The DU Lounge

chowmama

(868 posts)

14. No.

Reply to electric_blue68 (Original post)

Mon Jul 28, 2025, 10:24 PM

Jul 28

My older (by a little over a year) sister asked to learn to read before kindergarten and my mother agreed to teach her. I sat on the couch with them. The family story goes that they realized a few weeks later that she'd taught me, too. However, I don't remember any of this; I just always knew how to read.

I do remember in kindergarten that there was a book written in handwriting script on the teacher's shelf, and I spent a lot of time struggling to decode it. I don't remember what it was about, but the code aspect fascinated me. They kept trying to drag me away to play with the other children and I kept going back as soon as their backs were turned.

Apparently, this was a problem. Notes were sent home. And the dreaded 'conference' came up from time to time. You'd've thought I was selling high fructose corn syrup behind the teeter totters.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

electric_blue68

58 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Inspired by Floyd's Kids Book question - do you remember learning How To Read? [View all] electric_blue68 Jul 28 OP

I remember. bamagal62 Jul 28 #1

😄 Well, you had a head start then! TY electric_blue68 Jul 28 #6

I remember the exact moment TexLaProgressive Jul 28 #2

Very cool! Ohhh, boy, I could see how you'd be bored! electric_blue68 Jul 28 #7

I remember flash cards JoseBalow Jul 28 #3

I wonder if we had flash cards back in the 50's. Ty. electric_blue68 Jul 28 #8

The funny papers, then the news. Floyd R. Turbo Jul 28 #4

That's a fun way to start. 👍 electric_blue68 Jul 28 #5

😃 Floyd R. Turbo Jul 28 #10

Dr. Suess and comics first buzzycrumbhunger Jul 28 #9

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel Brother Buzz Jul 28 #11

I loved that book, too, Brother Buzz! Diamond_Dog Jul 29 #27

I remember when fell in love with reading, Ohiya Jul 28 #12

I remember the first book I read berniesandersmittens Jul 28 #13

No. chowmama Jul 28 #14

Almost by osmosis. Heh, they should have admired your initiative! electric_blue68 Jul 28 #19

I remember being taught to read by my grandma KitFox Jul 28 #15

Interesting - readers. TY, and YW. electric_blue68 Jul 28 #18

My moms brother Pete, sat me down and we looked at newspapers together. irisblue Jul 28 #16

Interesting! electric_blue68 Jul 28 #17

Nope Oeditpus Rex Jul 28 #20

I kind of taught myself before 1st grade started. LudwigPastorius Jul 29 #21

Good on you. 👍 TY electric_blue68 Jul 29 #22

My older sister taught me 10 Turtle Day Jul 29 #23

Good on your sis, and that nun! electric_blue68 Jul 29 #37

Library card at three years, remember being taught to find small words in big words... quaint Jul 29 #24

At 3 yrs old! Wow. electric_blue68 Jul 29 #38

Picture books helped me learn; wasn't reading then, just learning to love books. quaint Jul 29 #43

👍 🤔 At the moment I can't think of any picture booksure electric_blue68 Jul 29 #49

Petunia quaint Jul 29 #50

Ah, I ?misunderstood... I was thinking... electric_blue68 Jul 29 #51

I don't remember how old I was but it was when I was very young LogDog75 Jul 29 #25

Ah...i don't remember that, either...sounding out the letters. electric_blue68 Jul 29 #39

I learned from an expert - my first grade teacher.. Permanut Jul 29 #26

Well! There ya go! electric_blue68 Jul 29 #40

I don't remember anyone really teaching me, I must have picked it up by myself. Diamond_Dog Jul 29 #28

Cool you knew how by then. Interesting about your mom. electric_blue68 Jul 29 #41

I don't remember not being able to read. Ocelot II Jul 29 #29

I like your long words skill! electric_blue68 Jul 29 #42

I was reading and writing at 3. My older sister liked to play school ms liberty Jul 29 #30

Another one who's older sis played school! And writing at 3! electric_blue68 Jul 29 #44

I don't exactly remember Jilly_in_VA Jul 29 #31

Woah, having a first and second reading group... electric_blue68 Jul 29 #45

In fairness to my first grade teacher Jilly_in_VA Jul 30 #56

Wow. Moms(parents) were told Not to Teach their kids before first grade... electric_blue68 Jul 30 #58

yes - we had a magnetic board on which you could attach letters DBoon Jul 29 #32

Cool! Good to start out w a positive word. electric_blue68 Jul 29 #46

I can remember not being able to write susanr516 Jul 29 #33

Blocks - clever, at 2! Yay on your dad! electric_blue68 Jul 29 #47

Yes I do! I was 3 years old and I reckon Dad wanted to see what all I could do. He started putting me in his lap with Dorothy V Jul 29 #34

Yay on your folks, great process! electric_blue68 Jul 29 #48

All About Books Dorothy V Jul 30 #57

I don't remember not being able to read. I do remember learning how to talk. hunter Jul 29 #35

Wow, sorry to hear that! The brain is still fairly mysterious electric_blue68 Jul 29 #36

The three little kittens who lost their mittens CrispyQ Jul 29 #52

Cool! I don't remember if my mom ever read to me. electric_blue68 Jul 29 #54

Yes I do. boonecreek Jul 29 #53

I don't specifically remember any "Aha!" moment. I have a very distinct memory... 3catwoman3 Jul 29 #55