Carmen is learning to read, sometimes with confidence, sometimes stumbling. It's very exciting to see how she is making sense of what is a very difficult skill. It's not something that comes naturally, like walking and talking, and it needs constant practice. In addition Carmen is learning to read in Spanish and English at the same time. "When you stay with me over the Summer", I told her "We'll do a little bit of school each day before having fun. That way you won't forget what you've learnt."
In My Day
Many people say that that they can't remember learning to read, but I can remember my first steps very clearly.
Mamma had refused to send me to the nearest primary school because of the over-crowding and was holding out for a place in a school slightly out of our catchment area. In the meantime, however, my education was not to be neglected.
Daddy erected a large blackboard and easel in the living room and sat me on the dining table opposite. He then wrote various letters, words and sentences on the board. He didn't ignore the rules of grammar and made no allowances for my age in explaining them. I well remember him explaining to me why "dinner" is pronounce one way and "diner" another. Because the following double consonant shortens the vowel, that's why.I might have been the only child in South London that went to school (after the truant officer had caught up with me) fully conversant with vowels, consonants and parts of speech.
There I was exposed to the joys of Janet and John, whose banal adventures did not, fortunately, put me off my love of reading and literature.
Keep going, Carmen, there such an exciting world waiting for you!
