, or breathe. He is obviously very smart. I think schools of today are different anyway. I work as a substitute and when children are done they are no longer permitted to draw for instance. They are allowed to read, but at this time in your child's classroom, it looks as though that is not an option. Fifteen minutes on drawing letters is ridiculous especially if he knows them This teacher might be well meaning to keep everyone on the same wave length but not all people are the same. So go ahead and teach him to read at home.There are other teachers down the line who will really appreciate the effort you put into it. Like me for instance. When I am subbing and I find a student is reading nicely after his work s done I am thrilled. It helps my day go well. The teacher he has is perhaps overwhelmed or very inexperienced. She is working against him not with him. Or perhaps she is just threatened by his intelligence. That after all was not covered in her school books. He has such a passion to learn it should not be squashed.

I have a pre-K daughter (she is 5) and she is beginning to read. I've done "nothing" past read to her every night, answer her one billion questions about "how do you spell" and play oral rhyming and letter/sound games. She is now writing stories using invented spelling that is better than I saw at the beginning of first grade when I taught.

Honesly, it is indeed the school's responsibility to take the child at the level where he is and go from there. However, it depends on your district and even the individual teacher as to how this is accomplished. I had the same concerns as you with my son (he's a first grader) and I did not teach him to read. I would have had he begged like your son has, most likely, but I was grateful that he didn't. He began reading mid-K year when they went to the Reading Room every day, and now, at the end of third quarter first grade he is reading at an end-of-year third grade level. And he adores reading. It came naturally to him and the school and teachers built on his readiness.

Learning to read requires LOTS of brain skills and experiences. It sounds as though your son has had plenty of exposure and experiences, which is awesome as obviously he's thirsty to read. My only concern would be in the "desperation" of learning and here is why. If he does not have the brain connections (I am talking physical, neurological development that happens, on average, at age 7, according to brain researchers) then he will grow frustrated with himself and with reading. So instead of sitting down and studying words, etc (which they will indeed do in Kindy) I would get simple books (like the Level 1 paperback readers) to read to him. Follow along with your finger. After reading it once, go back through, read it page by page, and ask him to find words he knows. Or, another time, ask him to find the word "the" or "ball" or whatever. Show him how the pictures help you know a word. (If the picture shows a boy playing on a swing, then in the text "The boy is swinging," if he knows "the" "boy" and "is" he can figure out "swinging.")

It's a good place to start and from there you will be able (and so will he) to tell if he's physically ready to read. If he is, it will begin to take off naturally. If he's not, it should satisfy his desire to "learn" as you'll be challenging him. And, if you continue to read those same level 1 books, he'll begin to memorize them, which is a key step in the learning-to-read process. (Please don't ever tell him or anyone in his hearing range that he's *not* reading. LOL)

Hope that helps! I know your concerns about behavior in kindy are valid (I have the same ones with my daughter) and so I also would recommend going to the school where he'll be attending and observing the kindy classrooms. Ask the principal for input on which classroom would best suit your son's academic needs. The teachers don't know your boy, so all around it will be a good thing to make sure he's matched up well.

Good luck!

Hi! I have a 4 year old who has one more year to go until Kindergarten. She is already ready at a 1st grade level. I tried to hold her off but you don't want to squash the interest and enthusiasm. I would teach him. Also, although I am not a huge Montessori fan, I am sending her to Montessori this year just so she can read at her own pace without being bored. So- my advice, teach him to read, keep his excitement up, cheer him on, and possibly look at other schools for next year where he can be challenged (which is extremely hard to do). Good luck!

if your son is that eager to learn I would teach him. I got my 5 year old the boxed book set- there is a book for every letter. then we move on to the next boxed book set. when your son goes to kindergarten they may test him and then pull him out for first grade reading so that he is not bored. it depends on the school. or many people recommend Montesorri and they work so great with kids and at their level. good luck!

I agree with your husband...teach him how to read. I Am facing the same thing with my daughter...she's almost 4. I am going to have her tested for the gifted program at my school district. The way it was explained to me is that gifted children are not usually gifted in all areas and the pre-school gifted program brings them up-to-speed in the areas where they are not gifted. Then she would be in a "honors" type of class in school. Perhaps your school district has something of the sorts as well. Maybe your son could skip a grade or something.

