Book Worm

     In January 2009, I blogged about a book I had read about how children learn.  It was comforting to know that my kids were where they should be and I felt assured that pressuring them to read and write was not the right choice.  In May of 2009, I mentioned Kennedy's uncanny love for books (even though she couldn't read).  All last year I could see her making a little progress here and there with her reading.  She would NOT be pushed though, and sometimes I did worry about how little she was reading by herself.  I was aware that some of the kids in her kindergarten class were already reading at a second grade level.  I started to question myself and wondered if I should have pushed her harder. 

     Three months ago she started really taking an interest in reading, but was still only reading short picture books.  Then one day, she came home thrilled that she had tested high enough to read "Junie B. Jones" chapter books.  I was sort of surprised.  I had her read them aloud for awhile and was pretty amazed at her fluency and comprehension.  The first week that she started reading chapter books, she finished a book every two days. 

      Kennedy has officially turned into a little book worm.  She keeps a flashlight under her pillow (apparently something Junie B. also does) so she can read late into the night.  She laid out a blanket in her room and made paper trees to sit and read under AND Layne brought her home a large box and now she likes to read in it too.  When we went to the library the other day, she checked out more than 10 chapter books and has every intention of reading them all.  I'm so glad that she loves reading so much and I'm so glad I didn't stress her out by pushing her too much.  She might not have ended up loving it in the end.  Now Matthew is starting to read a few short picture books by himself and says, "I could read all day."  I guess sometimes I worry for nothing. 

Not only is she a book worm, she loves to play hard....thus the kitty-cat patches on her pants.