Dear Carrie
My 5 1/2 year old doesn’t seem to be able to answer the Storytime questions for Reddy Fox. What should I do?
Dear Carrie,
I am doing Little Hearts for His Glory with my 5 1/2 year old daughter. Everything is going well except for Storytime. She is wiggly while I read Reddy Fox. She doesn’t seem to be comprehending any of it. She cannot answer any of the questions. Even if I read a sentence 3 times and ask a simple question about that sentence, she cannot answer it. She LOVES it when I read her storybooks with colorful pictures. Maybe I should just start letting her pick out easier books? Then I could just come up with questions for her? Is there a way I could find out her level of comprehension?
I can keep reading Reddy Fox to her, but I don’t think she is getting anything from it. Motor skill wise – she has no problems. Reading wise she is flying through phonics and sounding out words and reading short sentences. She just doesn’t seem to be able to answer the Storytime questions for Reddy Fox. So, what should I do? Thanks for any suggestions!
Sincerely,
“Ms. Please Help My 5 1/2 Learn to Answer Storytime Questions for Reddy Fox”
Dear “Ms. Please Help My 5 1/2 Learn to Answer Storytime Questions for Reddy Fox,”
I’m so glad you are getting a chance to use and enjoy LHFHG! We have fond memories of using LHFHG with our own four sons. In answer to your question, I would encourage you to continue reading Reddy Fox and doing the follow-up activities. It is no surprise that your little honey is struggling with it since she is used to colorful picture books instead.
The Storytime books were chosen to transition your child to listening to longer chapter books.
The books within the Storytime box of LHFHG are not meant to be picture books but were instead chosen to transition your child to listening to longer chapter book style readings. This will be a needed skill as your child heads into Beyond Little Hearts. Listening to chapter book style readings is a skill that takes time to learn, so we would not expect your daughter to do well with this skill at first. However, if you downshift to reading colorful picture books instead, it will be a skill that your daughter will not acquire this year at all.
Storytime readings and follow-ups are meant to be short and reading them without stopping helps the child retain the flow of the story.
With this in mind, I would encourage you to continue doing the Storytime plans as written for 9 weeks. The Storytime readings are meant to be short and the follow-up are meant to be short too. As you read, do not stop to reread or to explain the readings. Instead just read the scheduled pages straight through. This is because stopping and rereading makes a child lose the flow of the story. It also decreases the attention the child gives to a single reading. The habit of attention is another habit we are working to cultivate through Storytime.
Feel free to jump in and cheerfully help with the follow-ups as needed.
After the readings, if your daughter is unable to do the follow-ups, jump in and help her as needed, making sure to keep the follow-ups short and sweet too! Over the next 9 weeks, as long as you remain positive and cheerful about this area, I think you will be truly surprised at the progress your child makes.
I would find it surprising if she were flying through everything easily.
If she were flying through everything in LHFHG easily, it would be surprising! Instead, we have skills she needs to gain throughout this guide and gaining skills takes time, practice, and patience! I’d love to have you share an update in 9 weeks to see how she’s doing if you get a chance!
Blessings,
Carrie
Update 9 Weeks Later:
I wanted to give an update on my daughter’s progress with her comprehension of the Burgess books. We’ve now finished Reddy Fox, The Adventures of Peter Cottontail, and are within a few days of completing The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse. She enjoys Storytime very much, listens attentively and is able to answer most questions at the end of the reading. I am thrilled with her progress and so thankful that we continued as directed! Thanks for all the support! WE LOVE HOD!!!! 
 
   I can honestly say I don’t think we would be able to homeschool without it. I sincerely thank you again!
Sincerely,
“Ms. Loving My 5 1/2 Year Old’s Storytime Answers Now”