Good luck!

Hi B.,

I would say that if your son is that interested in reading, then go for it. Teach him to love learning now before it becomes a "chore" later on. Sounds like he knows his letters, so teach him the sounds and how to sound out words. If he's so motivated, he will probably pick it up and be reading soon. Either that or he will discover it's not as much fun as he thought and wait for awhile. Regardless of the outcome, you have taught him to try new things and satisfied his curiosity.

On a side note, have you ever considered homeschooling? Give it some thought, especially if your son gets so "bored" in a regular classroom setting. There are some wonderful sites out there to help you through it. We are just beginning on the process ourselves with our 5 year old twins. It seems daunting, but when I look at the overall benefits, I have to give it a try. Good luck!

I wish my 4 yr old was as enthusiastic as yours about learning. My son is very intelligent but super lazy. Getting him to practice just ONE page of letters is painful because he goofs around and keeps "taking a break."

If you're up to it I would practice reading with your son. You should take advantage of the things they are interested in because it might be too late later. I'm practicing the sounds that the letters make with my son, and it makes me proud when he gets them right. We also love to watch "word world" and "superwhy." They teach kids about spelling and sounding out words.

I have a lot of respect for teachers but if they can't find ways to keep your son interested/occupied when he's done with what they assigned him then they're not trying hard enough.

Hoped this helped.

Absolutely teach him to read!!! It is up to the teacher to find something for him at his level to do, and if I were a teacher I would be proud to have a child who already knew how to read. My niece who is now 10 1/2 had to start kindergarten when she was almost 6 because her birthday was like 5 days after the cut off date! Anyway I had bought her these books for her birthday that year called bob books. She had not really tried to read previously, and granted school had already started but they weren't reading yet. She read the first set of books in like two days. Started reading everything that she could read.
My sis went to her 1st teacher conf. and the teacher was so happy. Out of 20 some kids, britt was the only one who could read, she was the only one who knew her whole alphabet and how to write it!! She was the only one who would sit at her desk get her work done and would sit there quietly reading a book or drawing. The other kids would constantly go to the teacher's desk and say Mrs..... Mrs.... I need I need. Now today she is in the 4th grade, and her teacher uses her to tutor other kids who are struggling in different subjects.
Anyway my point is that a teacher loves to have a kid who needs challenging work, or they should anyway. Keep in mind that some teachers who are set in their ways after teaching for so many years do struggle with being off the beaten path but not all. Heck in a world where so many kids have so many learning disabilities, it's a welcome treat to have a parent who wants to spend time helping teach there child. Hope this isn't rambling and I hope the puts your mind at ease about your situation. Good luck.
H.

B.,
Let him read! When he gets to first grade and beyond, the teachers will differentiate so he isn't bored. (If they don't, you should complain.) A website I have found helpful and fun for young readers is starfall.com . This site has introductory letter activities and gets progressively more challenging and develops reading skills. I don't necessarily think you need to "teach" him how to read, but definitely encourage his interest.

As far as being gifted, as some other parents responded, I would hesitate. Reading is currently an interest. As he gets older, his teachers will let you know how he compares with others, and if he truly is gifted. :-)

Find a new preschool!!! What they are doing is not age appropriate. He is only 4 he should be up doing things with his hands and gross motor activities. No 4 year old should be printing for 15 min straight.

If your son wants to learn to read then teach him at home. He will be able to read and that alone will be something to keep him out of trouble when he gets bored in Kindergarten. My daughter reads everything she can get her hands on. After he can read you will be on a mission all the time to find fun, intersting books to keep in the house all the time.

Greetings! I am a preschool teacher and the reaction of your son's teacher surprised me a little. I could not imagine stifling a child's desire to learn beyond what I teach them. I would definitly honor your son's desire to learn to read. By holding him back your only hurting him and may cause a negative association w/ school/learning. Also learning to read may give him an outlet for his frustrations when it comes to working on writing tasks which he's mastered. Perhaps once he is a proficeint reader he can work on a little more advanced worksheet while his peers do letters.

