Our "reader" (VIDEO)

As a high school teacher, of course I believe education is important. When A. reaches school I hope to be able to help her with math (even if they learn to multiply using the crazy lattice method!) Sometimes I worry that I do not know how and therefore am not preparing her for school at a young age. It dawned on me that we have 52 weeks a year and there are 26 letters that perhaps I should spend each week covering a different letter. Thankfully a friend of mine who teaches 4 year old Kindergarten said NO WAY! I was relieved that I was not hurting my child or causing her to be delayed.
Andy and I have decided that though she will be four next fall, we will not have her in 4K. The following year when she just turns 5, then she can take 4K. In our district, 4K is a half a day, 4 days a week. Every parent struggles knowing when to start their kid in school and though I am excited about her beginning the world of formal education, I would much rather have her confident and excited than overwhelmed and confused. Because she is a summer baby I just think she may need to start later. She receives the social experience at daycare and is learning to follow instructions at dance lessons and Sunday School. Neither my sister or I attended preschool and made the transition to kindergarten fine. I am excited we have a 4K program available here but will have to wait to have her experience it.

Which leaves us to tonight. Earlier this week, my A. decided to read every other page of this book with me. I had to call Andy in so he could be just as proud as me. Tonight she wanted to read the entire book and thankfully wanted to make a video of it for Grandpa and Grandma. Everyone else is just lucky enough to get to take part too. I do not claim my 3 yr 4 month old is reading- but she sure has an ability to memorize! In this video clip she is kind of quiet but reads all the pages. In another clip that I may post later, she is much louder and clearer, but gets stumped on "Its okay to get embarrassed" and then later when she is getting loud and I try to quiet her down she wants to be done reading.