I know and respect that "every child is different" But I was wondering if anyone knows about how long, on average, it takes a child to learn to read? I mean, to learn and know all their phonic rules and be able to pick up any book they want and read it? Assuming the child is mature enough to read, and ready to read and all that. Would you say about....3 months? 6? More? To go from knowing that letters make sounds to reading...well, any children's book they want? To read readily and with comprehension any book containing a 5th grade or lower vocabulary?
To know ALL of the phonics rules? Well enough to pick up a book and read anyone without error? Hmmmm....that's tough. I would say that MOST phonics programs start at K and go until about 2nd grade. After that, formal phonics is usually done and the child goes into more Language Arts type education, and more advanced stuff. Now...it truly does depend on the child. All three of my children learned to read using Starfall. All of them were pretty independent readers by 5 to 6. My youngest is the most recent to learn...and she will pick up ANY book and try to read it, and I do not discourage her. I do HELP her. And when we go to the library, my kids are allowed to pick ANY book in the children's section (as long as the subject matter is appropriate for our family)...regardless of reading level. But they HAVE to read it (even if it is with me by their side). THis has made for some curious readings....but...it's also challenged them beyond their level and made them more confident readers. I have a vivid memory of my son (middle) when he was 6 picking out a Children's Classic Version of Swiss Family Robinson at a used book sale for .25. it took him about 6 months to read it. But he read it, on his own!!!! I would sit with him, I would help him IF HE WANTED MY HELP. I would tell him what certain words meant so he could understand it. Often after me helping him with the word's meaning, he'd reread the sentence emphasizing how it needed to be. There were times he'd get frustrated, and he'd put the book down and not read it for a day or two, but he'd always go back and pick it up, and read it. Always. My oldest was this way too. Her first on her own books were American Girl books - at 6 - and she STILL reads them over and over again at 10. I am a firm believer in NOT LIMITING the budding reader, allow them to challenge themself. I also still allow my 10 year old to take out picture books. Are they below her reading level? Yes. BUT...truth be told, I LOVE picture books, and often find many that I never read as a child and will read just for my enjoyment. REading is reading!
I think you're really asking 3 different questions here. Reading phonics, reading comprehension, and 5th grade vocabulary. Comprehension has a lot to do with maturity. Vocabulary has a lot to do with language exposure and usage. Phonics or not, a child wouldn't be able to read with understanding until those two things are addressed. Learning the rules of phonics...? IMO, 2-4 years is average. One year or less is above average.
Good point 2littleboys, I guess I am asking a 3-in-1. I agonized over how to word that post... Vocabulary: Really, I just meant any book aimed at an :elementary: level child when I said a 5th grade vocabulary. We use a fairly expansive vocabulary around the house and I've been slowly but surely working on expanding the boys vocabulary, almost everyday they ask me what some word I've just used at them means and I tell them, and use several contextual examples. I know they're learning because I hear them using the words amongst themselves. I'm trying to get Ultimate Phonics in the Fall, and will be having 6yo go through that, to fill in any gaps in his phonic knowledge, and that program also goes up to 5th grade vocabulary. Reading Phonics: We're using TRL right now which is giving him a good grounding in phonics and I expect 6yo to really do well with UP once I get it. Reading Comprehension: Now that I stopped to write this, I just have to say that phrase has always struck me as an oxymoron. Is it even considered reading if one derives no comprehension from it? After all, reading means: ...."a cognitive process of decoding symbols for the intention of deriving meaning." So, it isn't really reading without comprehension. {:. (When did I make 200 Posts on this site...)
My daughter began reading at a 2nd grade level just around four years old and she began at three with only Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, which is not a phonics based program. I think she began reading fluently in another year or two. She is now nine and is reading sixth grade level books easily, but it is still challenging as there are still words she comes across she does not know. As to phonics rules, she learned to read first and we have been doing the rules as part of her spelling curriculum, which we are still doing. That is kind of backwards as to how most people do it I think, but it worked for my daughter much better that way.
Again... it really depends if you're talking about being *able* to read the written word, or being able to comprehend what you're talking about. I read stuff all the time that I have to re-read two or three times to really get the full meaning. I *can* read anything in Latin, because I've learned the basics of pronounciation, and I already know how to read English. That doesn't mean I'd have a clue what was being said. My son is on a high school reading level. That just means he's *able* to pick up pretty much anything and read it. He certainly wouldn't understand it, though! His comprehension is 2-3 grade, and his maturity level is that of a typical 4 year old.