Hi B.,

Yes!!! Definetly teach your "eager beaver" to read. If you don't do it now he may lose interest and get into other ways of amusing himself, and I don't think they would be as productive as reading. Once he learns to read he can entertain himself with books and learn to do constructive things. Also, talk with the teacher's supervisor and let them know your child only gets into trouble when his is bored and he is bored because the teacher isn't prepared for the ability of your son. She should know by now your son needs extra work. This has happened to me with my son. He is now in 2nd grade and reads and comprehends at a 4th grade 3rd quarter level. His kindergarten teacher had a computer in her room and my son had to read at least 2 books a week and take a test on the computer about the stories he had read. We have been very fortunate that his teachers have been very accomadating and they know bored kids are a handfull. It wouldn't hurt to talk to the teacher and supervisor and see if this can be done for your son. Good luck!!
C.

I teach Reading Comprehension with Cursive Writing at a home school co-op and the earlier he can learn to read the better off he will be in any of his school work. Does the program you have teach phonics. That is the best method in teaching reading. Once he has started to read even basic books ask him questions about what he is reading because comprehension of what he is reading is just as important as learning to read. Once you have taught him the basics I highly recommend Step into reading books or books like these. You can check these out at your local library. ABeka's reading books are great also. Those are not available at a library but you can pick up many of these books on E-bay.

You may wish to consider not putting him in school and teach him at home for the first few year. The state of Illinois is very home school friendly. You do not need to be a certified teacher to instruct your child at home. Your son sounds like he is very bright and may always be frustrated in his younger years of school because public schools always cater to the students who are the slowest and have the most problems. If your child does not conform it can be a problem and sooner or later your son will give in and not want to excel. That is why many families home school their children.

I highly recommend teaching him to read when he is hungry to learn. When the fire is hot is the best time to teach any student.

Best of Luck

I would teach him to read and be so delighted that he wants to read. It will be of huge value to him throughout life. He also may not be paired with the right school yet and may need a school that can challenge him better and be less rigid regarding what topic a child is doing when. Harnessing a child's natural curiosity to learning is a wonderful thing and should be encouraged not discouraged.

Your husband is the head of the house hold and is proven that this is a great thing. Teach him how to read, you will always be his first teacher remember. Aparantly, the teacher needs to catch up with his abilities and be able to substitute, and demonstrate positive redirectives for him instead of sending him to an office. She need to take that same choice and engage him in activities of enhancements of his choice. If your child is showing you that he wants to become great at a very young age you need to support that by all means neccessary. Don't hold your child back for any reason that you wouldn't want him to give you for not becoming great one day,Take care.

Hi B.,
I could not help cringing when I was reading your post, I am a montessori preschool teacher and this is just insane, your son is obviously advanced for his class'curriculum so why should he be held back, he is as we call in montessori at "sensitive period" to learn his letters and we need to teach them to him if that's what he wants, each child has a sensitive period for something and if we miss it, it is much more challenging and sometimes difficult to teach those things afterwards. He could get interested in something else and not want to go back to it at a later time. I could go on and on about that. I suggest you follow your child's cues and teach him how to read,children learn best when they are interested and his preschool teacher obviously has a school curriculum that she has to follow with disregard to your child's level or interest, this is why he is acting up. May be she needs to work with him at a different level and not make him do something over and over again if he is not interested or has already mastered it. The best way is to communicate with the teacher about your son's needs and abilities and work something together for his best interest but I firmly believe that your son has a need to learn those letters and if his preschool teacher is not willing to do it then I am afraid you have to.
Good Luck

Sounds like a crappy teacher who's not willing to give the extra effort most children need in identifying strengths and weaknesses. You'll find as you go through the years, you'll have great teachers that are excellent and will communicate with you and the ones who have ego problems and seem to only want to point out faults and weaknesses. My 9 year old was smart like that at that age and I've been lucky enough to have teachers that I could communicate with. It will eventually lead into a special curriculum that will require extra work for the teacher, the student and the parent to keep up with.
As for the reading, my 5 yr old preschooler has a sight word game that he loves and he is reading 50-75word books. He'll be going into Kindergarten reading. This day in age kids don't skip grades, but rather there are tests that assess their special strengths and a good teacher at a good school will put them where they need to be. Some schools have challenge programs for brighter students, etc.

