DS7 does not like to read. At all. He CAN read well above his grade (1st). If it is on the computer, he'll push through it. But otherwise, he wants me to read to him. We will read until I am hoarse. So he is still getting information in. If I make a mistake, he will correct me, so I know he is following along. If I declare a reading time, he will read until the timer goes off. Then he immediately stops. Nothing extra.
Should I be concerned? He has never been a big reader on his own. Although he will sit for hours if I read to him. I also think he is an auditory learner and wonder if that is why he wants me to read to him - he gets more out of the experience.
Any ideas?
I wish I did have some ideas for you Portia. Alas...we are right there with you, so I'm going to keep an eye on this post!
DD8 (2nd grade) doesn't like to read (AT ALL!), but she likes to be read to. She is in the top reading group for her grade and the teacher says she does a great job - reads with inflection, decodes what she is reading, and hardly ever stumbles over words. Her MAP scores indicate she is at about a 6th grade reading level. DD has even asked to go up a grade for reading next year, but she NEVER reads on her own at home and trying to get her to do so is impossible.
Just this week she had 3 small chapters in her school reading book to read for homework. She was procrastinating and said she didn't want to do it. I asked her why and she told me she didn't like the book and reading is boring. I asked if I could read the chapters she had already read, to catch up to the point she was at in the book, then we could read the 3 chapters of homework together. She conceded that would be fine. It was a cute book about a dog and she loves animals, so I really didn't understand why she didn't want to read it. When I got caught up she asked (very sweetly, mind you) if I would just read to her. I caved and read the 3 chapters aloud and when I finished she said, "That was exciting!" She wanted me to keep reading to find out what happened next.
The only difference with my DD is she doesn't follow along while I read. She will sit and listen or sometimes she will play with something while she listens - this can get on my nerves because it seems like she isn't paying attention, but when I stop and ask her what I just read she can repeat it back word for word. I think even if we sat side by side and I ran my finger along the lines she wouldn't follow along.
She has a great imagination, so one would think reading would be fun for her. That was why it threw me when she said reading is boring. I would think she could use that imagination of hers to really visualize what she is reading. Since she can obviously visualize when she is read to (hence the "That was exciting!") I wonder if there is an issue where when she reads to herself she is too busy just "reading" and she isn't able to really visualize what she is reading (does that make sense to anyone?).
I've posted several other times about how we still wonder if there isn't something we have missed even with all the testing she has done. This issue of not wanting to read is just one concern on our list. Our next step is going to be an appointment with a behavioral optometrist to see if they have anything to tell us. It sounds like you have already gone this route, so you are a few steps ahead of us there.
Maybe you are right Portia - it could just be that they are more auditory learners, but it is confusing and causes concerns. If you have any "aha" moments or any breakthroughs be sure to let us know! Good luck!!
(He reads at college level. Drives me crazy. Once in a blue moon he'll pick up a book and read it, but otherwise, he never ever reads at home. I've spent a small fortune on different kinds of books to get his interest. He still likes to be read to - which I tend to do on long car journeys. I won't be working this summer, so he and I will have reading hour every day - hopefully it'll kickstart something in him !! 