These days, many (if not most) programs that teach readin' and writin' start with a phonics approach. "Sound it out," is the name of the game.

Paulette and I read to the kids each night, and Alex has been particularly interested in the "Frog and Toad" books. In one of the stories, Toad makes a "To Do" list for the day:

• Wake up
• Eat Breakfast
• Go see Frog
• Go for walk with Frog
• Etc., etc.

After Alex had had this read to him a couple of nights in a row, he decided one morning that he should make a To Do list. He asked for paper, and began to write his list. The first item was something like "Wyk up", which ain't bad.

His babysitter was coming over that day, so on his list he wrote, "Gooleu".

You see, "G" can make a hard "guh" sound, as in "gutter", but it also makes a soft "j" sound, as in gist.

"Oo", of course, as in "moo".

"L" needs no introduction.

"E" can make a long "ee" sound, as in "me".

"U", naturally, sounds like "uh", as in "umbrella".

And therefore, Gooleu is his babysitter, Julia.

I'm not sure of whom I'm more proud: Alex, for his giant leap forward in writing skills at the tender age of four and a half, or Paulette, who could actually explain to me what he had written.

:-)