I would just wait the year out with this school and by all means give the kid the knowledge he thirsts for. Then, maybe enroll him in a different pre-K preschool (more expensive) that will give him the attention he needs. Or if he's not past the cut off, have him tested for early entry in Kindergarten. I think it's usually Dec. 1st. In other words, if he will be 5 before Dec. 1st, you can have him tested for Kindergarten (this will also cost $2-300-I think)

Good luck.

Teach your son to read. To often teachers forget that all children can't be taught the same. Some advance sooner then others which dosen't mean that the other kids are slow. They (teachers) just have be more open-minded to the children that are a little bit faster then the others.

Greetings My name is D.,

I just had to respond. Your son's soul is much more advanced than what the teacher wants to allow him to express. Each child has an inner teacher (their soul) that let's them know when it is time to learn something new. When that soul is denied that opportunity, you will have demonstrations like what your son displayed. They have no other way of saying let me explore, let me learn, let my soul be free! I have a 5 year old daughter who has been reading words since she was 3 and is now reading 1st grade books with little assistance. Only because when she wanted to look at words or make sounds I got her a CD and let her go for it! She goes to a Montessori school that believes in and practices the method of allowing the child to teach them what they are ready to learn. Pls read about the Montesorri method even if you don't put your son in that type of school, let him learn what he is drawn to at that time. His inner teacher is letting him know that is what he is ready to know more about. Good Luck. And your husband is correct--you are fortunate to have his support.

I don't have any advice, but it sounds like you have a very bright little boy on your hands!

If your son wants to learn to read, then by all means teach him!!! The preschool teacher should have another activity or something else for the kids to do when they are done. My 10 year old wanted to read in pre-school just like his older brother. His teacher always had other activities lined up for the kids when they finished. Sometimes they were games and puzzles not just more of the same "busy" work. If that is the attitude of the pre-school teacher it just might not be the right school for your son.

Sounds like you need to talk with the director of this preschool about this teacher/find another for next year. You definitely don't want to squelch a child's desire too learn. That's great that he is so enthusiastic.

I would suggest calling the school where your son will attend and ask them what phonics/reading program they use and what they suggest. You can also express your concern about teaching your child too much and don't want him to be bored. Schools (typically) have programs in place to avoid this - they should reassure you and if it doesn't then you may need to consider a private school (if you weren't already) or even homeschool. But that is probably last resort.

I know children who were reading when they started school and were not bored. There is so much more they can learn and of course, when you can read the whole world opens up to them.

I know you said you had a phonics program - not sure which one. My son's school uses Jolly Phonics - it is a really terrific program and some local libraries may have at least part of the materials.

Good Luck!
M.

I think you should go ahead and teach him if he is interested I wouldn't want to discourage learning!!! My four year old has been reading since he turned four and we've had no behavoir problems at preschool. Maybe it is just the teacher
A website my son loved while learning to read is Starfall.com
Can you talk to this teacher's supervisor and ask for any suggestions from her?

From M. S.

Dear B.,

I also have a 4 year old son who asked me to teach him to read. I jumped at the chance and created a word wall, purchased leveled readers, label objects in our home and spoke to his teacher. Our school believes in differentiated learning (teach at the level of the child verses the curriculum) so she was excited to work with him on reading at school. For most of this preschool year he has been one of 4 kids reading. It sounds like your son is already board. I would not stifle his desire to learn to read. It sounds like the teacher needs to do some continuing education on working with students of different levels. I suggest if your child is going to stay at this school that you observe and interview the kindergarten teachers to decide which class would be a better fit for him next year. I would also talk to the teacher again about helping to teach your child to read and if you don't get a favorable response, speak to the principle.
Good Luck,
A.

