How did YOU teach your dc how to read? - Page 2

[annethcz]

My oldest used Explode the Code primer workbooks (Get Ready, Get Set & Go for the code) to learn his letter sounds. Once he learned the sounds, he started decoding. To practice, we checked easy reader books out of the library. Allowing DS to choose his own books and pick things that HE is interested in has made a big difference in DS's motivation to learn to read.

DS2 and DD1 are using My Father's World Kindergarden curriculum to learn basic phonics. In addition to this, they're doing what their older brother did, and are checking out easy reader books from the library.

[LeftField]

Originally Posted by hsumam11

Thanks, again, for sharing your experiences, mamas! I can't wait til ds asks me to teach him to read! We've always read lots to him - now we're just doing little things like putting the subtitles on all the kid-friendly movies we watch and showing him some LeapFrog videos.

The whole thing is exciting, isn't it? There are also so many exciting reading milestones before a child potentially learns to decode. There are chapter books. I remember when we first started reading longer stories, like Winnie the Pooh. I remember the transition to chapter books, which started with easies like the Magic Treehouse. Then, we moved to stuff like Beverly Cleary and I was able to enjoy my childhood classics all over again. There are subject interests. When he shows a strong independent subject interest, you can make a special trip to the bookstore and help him comb the shelves for quality books to feed his interest. My son got his first library card around the time when he turned 5. I think it was exciting for me as it was for him. I think I still have my original library card somewhere, in its tattered paper jacket. Sigh. Ds1 was so excited about getting the library card. We put it on a Thomas the Tank Engine keychain and everything. Of course, now he says he needs a key to the car.

Then there are all the story activities that are linked to reading. I remember when my son started making up his own stories. I would write them down for him and he would illustrate them. My youngest doesn't do that yet. But sometimes we sit at the kitchen table and we make a story together. I'll start with something like, "Two little boys were playing in the yard when they found a magical door in the ground. They opened it and found...." And then each boy has a turn adding to the story until it's a long, crazy story.

There are so many fun reading things to do. *sighs a happy sigh and wanders off*