Thread: Read before school?

My qualifications as a teacher are probably less important here than my status as a parent of two children who were both very keen and early readers. I was a secondary teacher and always felt envious of infants and primary teachers because they were the ones who saw children develop that absolutely essential skill - the ability to read.
My suggestion is that all parents should be able to have their children start school not necessary able to read but definitely wanting to read. There are all sorts of easy ways that can be done including reading books, reading street signs, even reading soup can labels so that they get the idea of just how much important and interesting information there is available out there for people who can read.
Some parents will even be able to have their children able to learn to read before they start school. If the kids are keen, you will have trouble stopping them learning.
It doesn't matter if they can't read when they start school, just so long as they want to read.
So long as you don't do anything to spoil their enjoyment of reading, I don't see what harm you could do. Go for it.

Thank you all for your thoughts on this.

We will work with her and see how we go if she remains keen

I agree with Allan on his comments. Some teachers have way too many expectations of 5 year olds. In the goldfields teachers expected kids to be able to read and write before starting year 1. We do what we can at home but at the end of the day this is what we pay teachers for. There are some great teachers and schools and some not so great. The inclination in the goldfields is to teach and concentrate on only the bright students and students that are kids of company managers. This can be heartbreaking to watch at times, especially when a kid has excelled and gets no recognition (not my kids, so is objective). In Esperance it is a different story, the teachers and schools seem to have a real passion for teaching and learning, my kids have advanced so far in the short time they have been down here. Have also had them in Kip Mcgrath tutoring as well to help out. So yes, teach your kids all you can but also do not be to disappointed if you cant. While reading and writing are extremely important so are a lot of other skills, and most kids that come from backgrounds where parents actually care are well grounded.
My 7 year old can turn a spanner (most tools) for that matter from just watching me. He absolutely amazes me, where his cousins up to 12 years old would not know what a screwdriver was. Learning needs to be balanced not just focussed in one area and above all enjoyable to be absorbed and is why I let my kids take and read any magazines like 4wd and motor bike as it helps and keeps them focussed.
Remember we only remember 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see, 50% of what we see and hear together, 80% of what we say and 90% of what we say and do together.

I think it is one of the most important things you can do for little kids, it helps develop imagination, lateral thinking, an extended vocabulary and of course a love of reading which will last them well into their schooling lives. Little kids minds are like sponges you can see them soaking every last bit up. Don't just read kiddies books to them read everything within reason to them, it is a lot healthier than sitting them in front of the tele for hours on end. Then there is the sense of pride you get when your grade 2 kids are reading at a grade 4 level.

yes teach to read.

they will love to learn the sounds letters make.

Michael.