Why do I have to know that?

Will is in kindergarten and is learning to read. He has been sounding out basic sound patterns for about a year. Words that rhyme with his name were the first ones he learned - pill, dill, bill, fill... you get the idea. His opinion was that his name was cool, and rhyming was cool, so therefore these words were worth learning. But he hasn't been very interested in the rest of the words, although he has slowly picked up most basic patterns. He loves books, and often brings me a book to read. He reads the first page himself, then gets frustrated and/or bored, and asks me to read the rest of it to him. Patience is not his strong suit.

So I was pleased when his teacher finally started sending home books for him to read for homework, knowing that she was now reinforcing what I had been working on with him at home.

Last week we sat down to read one such book, entitled I Like Noise. It featured Mr. N, who likes noise. (Riveting, I know, but he likes them so I am cool with it. Plus, I loved the Letter People when I was a kindergartner, thanks to Ms. Carolyn.) One page said, "I hear a telephone," and there was a picture of Mr. N and his telephone. When Will got to this page he said, "I hear a phone." I told him to back up and read the word again - sound out the first few letters. He sounded out "tele" and realized his mistake.

He then looked at me with a frown on his face and said (remember, you have say it without the R sound), "Why in the world do they think I need to know the word "telephone"? I am only in kindergarten!"

Apparently learning new things isn't a big priority right now. Just recess and the bus. We will have to work on that too.