Short & Sweet – Kiwi Readers

Short & Sweet – Kiwi Readers

I'll always remember New Zealand as the place my kids learned to read. Fiona knew a couple or three dozen words before we arrived, but wasn't reading sentences. Finley knew the alphabet. These days, I wonder how long it'll take before Finn catches Fiona in reading. Both kids read aloud almost every night – it's their homework.

Here's an excerpt of what Finley's reading, from Pussy and the birds:

Pussy is hungry.

Pussy is looking

for a bird.

Here comes a bird.

Here comes Pussy.

The bird is up in the tree.

The bird is safe.

The birds look down at Pussy.

Naughty Pussy!... (3x,. I had to help with "naughty")

Fiona read Good-Night Little Brother:

"I don't want to go to bed," said little brother.

"OK,"said big sister.

"Just put your pyjamas on to show Teddy."

"I don't want to go to bed," said little brother.

"OK," said big sister.

"Just get under the blankets to show Teddy."...

...I won't leave you with cliff-hangers: The birds escape death after Pussy falls asleep. And Little Brother falls asleep. I see a pattern. Or a hint. Good night, Little World. I'm getting into pyjamas and going to sleep.

Interesting text about literacy education in NZ here: http://www.readingonline.org/international/inter_index.asp?HREF=/international/king/

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