reading, phonices, sight words and a ?

[Momma Aimee]

Ok I really don't care all that much about the reading war. We do a lot of phonices for Theo's speech. we also read a ton adn theo has a number of sight words now already. I think, truth be told, that you have to have both approaches and that we all read differntly.

note: we do phonics ONLY for his speech at this point, we are not trying to "teach" reading or writting, merely sounds for speech ...

Anyway -- I am reading Reading Magic by Mem Fox and she is a "whole" approach advocate talking about story, to word, to letter as the 'best' way to learn to read. she states that only 50% of the English language follow phonices rules, thus a full 50% opf the language HAS to be "sight word learned".

Well it seems to me when i read Well Trained Mind, it is upstairs, that Susan stated that 87% of the language followed Phonices rules.

I guess it doesn't really matter one way or another .... our apprach to reading with Theo will not be changing unless we get to be 6 adn 7 and he needs us to change.

but i am jsut wondering -- how much of the lanugae does follow phonices rules ....

[Daffodil]

According to this page:

Approximately 13% of English words are highly unpredictable in their letter-sound relations, such as the au in the word laugh. In contrast, 50% of words are very predictable. The remaining 37% consist of complex spelling that can be taught (as the au in taught and caught is likely to be introduced).

So the 87% percent figure seems to be for words that follow phonics rules, and the 50% figure for words that can be easily read with only the most basic phonics rules. And, of course, 100% of English words (at least, I can't think of any exceptions) follow phonics rules at least partially, enough to give you a lot of useful information about them. Phonics rules alone may not tell you how "laugh" is pronounced, but they do tell you it can't possibly be "girl" or "study" or "airplane."

[Momma Aimee]

thanks

[Stugroupie]

In my completely unprofessional opinion and experience ...

I am very glad that I was taught to read using phonics. My mil and dh were taught "whole language" or sight reading whatever you want to call it. I can read and correctly pronounce many unfamiliar words whereas they have much difficulty in doing so. My sister and parents were also taught phonics and have relatively no difficulty deciphering unfamiliar words. Just my personal experience, though.

I really like the Ordinary Parents Guide for Teaching Reading. Unfortunately it didn't work well for my son, but I am hoping to use it with my daughter. It seems to fit her personality/ learning style better.

We are currently using Modern Curr. Press Phonics for my 6yo. We just started it, so I don't know if it is helping, but he is enjoying the program.

[dotnetdiva]

I read that Mem Fox book and did not like it at all. Too bad, I like some of her children's books. Some children can learn to read with the whole word/language approach, but many can't. You might like reading "Why Johnny Can't Read" .

I'm also using OPG for my 4 year old daughter and it is giving her the tools to read (and attempt to spell, lol) almost anything, including words we've never come across before.

[Momma Aimee]

Thanks

I am reading Mem Fox Reading majic more in my current obsession with reading ABOUT reading aloud ...and reading ABOUT children's lit ...so i have not been as intrested in her "teaching kids to read" stuff. I espcailly dislike her anti-homeschool tone. :

I find the whole reading war rather silly -- JMHO -- but both phonics and sight words are necessary tools and we are all going to learn to read (and i guess even actually read) differntly just like anything esle kids learn ....

I am going to start a thread soon abotu "learning to read" programs to pick all of your brains about THAT.

















































ps any book suggestions re: reading ABOUT reading aloud ...and reading ABOUT children's lit ............welcome.

signed your local book addict.

:

[jplain]

Yup, I've also heard that well over 80% of English words follow phonics rules. Most of the Dolch sight words can be taught phonetically too: link.

Every time I see a thread with the word "cirriculum" in it, I'm reminded of why I'm choosing to teach phonics. I also figure I'm doing myself a huge favor...spelling will be SO much easier if phonics have already been taught.

[jplain]

Aimee, have you read Jim Trelease's Read Aloud Handbook? Your library surely has a copy, and I see it all the time in used book stores.

[dotnetdiva]

Yes, hands down, Jim Trelease's The Read-Aloud Handbook! It's so good it changed our lives and I dedicated our reading room to him! Even got a personal email from him.

That's what prompted me to get Mem Fox's book, hoping it will be just as good, but she turned me off about the phonics and homeschooling thing. Then I got to hear a bunch of homeschoolers from another community criticize her.

Jim Trelease's book is soooo worth the $10, it comes with a list of read-aloud books which alone makes it worth it, not to mention how he makes you want to incorporate reading aloud from day one all through their lives. He also has a website and you can see some of the books online.
http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/
The Treasury:
http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/r...ury-intro.html

[Momma Aimee]

thanks

thanks

thanks

(and I know my spelling sucks, i go too fast, and i have challanges in that area anyway ... so i know i am going to have buckle down on that for ME adn then the boys too)

[dotnetdiva]

Some people may also like this book, homeschoolers love it:
Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt

I prefer something more secular, but I'm still glad I have it. This one also has a nice list of books for ages 0-12, the entire section 2 is the book list.

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by dotnetdiva

Some people may also like this book, homeschoolers love it:
Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt

I prefer something more secular, but I'm still glad I have it. This one also has a nice list of books for ages 0-12, the entire section 2 is the book list.

that is my next buy ,,.....i have been wanting it for a long time