Comments on: Teaching kids to read…

By: Mrs. Q.

Mrs. Q. — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:30:59 +0000

Don’t force it, but definitely encourage it! I borrowed Hooked On Phonics Learn to Read DVD/book series from my sister, who homeschools. My 5 yo son LOVES it. It includes a DVD to teach certain sounds, a workbook to reinforce the lesson and small books that review each chapter. After the first day, he read the included short book as was so proud. I also purchased Preschool Prep’s ‘Meet the Sight Words” video. To an adult, it is awfully boring and even grating, but my son (and 3 yo sister) likes it and was recognizing sight words within one viewing.

Now neither of these programs are cheap, and nothing beats personal instruction and reading with your child, but I have found both programs are a nice alternative to the TV when they want some screen time. At least they learn something and I don’t have to listen to Dora.

By: Dot

Dot — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:38:44 +0000

Actually, what I meant by that is that he tends to get frustrated and give up much easier than I’d like. I’ve seen him just quit his video game, rather than trying again and learning from his mistakes. So my fear is that if he starts out school frustrated, that he’ll mentally blow it off. If that makes sense.

By: Dot

Dot — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:36:36 +0000

Good point Katherine! Am I projecting?

By: Katherine

Katherine — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:06:23 +0000

” But on the other side of the coin, i don’t want him to be frustrated and behind. sigh..!”

Him? Or you? ;)

By: Dot

Dot — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:33:02 +0000

Colleen, I bet Arabella will be taking after her sis soon!
I think we honestly are pushing reading too early these days. But on the other side of the coin, i don’t want him to be frustrated and behind. sigh..!

By: Dot

Dot — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:31:09 +0000

Thanks everyone!

Katherine, I know, I’m probably over thinking this!

Beth – thanks for the heads up, I checked it out and I’ve removed the link and let Quirky Momma know about the problem. I’ve had that happen before and it’s awful!

Nancy – what a great idea for the computer game! We’re actually ‘writing’ books with him too… he thinks up the story and draws the pictures, and asks me how to spell words.

Rachel, I think I’m in both camps too!

Aimee, Good to hear both sides… I know it will all be fine, i’m just having parent first day of school jitters, I bet! I just remember being in the ‘top’ reading group (ie we had learned everything faster) so our little group got to do fun stuff, instead of boring stuff. So I want him to be ahead of the curve I suppose :)

By: Katherine

Katherine — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:51:49 +0000

I’m also in the “let it develop camp.” I think if kids are being read to, and around people who are reading, it will happen naturally. That’s what happened with me, and there’s statistics to back that up: there’s a high statistical correlation between children who are read to as very young children and literacy rates. As long as you keep stimulating The Boy, it’ll be fine, I’m sure. :)

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:42:42 +0000

FYI My security program advised that the cootie catcher link has a Trojan Virus attached to it.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:55:54 +0000

Have him read a favorite book out loud to you. It doesn’t matter if his story matches the books, it will get him comfortable reading out loud and will work that imagination.

Quinn and I play a matching game on my laptop computer. I open Works, enlarge the arial font to a fairly large size and type a letter while he looks away. He has to find the matching letter on the keyboard and type it in. We work on his schedule- meaning we take breaks to look at pictures of Hot Wheels cars.

Labeling things around the house with sticky notes helps and he can identify the letters as you print then say the word aloud. If you keep the words short, you can spell a word, have him repeat the letters, then send him off to find the labeled object. He can either bring the tag to you for reversing the game or call out and let you go verify his choice.

I honestly believe when kids see their parents enjoying books and have their own close at hand, the love of reading will grow.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:07:46 +0000

Well we are looking at this same issue, Arabella is supposed to enter first grade this year and is not a reader yet. Her sister was at about the same level entering first, good recognition but no reading. With Julia it clicked over Christmas holiday and by the end of the first year she tested at a 3rd grade reading level. This past spring (just finished 3rd grade) she test at a 14th grade (sophomore in college). Both of the girls listen to book on tape, all day, all the time. We read as a family, but I rarely read to them. Julia reads to her sister most night. We don’t push it, we buy books we read all the time. We will see how Arabella progresses most of my friend say it just happens, one day they can’t (won’t) do it the wham, they can.