Tuesday, November 20, 2007

KayTar and the Great American Novel

Okay, not really, but I am taking a break from the bleakness of healthcare to brag a bit on the wee one. Bragging touches a nerve at times, so let me preface this by saying I know it is totally NOT normal at this age AND I am pretty certain it is tied to her unique little pattern of brain functioning. I've posted about this a couple of times before (all those links have videos of her doing her thing), but it has kind of reached a new level. Her reading vocabulary, which is now not only site words, has to be over 200 words. I know it sounds like an exaggeration, but our jaws drop DAILY from her reading something new. Her ability to retain these things is NOTHING we've cultured in her or worked with her on. When you say "My two year old is reading." the standard reply is "Well, we don't QUIZ OUR CHILD ON ACADEMICS." Well, neither do we. She just KNOWS this stuff. It is 100% her. We encourage it only because it is something she enjoys so much.

She's gone from words like stop, go, mom, dad, cat, dog, to words like work boots, library, bring, planet, adventure and so on. I wish I could remember some of the real jaw droppers, they are the ones that leave Josh and I slack-jawed in awe staring at each other. Words that I truly cannot place where she might have learned them in context. I really need to start writing them down, because she truly shocks us every day. She reads billboards out the car window. She lays down with me in the evenings when I read my novels and points to words and reads them to me. She reads words from the episode summaries that come up on the DVR menu. She lays with me looking at her own books, pointing out words and often sentences. She still doesn't understand the "rules". She doesn't consistently read left to right or top to bottom, but she is reading the words on the page. Not 100% of them, for sure, but a huge number. She attempts to sound new words out, too. When she learned library she said, "Yi. Buh. Rah. Eee." She says "Yi" because she can't articulate the L sound. I've heard her trying to sound out lots of words recently. It just so impressive. This is where she shines. She might not be able to jump or run or walk up stairs or hear with both ears or eat table foods consistently, but reading? That she understands. It blows my mind.

This video I took 5 minutes ago. I opened BubTar's riddle book from the library to a page we have NEVER read with KayTar and asked her to read it. This is the FIRST time I asked her to read it, I didn't even do a practice run before turning on the camera. I promise.



It might not be reading the Great American Novel, but maybe by Kinder, right? ;)

21 comments:

Becca said...

That is SO COOL! She is so smart.

S said...

Kyla: I understand EXACTLY what you're experiencing. Because Jack was the same way. He floored us at two; once he put together an 100-piece jigsaw puzzle. And now, at 5? No, he's neither writing nor reading the Great American Novel (heh), but he is reading entire chapter books to himself each night.

It's crazy!

(His older brother did NOT do this.)

Janet said...

She is completely blowing my mind right now. Amazing (and brag-worthy, in my opinion).

Amy said...

Brag away momma!

Incredible. That really is amazing she can read like that.

Aliki2006 said...

This was amazing to watch! Really amazing!

Beck said...

What a smart little cutie pie!

~aj~ said...

Yep, my jaw just hit the floor. She is incredible!

PJ said...

You and Kaytar have earned bragging rights!! That is amazing for a two-year old. Isn't it wonderful that although certain parts of her brain have not developed along the plane one would expect, in other areas, she so far exceeds expectations? Enjoy the victories! This video will be a treasure for years to come.

crazymumma said...

I'm sorry I missed so much, like 10posts I think. But I have caught up on a few.....

Her reading is astounding!

Julie Pippert said...

That's incredible and outstanding!!

Brag on!!

I taught myself to read at two, and was doing credibly well at three. Not THAT well (as KayTar) but reading is my thing I can do and let me tell you...how rich and wonderful reading makes my life.

She's blessed with that.

Julie
Using My Words

Julie Pippert said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chaotic Joy said...

Unbelievable! Good for her.

Gretchen said...

Oh, she's so cute! And Smart! Awesome! :)

P.S. I tried to email you but it came back--thanks for what you wrote to Bennie--it was so true and so wise and said what I had trouble saying. My son has PKS too. I've been praying for you guys.
God bless,
Gretchen
www.simonpeters.org

flutter said...

I am sitting here crying like a fool at how beautiful and smart and just so incredible she is, Kyla.

Anonymous said...

So cool!

I had one of those moments a couple of weeks ago. I handed Stevie a rubics cube that Don likes to play with. I had been mixing it up while we were watching TV, and I handed it to Stevie to answer the phone.

An hour later he returned it to me. Solved.

Kids are so cool.

natalie said...

I want to jump up and down and scream for Kay-Tar. That's unbelievable. I DID believe you when you said she was reading, but to see it and hear it is a completely different story. That's amazing. AMAZING.

Junie's Blog said...

I'm in AWE!!! Kaytar is absolutely amazing! This is definitely her talent and it should be bragged on! Go Kaytar!!

Anonymous said...

You might want to read about hyperlexia if you haven't already!

Kristin said...

Oh. My. Goodness. We are speechless over here too. Jason is convinced it is actual reading and not "just" a photographic memory thing.

I still cannot believe it and I've been here since she read her first words.

She is so amazing, Kyla.
Do they have any TV shows she could go on? Perhaps one where the prize is great insurance for a family of 4? :)

Girlplustwo said...

oh WOW. wow. M isn't able to do that yet and yet i see glimmers of it happening, of a whole new world opening up to her. hearing her figure that out and say those words was so precious.

Run ANC said...

That is truly amazing.