We tried to keep them feeling good about themselves as readers, but it was especially hard with Gabe, maybe because of his personality. We learned to compromise and work out deals. It really helped to be able to take home books that he was working on at school and relax with them in the evenings. My advice to teachers and parents of children who are not learning to read at an early age is to be both patient and persistent. I believe it is important to realize that whether a child reads at five or eight really does not make a difference in the big scheme of life.
Children can still grow up to be rocket scientists or whatever they want to be.
It is crucial for teachers and parents to understand Heidi's experience. In particular, teachers need to keep children feeling positive about themselves as they employ a variety of reading strategies. Teachers and parents may not agree. It is crucial to remember two points. First, children are indeed still developing at this young age.