"And now I intend to learn about Bones"

Last night Liam pulled out his book that he brought home from the school library last friday. It was called "All About Your Skeleton." I was actually excited because it is the first book in over a year that he has brought home from the library that did NOT involve Rain Forests and/or the Amazon. Not that I have anything wrong with these topics...it's just that a little variety would be lovely.

When I asked him why he chose this new book he said "Well, I took out all the books about Rain Forests and now I intend to learn about bones." Yes. He intends to learn about bones. And skeletons, and muscles and nerve endings and various diseases that can plague all of the above. We sat down together and he read through about half of the book. I am continually shocked at how quickly he is reading and comprehending WHAT he is reading. He was sounding out pa-tell-a, and fe-mur and po-li-o and I just sat there in silence trying to keep up with him. He gets very agitated if I stop him because he is reading goshdarnit and can't you see his is busy learning stuff??

Sometimes he gets going so quickly that he jumps over words and just assumes it is the word he is reading. For example he may read "Someone discovered the nerves can..." when really it says "Scientists discovered that nerves carry..." I am fairly certain this is one of the things Mrs. Douglas will be focusing on with him...getting him to slow down and not make guesses or assumptions. The one thing she told us during the Parent Orientation was that they don't want kids reading too far above their age levels. This is to prevent a first grader from reading something written for a 5th or 6th grader and which may scare or confuse them because it is above their maturity and/or comprehension.

Which makes me wonder if reading a book about bones, and blood, and disease and yes, even "amp-u-tat-ions" is such a great idea for a 6 year old? Let me think about this and get back to you after Liam takes his MCAT.