Why reading lessons are difficult

One of my biggest parenting mistakes has been assuming that my children would love something because I love it. I assumed G would love to read from a very young age because I have always loved to read, and remember learning to read fairly quickly and young. G loves books, loves stories, loves being transported to a different world...but learning to read is hard work, and she doesn't like hard work. So my six year old CAN read, but she is not as proficient as I naively dreamed she would be. A big part of the reason why Georgia isn't reading more is because I am not practicing with her as I should. Why? Because reading session absolutely tired me out. Please don't get me wrong; I love my daughter, I think she is really really bright, but sometimes reading lessons are like today:

(Words G is reading are in BOLD, her comments are in italics, my responses are in [brackets]

Shack- This word is like shark. Why haven’t I ever seen a shark? When can I see a shark? What about the dolphin with all the blood? What happened to her? [She lost her tail, but they put another one on] Oh no!...[brief sideline into the story of "A Dolphin Tale"]

Shop- Like shopping? At a shop. Like Target. Can we go to Target? I want to buy dress ups and princess stuff.

Shed-Like our shed in the backyard. Where did we get our shed? [We bought it.] Who put it there? Did we bring it home in our van?

Whiz- What’s whiz? [Someone who is really smart.] Dora is really smart. She knows a lot of things.

Chick- A chick is an tiny baby chicken that is white or yellow or brown

Chuck- Ooh, that’s a big word! [b/c of the capital letter.] Like Mr. Chuck!

Smog- What’s smog? [like fog, but thicker and more dangerous.] It’s yucky and will kill you. Where is our smog? **

Smug- What’s smug? [It means to think you are the best at everything.] I’m not the best at everything. [Who is?] Jesus is the best at everything!

Snag- What does that mean? [Snag mean to catch on something.] Like using a net to get a butterfly

Snip- Like with scissors you go snip, snip, snip.

Sniff- That is when you smell something that is really sweet and spicy and you sniff (snff snff sound) it

Snub- What’s snub? [To ignore someone.] Like when you and daddy are talking and I want to say something and you do this [turns her head away but cuts her eyes at me].

See how a reading lesson might wear someone out? Love her inquisitive mind, though, and do not want to quench it in any way!

**funny aside--the first time she read the word "smog" she asked if it was the name of the dragon in The Hobbit. Smart girl.