How much reading is too much for my emerging reader?

[queenireneof3]

Hello...

One question to run by all of you. My 8yo is reading the emerging readers list now. He is about 2/3 thru The Beginners Bible. He reads about one or two stories and then is done. This takes less than 10 min. I am concerned that he is technically entering 3rd grade and not more advanced with his reading. I don't want my fear to push him to read more than is necessary, but I am wondering if I should gently push him to read for a longer amount of time. Maybe two sessions a day? I don't want to squelch a love for reading by making it too long, but I also don't want to wimp out on pushing him a little harder if that would be good for him. He is a good reader but just wants to be done after one or two stories.
Thanks.

[StephanieU]

Have you considered doing the supplemental titles with each unit as well? These are listed with the ER questions in the Appendix. They are at the top of each unit. They would add to the reading without speeding up the ER processes. Your are already reading books at a second grade level, and by Unit 16 (Prairie School), you will be in the 3rd grade level. The last book is often considered 4th grade level even (The Courage of Sarah Noble), so he will be on pace if you just keep with the ER books.

[TrueGRIT]

I would say to have 2 reading sessions. You don't want to push too much at one time ... Yet it would be a good idea to practice a bit more.
That is what Julie (my3sons) suggested to me with my oldest. Ds did not have enough stamina to read for more than about 7-8 minutes at a time. Two sessions a day helped.
I think you are on the right path.

[queenireneof3]

I have looked for the supplemental titles in the library and haven't found them yet. I have picked up a few different ones and he loves to read them. A friend also gifted us with her old abeka readers and he also loves reading those.

Maybe I will do two reading sessions with him and add an extra book or abeka book after he reads the beginners bible.
Thank you.

I just don't want him to go too slowly...

[Nealewill]

I am sure I sound a little mean but I always make my kids read at least 10 minutes for every grade plus an additional 10-15 minutes. We read for school during the day but an extra 10-15 min a night before bed. They can break their school reading up during the day too. I have just found that my oldest hated reading and would do it minimally. I had to build her up to the volume that she would read was she got older. With my son, he shocked me this summer. I told him (well all of them) that if the wanted any media, they had to read for it. My two oldest got 1 minute of media for every minute that they read up to 1.5 hours of media. My youngest got 1.5 minutes of media for every minute read. They all maxed out their media every day! I was shocked! So maybe an incentive type thing would naturally encourage more reading

[queenireneof3]

Daneale,
That is just what I was wondering...if I pushed him to read more would he hate reading eventually. I never thought of incentives. I will have to think that one over! Yesterday we did two sessions and the first I required him to read an extra story. He did it just fine. Maybe we will work up to 10 min per grade! Thanks. Since I am not a certified teacher I don't always know what is a good idea.

[Kims]

I LOVE the incentive idea.

[8arrows]

I like the 2 sessions idea. I am thinking through this with you as I need to push my emerging reader a little too. She is number 7 and we are in the midst of rearranging rooms as one heads off to college. I need to keep on top of this!!!

[queenireneof3]

Two sessions has been working well. He reads to me during the day and to dad at night when it works out. I now have him read one or two stories from the beginners bible, then he reads from the abeka reader we were given. Wish I had the supplemental titles listed in the guide. Still probably not enough but at least it is consistent.

[Nealewill]

Glad to hear it is working out for you! I think building them up slowly is totally fine too. Don't want to overload them And the gradual transition is much less stressful for them too.

[raindrops]

We've been doing the 2 session's. Emerging readers during school time and library books at night work out well. I get a stack of level 1 from the library and let him choose which one to read so he is very motivated. There is an interesting assortment of history and science readers available. I let him read until he says that is enough. He reads for longer than i would make him so it works out well. He gets really into the books.