Sunday, November 3, 2013

EJ Reads

DAD is passionate about teaching the Twins to love to read. There is much research that correlates good reading habits and high academic achievement as well as one study that links well-read adults to higher than average life satisfaction scores. But, he has spent too much time (in his opinion) on the basics to too little reward. And, he has spent more time with the Boy since in general girls seem to enjoy reading more than boys.

He has demonstrated how to page through a book from front to back.

He has demonstrated how to follow the words from left to right by pointing to them with his index finger as he reads them aloud.

He has pointed to the pictures to get their reactions.

And every time, they squirmed, wiggled, chewed the book, and otherwise disrupted the entire event.

Dad thought that it was getting nowhere. Perhaps, he thought, they were too young.

But then, for the first time tonight, EJ demonstrated remarkable "reading" skills.

Mom had given them an advertising flyer to occupy them for a time while she finished up in the kitchen. Dad was occupied on another task at the computer. Buggy, true to form, tore it apart and 'tasted' her copy. EJ, however, carefully placed the flyer on the floor, and squatted above it. He examined the colorful photos on the front and then he...

Turned the page!

He examined more photos and then, yep you guessed it, turned the page!

While on each page, he pointed to pictures and moved his hand from side to side. It was random, back and forth, but still more than anything he has done previously.

Mom was excited and pointed it out to Dad. Dad pretended it was trivial. He explained that he had been working with them on reading skills and knew that they would eventually pick up on the behavior. Inside though, he was beaming at his boy.

No comments:

Post a Comment