Reading at five: why?

Early Childhood








  • In first and second grades they are early readers.













Joan Almon is Co-founder, Alliance for Childhood.
Comments & Ratings

  12/7/2013 5:45:18 AM

What Is One Supposed to be Reading at Age Five? 
I am a completely literate adult. I graduated from a top liberal arts college. I attended a rigorous private high school. I could not read a single word until I was in 2nd grade. I understood the concept of reading, but I couldn't do it before then. I did not learn phonetically, so that was a total waste of time. I went to a Montessori school and no one really noticed that I couldn't read. I do remember having to memorize a book about a cat in 1st grade to keep the teacher off my back. I had my mom read it to me over and over and learned when to turn the pages and what words to say for each page. I remember that reading simply happened to me. I read very quickly and could read like a normal person almost as soon as I could read at all. I have never really understood the concept of reading at a certain grade level. It seems to me, or maybe this is only true for sight readers, that if a person can read than he can read period. Vocabulary would seem to be the limiting factor in what one could read, not ability to read. Phonetically decoding words however is a far cry from comprehension, and this seems to be what is being taught so early to children. Which brings me to my final point - what the heck is someone going to read at age five that is either important or interesting? Nothing probably. It's much better to have someone read stories to young children. I don't think that an attempt should be made to teach children to read until at least the middle of first grade. If a child is an early reader on his or her own of course this shouldn't be punished, but teaching kids to read in kindergarten is a waste of valuable time.
  12/3/2013 3:51:25 PM

Former teacher, enthusiast of both Montessori & Waldorf 
Children shouldn't be pushed, pressured, and tested nor should they be held back! imho
In an environment where a child and his peers (some a little younger, some a little older) are exposed to letters, letter sounds, and books they will read at 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9. No
pressure though, Mom, Dad, and Caregiver. No one child should be made to feel more exceptional than any other. Help them learn that each is unique and talented in their own ways.
  11/21/2013 12:05:29 AM
Sydney Gurewitz Clemens 

It depends on how you teach...if you're supplying words children need, and not pressuring them, then 
So, the work of Sylvia Ashton-Warner, which I wrote about in my first two books (see my website: ) consisted of giving a child the words that named the pictures in his or her head... words like motorcycle or perfume, ghost or mommy... read her, or read me about her, or read Katie Johnson about her, but don't throw out the organic quality of learning to read important words with the nonsense of teaching phonics (which have no connection to life) to a young child. We have to distinguish between the form and the substance!
  11/20/2013 8:30:55 AM
Carroll Smith 

Thank you 
I love you Joan Almon and your courageous stand for our children. You are making a difference!
  11/19/2013 7:29:28 PM
Darline Pinheiro 

Early education 
It is no secret that those who control the money and education have no clue about early education. Just as a house is only as strong as its foundation so it is with education.
Until we encourage young children to play and to create their own knowledge, the United States will never never be able to creat in the STEM world market. Why does no one do anything about this?
  11/17/2013 9:43:01 PM

First grade teacher / mother of a kindergartener  
I teach first grade, and have a son in kindergarten. I am so proud that he is beginning to read 14 weeks into his kindergarten year, and have to say, he was probably more well prepared for school than his peers. HOWEVER, my poor little man is so exhausted on the way home from school that he falls in the car everyday. My feeling is that just because we can do something, doesn't mean we should. I pray that my son, who loves school and adores his teacher, does not get burned out due to the rigor of his studies.
  11/15/2013 2:32:35 PM

There Are No Children Here 
I recently had the opportunity to observe a kindergarten class at our school. What I saw was upsetting. There was several groups of little children sitting at table reading, or attempting to read. There were no happy little faces, no children engaged in play and no evidence of childhood taking place in that room. We have outlawed crayons and coloring and replace it with leveled texts. Creative play has been replaced with the Common Core Standards. When did education stop being about the children. As I walked around the room, I remembered a book that I had read many years ago and how the title would be appropriate for this setting. The book was titled "There are No Children Here."
  11/14/2013 5:53:02 AM
Swedish preschoolteacher..  

Let them play! 
So sad to read about things like this..
Thats how they learn!
Everyday and all the time.
Let them be kids as long as possible!!
  11/3/2013 12:33:58 PM
Kindie Teacher 

Ontario Full day Kindergarten 
In Ontario we are moving towards the end of a 5 year implementation of Full Day Kindergarten for 4 and 5 year olds. This program focus is PLAY. The children learn through inquiry and authentic tasks. Together the teachers and the children wonder about the world and seek answers to their questions. The children make, create and work on projects that they are interested in. This is very child centred and student driven. The program, if managed correctly is awesome. I believe our job in Kindergarten is not to prepare the children for Grade 1, but for life.
  11/1/2013 6:47:35 AM
Andrew Swan 

Friedrich Froebel where are you now 
Great article that is being shared in social media. Kindergarten - The Very name should should prevent this academic style. We certainly want need to wait 20 years for evidence, it's all around us, increases in dyspraxia, childhood illnesses related to stress and a teenage rise in mental health issues. Let the children play.

Issue 18.2 | Fall 2016

Southeast Education Network

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