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On the other hand, I did not learn to read at home, I learned to read in school, in the early 80s, starting with basic alphabet in kindergarden (not before), an

On the other hand, I did not learn to read at home, I learned to read in school, in the early 80s, starting with basic alphabet in kindergarden (not before), and serious reading in first grade, which was standard then -- and by third grade was a huge nerd spending many hours a week reading recreationally, and reading "adult" novels like George Orwell. Your story is a good reminder that there may be more than one way to do it, I often think the way I learned to read (in school, in first grade) is clearly the right way to do it, since it had such good results. (In particular, i still think that earlier than kindergarden is too early for reading). On the other hand, the thing we had in common was the family culture of reading, everyone in my family were big readers. And my parents read to me a lot before I could read.

tomrod 4y ago
My story reflects yours (I was a "late" reader by grade but also the youngest in my grade, and voracious after I found the world larger than my tiny country town). Because we read with our kids, all of them were reading by late 3/early 4 years old, by their own desire. While none have had a propensity for George Orwell at the third grade, they do read things beyond their age levels. I was lucky, and my kids are lucky. I wonder, are there any organizations that folks can volunteer at to help kids at your and my age in elementary school learn to read?
- jrochkind1 4y ago
  I was not considered a "late" reader at all for the early 80s though, at least where I was -- they just didn't try to teach preschoolers to read then and there like they do now. I think what they do now is a mistake... but that could be my own anecdotal prejudices.
barrkel 4y ago
Starting X early is IMO a bit of a red herring with child development, especially when they're in the low single digits. Their minds grow in power recognizably on a weekly basis (particularly noticeable when you spend a week apart) that an amazing uphill achievement at time t can be a trivially picked up thing at time t+1. I think you're right on the culture thing. My kid loves new books and understands that they contain stories. A household without that is far more likely to cause issues with reading because the motivation will be missing.
- Aeolun 4y ago
  Yeah. Tried to get mine to ride a bike at 3.5 and he kept falling over. Now he tries again at 4.5 and he just immediately drives away.
  - analog31 4y ago
    Indeed, and it varies with each kid. My younger brother and I were 18 months apart. Whether he was "early" or I was "late," what was my mom going to do with him while teaching me to read? So we learned together.
- abeyer 4y ago
  Also, school curricula in the US are all based on grade year... which spans almost a whole year of age within a class based on enrollment date cutoffs.
- martindbp 4y ago
  Exactly. I try things with my son and observe if he's ready or not. There's no rush, nobody will care at 30 if you were a year "late" learning X. For example, I'm very skeptical of the trend of trying to teach advanced/abstract math to kids earlier and earlier. If they're that one in 100 and they are interested, sure. But in your late teens you just have so much more brain power, you'll easily catch up. I remember being intimidated in CS undergrad by the ubernerds, who had been coding since they were 6. But within a few months we were all at the same level anyway.
7thaccount 4y ago
I think a family culture of reading is huge. They eventually pick up that it is important and fun and that leads to a lifetime of learning.
abeyer 4y ago
> And my parents read to me a lot before I could read. I think this is the huge thing in common here. If kids are read to from a young age some might pick it up almost "on their own" while others may wait and learn in early elementary school "on schedule", but I think will largely see similar outcomes. But the ones coming at it for the first time from _not_ having experienced reading, even if only from being read to, are starting from a perspective lacking both background and motivation.

tomrod 4y ago

My story reflects yours (I was a "late" reader by grade but also the youngest in my grade, and voracious after I found the world larger than my tiny country town). Because we read with our kids, all of them were reading by late 3/early 4 years old, by their own desire. While none have had a propensity for George Orwell at the third grade, they do read things beyond their age levels. I was lucky, and my kids are lucky. I wonder, are there any organizations that folks can volunteer at to help kids at your and my age in elementary school learn to read?

jrochkind1 4y ago
I was not considered a "late" reader at all for the early 80s though, at least where I was -- they just didn't try to teach preschoolers to read then and there like they do now. I think what they do now is a mistake... but that could be my own anecdotal prejudices.

barrkel 4y ago

Starting X early is IMO a bit of a red herring with child development, especially when they're in the low single digits. Their minds grow in power recognizably on a weekly basis (particularly noticeable when you spend a week apart) that an amazing uphill achievement at time t can be a trivially picked up thing at time t+1. I think you're right on the culture thing. My kid loves new books and understands that they contain stories. A household without that is far more likely to cause issues with reading because the motivation will be missing.

Aeolun 4y ago
Yeah. Tried to get mine to ride a bike at 3.5 and he kept falling over. Now he tries again at 4.5 and he just immediately drives away.
- analog31 4y ago
  Indeed, and it varies with each kid. My younger brother and I were 18 months apart. Whether he was "early" or I was "late," what was my mom going to do with him while teaching me to read? So we learned together.
abeyer 4y ago
Also, school curricula in the US are all based on grade year... which spans almost a whole year of age within a class based on enrollment date cutoffs.
martindbp 4y ago
Exactly. I try things with my son and observe if he's ready or not. There's no rush, nobody will care at 30 if you were a year "late" learning X. For example, I'm very skeptical of the trend of trying to teach advanced/abstract math to kids earlier and earlier. If they're that one in 100 and they are interested, sure. But in your late teens you just have so much more brain power, you'll easily catch up. I remember being intimidated in CS undergrad by the ubernerds, who had been coding since they were 6. But within a few months we were all at the same level anyway.

7thaccount 4y ago

I think a family culture of reading is huge. They eventually pick up that it is important and fun and that leads to a lifetime of learning.

abeyer 4y ago

> And my parents read to me a lot before I could read. I think this is the huge thing in common here. If kids are read to from a young age some might pick it up almost "on their own" while others may wait and learn in early elementary school "on schedule", but I think will largely see similar outcomes. But the ones coming at it for the first time from _not_ having experienced reading, even if only from being read to, are starting from a perspective lacking both background and motivation.