Reading is Exciting!

By Children Rising | February 21, 2013

Erick is always very excited during our tutoring time. Before I have a chance to say, “Hi, Erick!” he greets me with, “Hi, Miss Madalyn!” which is usually quickly followed by a question such as, “Is that your car?” or “Why do you wear a name tag?” or “Do you speak Chinese or Spanish?” or “Where is your sister?”
Oftentimes, my answers lead to more questions, and I have to steer him to our task at hand. It always surprises me that he is equally enthusiastic about learning more about reading as he is about our conversations before we start tutoring. I take this as a sign that Erick values our relationship as well as becoming a strong reader. We are a bit like gym partners, working out our literacy muscles.

This time, he said, very seriously, “I want to tell you something.”
I asked him, “What is it?”
Then he told me about how he got lost in Sears during the weekend, and the security guards helped him find his mom.
We talked a little about getting lost and helpful people, then Erick started his work.

He finished his phonics workbook and whizzed through most of his sight words. He then read a book to me that amused him greatly: Put Me in the Zoo.
This is a book about a bear/dog creature that can change the color, shape and size of his spots as well as  transfer them to other objects (including people), juggle them, make them fly, and form them into sock-shapes. Though it sounds like an odd book based on my summary, it makes a lot of sense when you read it. Erick enjoyed it immensely. “Oh! I like his spots when they are blue!” he said, and, “Look. Now his spot is shaped like a big egg.”

 

As with the last two weeks, Erick picked a book to take home. This week, he took home a story about a the adventures of a boy and his large dog. Next week will bring more excitement as Erick collects his prizes for finishing his sight words as well as his phonics workbook!