Chapter Book

N started and finished reading his first chapter book this past weekend.  It had been a goal of his since the middle of the school year to read a "Magic Tree House" book by himself.  For first grade conferences this past winter, each student had to come up with a goal for the remainder of the school year and N came up with this one on his own.  At the time, it seemed like a bit of a stretch and his teacher had suggested a more attainable alternative to use as a backup (be able to read "Frog and Toad" quickly).  N accepted this, but his primary goal has always been the chapter book.

Even though he does a lot of reading in school and we read to him nightly, up until last weekend we hadn't actually suggested he try reading this chapter book.  I'm not sure how he was going to meet his goal.  Anyway, on Friday I pulled out the first "Magic Tree House" book of the series and brought it up for bedtime reading.  I read the first chapter as N looked on.  When I finished, we discussed how many words he knew - most of them, it turns out.  Now, I usually read a few chapters at bedtime but this time I stopped after chapter one.  I told N that Mom would probably read a little more when she came up, but that he could read ahead some on his own if he wanted to.

That was all it took.  We found out the next morning that he had found a flashlight and had been reading after lights out.  He read in the van on the way to his cousin's graduation party.  At the party, he read as he walked around the house until he finally finished it.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from N during this time:

"What's the date?  I want to remember the day I finished my first chapter book."

"I know what this word is just by looking at it.  I sounded it out once, but now I know it's Pterodon, which sounds like it should start with a T.  I'm glad I don't need to sound that out again."

"When I get to school on Monday, I'm going to ask Mrs. Schultz if there's anything else she still needs to teach me for first grade since I already knew how to do math and now I'm reading chapter books."

He started his second chapter book last night.