Hi B.!
I have a 4yr. old son and a 2yr. old daughter. My son is currently reading at a 3rd grade level. I wish that I could take all the credit for his reading skills, but truthfully, a lot of it he has taught himself. In my opinion, children, especially at this age, are sponges. If they WANT to learn something, encourage them to do so. I to am concerned that he will be bored in kindergarten next year, but I also feel that we would be doing him more of a diservice if we were to discourage him from advancing his skills.I feel that if we discourage his desire, he may lose interest all togther. Now is the time to instill good learning habits, it will pay off huge in the future (even if it means he may get into "trouble" as a result of boredom). My son reads everything he sets his little eyes on... billboards, restaraunt menus, the sides of semi-trucks. As far as teaching him to read, we started off by watching the leapfrog video series. "Letter Factory" (which teaches letter recognition and phonics), then moved on to "Talking Words Factory" (1 and 2 - which teaches building small words and other basics concepts like the silent E and letter combinations, sh, ch etc). These videos can be purchased at Walmart for just under $10. I also purchased him phonics book series through Scholastic. Each book focuses on a different letter or sound, such as short vowels, long vowels etc. They have several series... Clifford, Dora, Backyardigans and so on. His reading skills are fantastic. He can write letters and words and is working on writing sentences. I get a huge kick out of seeing his development. The other day, I looked at my grocery list and he had added "froot snax". Although the spelling was incorrect, I know that he gets the concept.
Anyways, sorry this is long, I would be happy to discuss further if you would like. Be proud of your son and encourage his desire to learn... I would much rather have a child that has strong desire to learn and maybe get into a little trouble, than a child that doesn't have the desire at all. You can always work on teaching him ways to "entertain himself" while the other children are finishing their work. Truthfully, I say SHAME ON THAT TEACHER for not supplying him with additional work or coloring sheets to help him stay occupied. Being advanced is not a bad thing and it should not be held against him.
Best of luck!
M.

Definately teach your son what he wants to learn. If not, he will lose the desire to go beyond the classroom. By this, I mean you must keep that stimulated mind stimulated. I have 2 very different girls who have been through the same thing. The boredom, frustration and apathy will set in if you don't do all you can to work with him at his level. Both of my girls are gifted and this puts me at odds with general cirriculum the schools offer all of th time. It is a constant battle to get teachers to move beyond their comfort zone. Find a preschool designed to help high potential children. Continually create learning opportunities for your son in his everyday life and activities and by all means, teach him how to read! My girls read so much all of the librarians in our town know us by name. Both have received awards and recognition for reading and both have tested out at college level reading by the 4th grade. This has helped them tremendously in every discipline of study!

I am at the same point with my son. He is 4 and wants to read, but I don't know where to start. I would absolutly teach him to read. With luck next year and future years maybe your son will have more understanding teachers and they will also encourage his brain power. My advise is don't hold him back go ahead and teach him to read. If you have spare time could you send me the name of the program to teach kids to read.
Thanks
D.

Hi B.,

Teach your bright boy to read! He will love it, and can can keep himself occupied in class reading lots of wonderful books. My daughter is 3.5, and there are a handful of kids in her class interested in reading. My husband and I were spelling words to each other, when she heard one she knew (cat) and said C-A-T, cat! Whoa. She only knows a few words, but its exciting! She loves tracing letters, doing preschooler workbooks (mazes, connect the dots, etc) I want to instill a love of learning in my child - and it sounds like you do too! I am not pushing her to read, but if it is something she is interested - go for it! I figure there will eventually be a time when she doesn't want to do schoolwork/homework, so why put yourself through this now? Your child's teacher sounds burnt out and uncooperative!

If he is ready, why not!? You should look into the school district that he will attend next year to see what kind of enrichment is offered in and outside of the classroom. He sounds like he will need to be challenged, and sometimes when kids aren't challenged they get bored and have behavior problems.

Good luck. Let me know if you need any help or ideas. I am SAHM, PT tutor and former elementary ed teacher with a background in general education as well as special ed, including gifted.

A.

I strongly suggest you go at his pace if he wants to learn to read work with him to learn to read. He's ready and you want to use that enthusiasm to your advantage. A good teacher will be okay with him reading. Children learn at different paces and not all children will learn the same way. A good teacher knows that and shouldn't have a problem with it. I wouldn't put up with that teacher she was just being lazy. I am a para professional at a high school and work with alot of teachers and ALL the good ones would agree with me.

