Spell Boy, originally uploaded by cheryl.
For as long as we can remember, Xander has been fascinated by letters. He learned his ABCs early, long before his big brother even learned them, and he never really looked back. He's been singing the ABC song to us for a while, and he sings it fast. He can pick up in the middle or correct you if you miss something. The kid knows his ABCs.
Now he can write them. He's probably had the ability for a while actually. But he tends to be a bit of a perfectionist in just about anything he does, so it was kind of a problem. If the letter didn't look just write, his temper would kick in and he would either erase (on the MagnaDoodle) or scribble it out (on paper). He would often crumple the paper or toss whatever he'd been writing on for good measure. Did I mention temper?
Lately, he's gotten over it. The perfectionism, I mean. Not the temper. He's started writing his own letters. In perfect, alphabetical order, of course. Some of them are still kind of rough looking, but they're still legible. They are, in fact, more legible than the letters his six-year old brother scribbles on his homework.
In addition to his new letter writing ability, we are beginning to suspect that the kid can also actually read basic words. It's not surprising really, given his fascination with letters. And his ability to spell words. He's been reciting word spellings off WordWorld and other shows for years, too. That kicked in about the same time as the letter fascination.
Now he's walking up to random objects, spelling out the letters and then saying the words. Before anyone else tells him what the word actually is. His teachers tell me he likes the fire alarm at school. He walks up to it, spells out "Fire, Pull Here" and the proceeds to tell them what it says. So far he hasn't followed through, thank goodness. Though, as I told his teachers, one time would do it. He would hear that loud, screeching alarm one time, quickly cover his ears with his hands and not do it again, I'm pretty sure.
Letters. Words. Reading. All big things. Now just don't tell Connor, because he's really not going to like it when Spell Boy moves past him in the reading department. It already frustrates him that Xander walks around spelling out words and Connor can't, at least not to the same degree. I get the feeling Connor is not going to like sharing his school with brothers for the first time next year. What do you think?