What Will's Reading

I thought I would try and capture Will's reading level at this age, for future reference. So here is the text of the book he brought home today, with the words he needed help with red, bolded, and italicized.

Will, age 6 (and a few weeks)

A Look at China
"China is a country in eastern Asia. China is the third largest country in the world. The capital of China is Beijing.
China has deserts, mountains, plateaus, and rivers. Each part of China has different weather.
Giant Pandas and golden monkeys live in China.
More than one billion people live in China. They speak and write Chinese. This language is made up of symbols. (Hello is NEE HOW, goodbye is TSEYE JEE-en)
Many people in China use chopsticks to eat. The Chinese eat vegetables, meat, and fish. They also eat soup, rice, and noodles.
Chinese New Year is an important celebration. Families and friends gather to celebrate. They watch parades and fireworks.
Some Chinese people work in factories to earn money. Some people are farmers. They raise rice and other crops to feed their families. China's money is counted in Yuan.
Most people in China travel short distances by bicycle. They travel long distances by train. People also travel by boat, car, and airplane.
The Great Wall of China is more than 2,000 years old. It is about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) long. Thousands of people visit the Great Wall every year."

Since he finished reading, he has made a picture of the symbols for hello and good-bye, and wrote those words on the paper. He also made a little paper that says NEE HOW on it so he can take it with him tonight to remember, so he can tell his Chinese friends, Victor and Leo, on his baseball team hello in Chinese. I love that kid.