HURST FIRST Let's Read!

Early to Read! Why are some children early to read? Why should we want children to be early to read? What kind of a parent or a professional would promote such an idea? And last, shouldn't children just get to be children?

Let's take these in order. One of my four children taught herself to read at about 3 and one half. My other children became early readers because those three played reading games with me and listened to me read stories to them just like so many parents in the world do with their children. Why did my little reader have an easier time of it? We don't know. Words and sounds made sense to her. Her brain had the ability to put a little bit of knowledge together to create the whole of reading very quickly. Was she much smarter than my other children? No. She was just a natural learner when it came to reading. We don't know why some children learn to read on their own.

But I was pleased that my children learned to read early. Reading is such a pleasure. Additionally, reading ability almost promises school success. We all wish that success for our children. I wanted to guarantee reading success and thus, reading pleasure, for my children so I taught them to read making sure they loved both the process and the reading. I controlled their first steps into reading so I could make sure it was a wonderful experience for them.

Little did I know that what my instinct said was the right thing to do, I now know is not only good but very, very important. I believe every child should have the right to learn to read in a one-on-one class. That is, one adult and one child. Not 24 children or 15 children with one teacher, but one-on-one. It promises a step ahead in reading. In a classroom setting a handful of children will not learn to read and will be held back to repeat a grade, not because they are less intelligent or less mature, but because they needed the interaction of one-on-one learning.

I can hear some voices scattered around the universe moaning, "Can't we just let children be children?" Yes. That is one approach. But if you are a parent who reads to your child, who plays dolls or trucks or ball with your child, who swings and runs and gardens with your child, who pounds play dough or colors with your child, or who cooks and bakes with your child, you can also be a parent who teaches your child to read. Reading is playing after all. It is another way to spend fun time with your child. We just haven't thought of it that way before.

I am a parent. I am also a professional. I taught my own children to read. I've taught many, many other children to read. But more about me in my next blog.

If you just read this blog, please let me know who you are. Since I'm brand new, I'm anxious to see who will be my first responders. I would love to hear from you.

Jodi Heaton Hurst