I went back to work for a short time when my older son was 4. He was in a Montessori school at the time. When I found out that there was another child reading in his class, I assumed he was "behind". I immediately started looking for a reading tutor. I found someone who worked with him on recognizing letters & words(he knew his sounds). By 4 and a half he was reading the "Bob books". I continued working with him a lot at home and by the time he began Kindergarten he was reading books to the pre-school class. I haven't been as diligent with my second child who is now 6 and just learning to read in Kindergarten, although I plan to find a summer program for him so by the time he enters first grade he is up to speed.
Good luck, try to find a reading tutor if your not satisfied with the other program.

AS a former Kindergarten teacher I say if he is excited about reading then work with him and teach him how to read. There are many areas of reading that a teachers wants students to have such as letter recognition, word families, sight words, comprehension, and predicting are jsut a few. As a teacher I began with letter/word awareness and worked off f what each student knew. We also worked on sentence sturcture (orally) and punctuation as well as capitalization. NOt all children learn at the same rate and many times they learn best when they are excited about what they are learing. Don't miss out on his excitement to learn to read. Just make sure you focus on more than just reciting the words.

My son starting reading at the age of 4. His school promotes that individuals learn at different levels. Have you ever cosidered looking into a Montessori School. They are wonderful teachers.

If he's that passionate about learning, why hold back? I wouldn't fear him getting bored at school by being an advanced reader. He will always have an endless supply of books to challenge him at the library.

I read at a sixth grade level by the time I started kindergarten. I was a voracious reader. I read everything I could get my hands on. I didn't have any negative experiences with school, grades or teachers because of my reading. In fact, quite the opposite. A love of reading opens doors, in your imagination and in your understanding.

My son loved playing reading games on the computer. We liked Reader Rabbit, Dr. Seuss, and especially Clifford The Big Red Dog. They were excellent for beginning readers. They are a lot of fun, too.

(You might want to also consider getting a children's typing program down the road, if the interest in writing stories continues!)

Good luck!

That may not be "normal" pre-school cirriculum. You might think about a diffierent type of pre-school where they will teach reading, or not be so limited in their teaching when a child clearly seeks more. I don't like the description of the teacher... taking away a snack??? My 2 year old goes to Montessori and we are thrilled with all he learns and the individual attention and education each child gets in the classroom. There are a lot of different types of pre-school environments..... maybe look into some of them and consider a change.

If he's ready to read he should start. If the teacher won't work with him you might have to do some adjusting there. You will find when you son gets into kindergarten that there will be some children who already know how to read and some that won't. This is really an invididualized skill and if your son needs more stimulation, it is your job to make sure that he gets it. You are his number one teacher and support. You know your child better than anybody else. Teachers are not always right and the experience you had before was a teacher mistake! Good luck!

I absolutely think you should teach him how to read since he's so interested. The last thing you want to do is squelch that enthusiasm.

Your son reminds me a lot of my nephew. He is also extremely bright, way ahead of his classmates when he started preschool. He also did not know what to do with himself once he was done his work and caused trouble when bored. His teacher didn't want to send him on to kindergarten because he was so undisciplined. His pediatrician recommended that instead of holding him back, sign him up for karate. At this age, the only thing they really teach the kids is respect for authority, discipline and focus. It made a world of difference. There will probably often be situations where your son finishes his work faster than his classmates in school. The best thing to do is to work on changing his behavior in that situation.

I agree with your husband. It's more important to capture your son's love of reading. Unfortunately, it sounds like the "bad" teacher is making you second guess what you know is the right decision for you, and for your son. Go with your gut instincts and help your son open up a whole new world...of reading and books. The sky is the limit when he learns to read!

Sounds like the teacher needs to brush up on modifying the curriculum to meet the needs of ALL students!

Good luck and enjoy!

teach him to read. when he gets into kindergarten, the teacher will be better equipped to keep him challenged. but never stop his desire to learn. my oldest child was the same way and I would get great letters from his teachers saying he was so helpful to the other kids who struggled. she was great and gave him the job of teachers helper.