On Saturday, Annelie figured out how to string letters together to form words. Let me just admit, I didn't know this kiddo even knew her entire alphabet. We've been working on it for awhile and I've been wondering for some time now if my 4-year-old has learning disabilities like her dad did as a kid. Her letters are often written upside-down and she easily forgets what letters look and sound like to the point of where I say, "What letter is this?" and she frequently answers, "Um... B? No. Z? No. G? No. I forgot..."
I haven't been too worried - she doesn't start kindergarten for over a year, so I figured we have plenty of time to figure it out.
So. Saturday, we were working on her summer homework packet and Annelie's page was on the letter A. I said: Draw something that starts with A.
ANNELIE: I'll draw Annelie.
ME: Maybe you can hold something that starts with A in your picture. What starts with A?
ANNELIE: I don't know. What sound does A make?
[Makes all the A sounds]
ANNELIE: Apple starts with A! And the sound in the word PAT!
[Annelie scribbles all over paper]
ANNELIE: Look. It says PAT.
ME AND WILL [look at paper then look at each other having a Holy interplanetary yardsticks, Batman! moment]: Wow. You just wrote the word PAT!
ANNELIE: YAY, I wrote the word PAT! Now I'm going to write CAT! [writes CAT] Look! It says CAT!
ME AND WILL [.... O_O ....] Good job! It really does say cat!
ANNELIE: Now I'm going to write CUP! [writes CUP] It says CUP!
ME AND WILL [.... O_O ....]: Good job!
ANNELIE: Yay! I can write WORDS!
ME: Do you want to write another?
ANNELIE: Yeah! Now I want to write the word GINGERBREAD!
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Sunday, at dinner -
ME: Annelie, spell HAT.
ANNELIE: Huh... H! Aaah... A! Tuh.... T! [excitedly shouts] H-A-T spells hat!
ME: Yup. Spell DOG.
ANNELIE: Duh... D! Aw... O! Guh.... G! [excitedly shouts] D-O-G spells dog!
ME: Awesome. Spell BUS.
ANNELIE: Buh...B! [long, loud burp to make the UHHHHHHHHH sound] U! Ssssss....S [excitedly shouts] B-U-S spells bus!!
ME [facepalm]: ....
ANNELIE: And pardon me.
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after dinner, playing with the fridge magnets -
ANNELIE [laughs hysterically]: Gracie! Look what I wrote!
GRACIE: Um... You wrote BUT.
ANNELIE: I know. BUT! Get it? BUT! [laughs hysterically, again]
GRACIE [rolls eyes]: That's the wrong BUT.
ANNELIE [looks at word]: Oh. How do I spell the right one?
GRACIE [adds a T]: There. BUTT.
[Both kids laugh hysterically]
ME [facepalm]: ...
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Two days later, Annelie is stringing together 8-letter words by herself. (she got PRINCESS - even with that tricky C!)
This kid. She does impress me. She also keeps me facepalming on a daily basis.
Hope you're having a wonderful week, folks!
xoxo,
10 comments:
That's so cool! I don't have kiddos of my own, but I have heard several times that when things start to click, they really start to click. :)
Isn't it wonderful when that happens? Like floodgates opening up. At first they can't make the connection and you start wondering if they ever will -- and then BANG! It's suddenly the Johnstown Flood rampaging through town and knocking down everything in sight!
Yes, it's so funny when it happens! Totally unexpected. And it does always kick off a whole slew of connection breakthroughs. SO fascinating. And SO EXCITING! Especially for Annelie :) She's been jumping up and down for the last couple days, begging for more words to read.
That is so amazing... and hilarious! :oD You're kids sound like such a joy, and very intelligent to! Congratulations on doing such a great job with them!
That's awesome! you've got one smart kid there. Not many kids pick up spelling and reading that fast! She's ready for the big time. :)
Awesome. Now that both your kids read you won't be able to get away with anything! I'm excited/scared for when either of mine figure it out.
Hi Leah! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and commenting on the Custard Cream Cookies. You know, I had the same question asked from another US blogger and I didn't realise that it wasn't available in the States. I did a bit of a search and I found that Instant Vanilla Pudding could be used as a suitable replacement but couldn't guarantee the results. Alternatively, you could substitute with cornflour and 1 tsp vanilla extract. I really should research my recipes a little more before posting onto US linky parties! LOL Nice of you to stop by. If you make them, let me know how you go.
By the way, love your blog and what a gorgeous family you have!
Anne @ Domesblissity x
Wow! That is truly impressive. What a smart little cookie. So much to be proud of, Mama!
That is awesome. Mine is at the same spot, I'm sad we don't live closer! I bet they'd get along fantastically :)
wow. that's impressive. it's time for you to read "battle hymn of the tiger mom" and prepare your children for college ---> next year.
geniuses!
butt.
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