Another website I was on (the well-trained mind homeschooling forum) had someone post asking how much other people read out loud to their 4-5-6-7 year olds. I was shocked to read that the AVERAGE was TWO HOURS A DAY!

I am reading to my kids every day, but nowhere near 2 hours a day. We read a few little books that take like 5-10 minutes. So maybe 30 minutes a day. And I thought I was doing good!

Is that way too little? How much do y'all do?

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

I am going to go check out that forum. I LAUGH at 2 hours a day. Are you SERIOUS? All four of my kids learned to read with about 10 minutes a day each. If I had an extra 2 hours a day to do nothing but read, then we would need a 26 hour day, and seven gallons of coffee, and a tranquilizer to get through it so I wouldn't strangle anyone.

Michele
Sarah, Gregory, Amanda
born 1/22/04 at 35w1d

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

I mean 2 hours of mom reading to child, like fairy tales and history books and stuff. Not teaching the child to read.

TWO HOURS. OH MY.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

Books before bed...usually they each pick one. I know that their teacher reads to them as well, and they have the TAG reading system. That's it! It is definitely NOT two hours. Not even close. And if I had an extra two hours a day...

Alice

GGG born 9/3/05 at 35w3d

Ha. Then it's like 2 hours a month.

Michele
Sarah, Gregory, Amanda
born 1/22/04 at 35w1d

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

you have to understand it's a homeschooling forum, and there are many folks who use the approach of children learning through literature (Charlotte Mason approach-living books). so reading books aloud to them is often part of their curriculum too, and this is also what they do when other kids might be in preschool or kindergarten. it's not what they're squeezing in between lots of other commitments.

I used to read aloud to them a lot more, but they read so many books on their own now that I mainly do our 'school' books now. we use Sonlight (a literature based curriculum) and then add in other books. we're at around 1-1.5 hours average (broken up, not at one sitting), though I expect the time will increase again as they get older and the books get longer (assuming we keep homeschooling). reading together on the couch is definitely a favorite part of the day. the kids run for it!

any time you get to read is great! you and the kids are quite busy as it is; you do a lot for your gang. for us, it was/is always a great way to have the kids take some downtime- you know- you see a fight/tantrum brewing or they're getting on each other's nerves- I'd shout out- let's go read some books, and the bad mood would be forgotten.

Mary

born 12/12/04 33w2d

Megan,
I just have to chime in here. In my life before kids, I was an elementary reading specialist. My master's degree is actually in reading education. And I have to say that people who think you have to read to your kids 2 hours a day are NUTS. I do agree and tell parents every chance I get that reading to your kids IS the number one thing you can do to ensure success in school. BUT that means reading to your kids on a daily basis. Even one story a day is sufficient. The idea is for the kids to hear the language of books, for you to talk to them about words they might not know the meaning of, for them to learn about how books are read (front to back, left to right, top to bottom, etc.), and just plain learn to enjoy books! Any amount of time you spend with them doing this each day is great! I can tell you that as a reading specialist, the kids I worked with were the ones who weren't successful at learning to read. These kids not only WEREN'T read to at all, but they didn't have the first book, magazine, or newspaper in their houses. They also NEVER saw or heard parents reading. I promise you, your kids are getting what they need from you. You're a very involved, concerned parent. You are giving them all the advantages they need. Go easy on yourself!

LCN
21 year old college senior
14 year old bbg triplets--teenagers!

I'm a librarian and never read that much to my kids. My girls are in 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 6th grade, and they're all great readers. Just keep doing what you're doing, and your kids learn to love reading and appreciate books. -- Gloria

Just wanted to chime back in and tell you there is hope. We went to the library yesterday and two of mine picked out their own books and read them independently. I have one reading aloud to himself as I type this. I never thought I would see the day!!!!

Michele
Sarah, Gregory, Amanda
born 1/22/04 at 35w1d

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

>Just wanted to chime back in and tell you there is hope. We
>went to the library yesterday and two of mine picked out their
>own books and read them independently. I have one reading
>aloud to himself as I type this. I never thought I would see
>the day!!!!


I'm not sure that is ever going to happen here... I put the phonics away for a while. They just don't seem to understand the whole concept of letters going together to make words, and written words representing things. I just don't think they are cognitively ready, and I REALLY don't want them frustrated with reading, so we just decided to take a break and try again in a few months.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

Alright, well, we are just going to stick with what we are doing, and maybe I'll try to increase the amount over the summer when we aren't trying to work around 2 very different school schedules (E goes 9-12, and the big kids 1130 to 230).

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06