I was watching my grandson, Dylan the other day. He’s 6-1/2, BTW and one of the lights of my life. He’s in Kindergarten, and he’s learning to read. Now first of all, go back and read that last sentence: He’s in Kindergarten, and he’s learning how to read. The fact that this little guy, whose diapers I was changing just yesterday (or so it seems…and wasn’t I just changing his mother’s diapers just yesterday too? How the hell old AM I?!), is learning to read just boggles the mind.
When I was in Kindergarten, I was learning how to tie my shoes, say “please” and “thank you,” and play nicely with others, all skills I still use today, mind you. But seriously, my report card did not say anything about reading. Reading??? WTH?! Moving on…
I was helping Dylan with his homework, something I do each week, since Grandma apparently has more patience than Mommy does. No biggie though, because I love to spend time with my not-so-little-anymore grandson. Anyhoots…Dylan has started to read a short “book” each week (you know, the photocopied-and-folded-in-half-and-then-stapled variety of book), and then he has to write a sentence about it. OK, for real. Hold the phone. He has to read a book AND write a sentence? This is hardcore for Kindergarten, don’t you think? Sheesh.
Part of Dylan’s process of reading is sounding out letters (you gotta love Phonics, don’tcha?!). So he does this a lot whenever he sees words he does not know. He was doing it while reading his little book and doing a great job. Quite impressive what a Kindergarten kiddo can do these days. ..compared to, you know, the Old Days.
So, once we were finished with his book and sentence, we took a TV break , natch. And there are always words on TV, especially on commercials. Dylan can’t always read them because they often disappear before he finishes sounding them out. But on this day, he managed to see the word, GLASSES And naturally, he begins to sound it out.
Ggg–Lll
He paused because the word disappeared when the commercial went away. Then he asked me, “how do you spell glasses, Grandma?”
I told him, G-L-A-S-S-E-S. So he started sounding it out again. I’d tell him the letter, and he would sound it out.
Ggg–Lll–Aaaah
He was doing great…
Ggg–Lll–ASSES….GLASSES!
“Is that right, grandma? Ggg and Llll and ASSES?”
“Yes, honey,” I replied. “Ggg and Lll and ASSES sure does spell GLASSES.”
Help grandson read a book? Check.
Help grandson write a sentence? Check.
Help grandson say ASSES, (in GLASSES, of course). Uh, Check.
I think my work here is done.
