My 5yo son, who is also in K and has also been tested (149 on the WPPSI) is likewise taking an interesting path towards reading. I don't know exactly what lies ahead for him. I think I've just decided that it remains to be seen what will unfold. I told his K teacher at his conference last week (he is in a gifted charter school) that he is a "complicated" child. She agreed. That's about all I can say. For some reason, which I can't figure out, my son has decided that reading is just not something he cares about. He resists reading both at home and at school. His teacher seems unconcerned. She told me (she has taught gifted kids for 10 years) that many of them are very strongwilled and must be personally motivated before they will do something. My son is not personally motivated where reading is concerned. For one thing, I read to him all the time, and the books that I read to him are things that he wants to read. The little early reader books are not the least bit interesting to him. We were actually talking about it today, because I keep trying to find books at the library (early reader style) that appeal to him. He asked me, "Why do you keep trying to force me to read?" I told him, "When I was little, I read all the time, and I want you to enjoy it too." He said, "You liked reading, but I don't. What I like to do is origami and legos." (This is true, he is absolutely obsessed with origami and can do some very complex creations that I can't even follow. He is also a lego master, something that I was never into as a child). Basically, I think my child is highy visual-spatial, but not visual (in a "photographic memory" sense). My father is a brilliant architect who failed fourth grade because he couldn't read. It's possible that my son might have something going on for him visually, but it is not severe enough to warrant any special ed concern yet. We have had his vision tested, and it came out normal. His fine motor skills and writing are above grade level, although he resists writing as well (his teacher showed us a writing sample that she said was outstanding, although he won't write AT ALL at home). I really don't know if any of this helps, but I would just say that with these kids you have to be patient. I know how hard it is, as I am not a patient person myself!
