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What is A GREAT way to teach your child to read?  

post #1 of 17
4/20/08 at 1:38pm
Thread Starter 
Ok Everyone. I am sorry if this thread has been posted before but I have read 6 pages and nothing that will point me to the right directions.
I just moved from Missouri and my daughter will be going to kindergarten this year but I found out they are not require to learn how to read or even have a passing reading level to graduate kindergarten. I am originally from California my oldest had to learn how to read at Kindergarten and had to read at level 6. She is doing fantastic at her age level due to learning how to read at a young age. I want the same thing for 5 year old as well. So I am going have to teach her myself on how for her to read. My daughter did asked me in Fall/Winter time she wants to learn how to read. I checked a book from the library called Teach your child to read in 100 Easy Lessons.She got bored real quick. She is a smart girl but I need to make it little more fun for her.
Is there a song I could teach that helps her to read?
What curriculms should I try?
I really need help here.
So anything that you can give me would be greatly appreciated?
Karey
post #2 of 17
4/20/08 at 3:14pm
Well ... first I wouldn't push a 5 year old to learn to read unless he/she wanted to learn to read and shows signs of being ready to learn to read. As a former California teacher (K-4) with a Master's in Reading Education and a current homeschooler, I see nothing beneficial with CA's push to have all Kindergarten students reading by the end of their K year. It is actually detrimental to many, "tracks" numerous kids into low-level classes/special reading classes, and can over-stress kids and parents. I applaud Missouri on not pushing kids before they need to be pushed. If left to their own, most kids will learn to read anywhere between age 4 and age 9.

That said, if you really feel like you need to have a 5 year old reading, I would not only make sure you read a *lot* to her (and a wide variety of books ... classic children's book, fun/fluffy stuff, poetry, non-fiction, fiction, etc.), but also unlock the code of the letters to her. If she is up for workbook style learning, I would use the Explode the Code series. They have a 3-book set designed for PreK/K level (Get Ready ... for the Code), and then the regular books starting at Book 1. If you want a non-workbook approach, then I'd recommend A Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading (published by the same company as The Story of the World). It's scripted though it does not have to be used as such. What, to me, is really good about it is it's very systematic, starting with consonants/sounds, moving to short vowel sounds, blends, long vowels, and digraphs/diphthongs/etc. Hope that helps.
post #3 of 17
4/20/08 at 4:04pm
I agree with reading lots of books to her--if she asks to re-read a book you've just read 100 times, do it! Point with your finger under each word as you read, and pause on some pages to see if she can 'guess' the last word before you say it (pause and wait for her to finish the sentence).

Lots of folks like starfall.com if you do anything on the computer. And enchantedlearning.com has some little letter books you can print out. Does your library have early readers? Like the bob books, etc.? Check those out and read them over and over...

I've never seen explode the code, but I've heard lots of folks love it.

Make good friends with the library.
post #4 of 17
4/20/08 at 4:49pm
Not all kids are ready to read at 5. My son was not ready until he was 6 1/2, and when he was ready, it was a piece of cake for him to learn. I don't plan on working hard to teach my 5 year old this year... she does not seem all that eager to learn right now, and I know she will within a year or two. That said:

We had good luck with 100 Easy Lessons. Yes, it was a bit boring, but when I pointed out that if he just put in his 10 minutes per day (we didn't do the writing part), he'd learn to read, he just did it. BOB Books helped build confidence, and now he's reading Frog and Toad type books, and Little Critter stories. Once they get the basics (IF they're ready to begin with), books they're interested in help, and they don't need much by way of instruction, IME.
post #5 of 17
4/20/08 at 5:30pm
How to teach your child to read in 100 easy Lessons is working wonderfully for my 5 year old.
post #6 of 17
4/20/08 at 5:37pm
i also recommend www.starfall.com and www.literactive.com. but honestly...since your child will be in public school, i would not be too concerned about really teaching her to read. the school is following a scope and sequence and it will be introduced in due time without a doubt. imo, your dd won't fall behind in the least bit if she is not beginning to read until first grade, as opposed to kindergarten. as for teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons....we hated it. my dd learned better through computer games and leapfrog products. good luck with whatever you decide!!!
post #7 of 17
4/20/08 at 5:38pm
Here's a link from a children's literacy nonprofit where I volunteer:

http://www.pageahead.org/childrens-l...or-parents.php

These aren't all age appropriate, but some might help. Definitely reading every day with her will help. Using play dough to make words, or labeling things around your home, will get her used to seeing words and putting letters together. Probably the most important thing is to make sure she has access to age-appropriate books. Hopefully you have a good library nearby- if so, you could check with the librarian and have them help you pick out some books. They love to help, and will know which books will be age-appropriate and will appeal to your LO's specific interests.
post #8 of 17
4/20/08 at 11:38pm
ITA with MyLittleWonders.

Reading to your DD is *the* most important thing you can do to help her along. I am always amazed at the commercials (PBS?) that say read to your DC 15 minutes a day. What? IMNSHO, that is very little reading time-an hour or more a day is more like it.

And utilize books on tape and CD! Your DC can be listening to great classical book while in the car, drawing,painting,etc..

I didn't care for The Ordinary Parents Guide To Reading, as I found it to be too busy. Whenever I brought that out, my DS's eyes would glaze over(at 6.5yo). He is loving The Explode The Code series-he can write in it, color the pictures, use colored pencils,markers,pens, or regular pencils to circle,write,etc.

Whatever your DD likes, find a way to weave that into a teachable moment. With my DS, he loves anything balls or vehicles, so he is happy to do copywork that involves writing something like,"Station number eight get your trucks ready!" or something along those lines. You can also ask her to tell you a story, and write it down for her. This provides her with the opportunity to see the connection between the spoken and written word.

Really, since you don't have to meet CA standards(GAG!!!), I would just enjoy reading to your DD, and let her play w/o any type of formal learning.Unless she is just begging to be taught of course!



mp
post #9 of 17
4/21/08 at 9:36am
Thread Starter 
Thank You for your responds, thought and resources. I think the reason why she wants to read is because I have read to her since she was a baby. We go to the library every week when she was able to walk. She loved books that I would read about 20 books a day to her. She got burned out two years ago then picked right back up. I still read to her everyday. That is our quality time. We don't read 20 books now but about 10 or less. She has been doing starfall.com and phonics and yesterday she was saying some sound of the letter B. So I was wondering if there was a cute song to help her say the sound to every letter.
I went to the library and it was that book I mention. NOthing else is available. It is a small library.
If you have more info that can help me GREAT keep it coming.
Thanks again for your help!
post #10 of 17
4/21/08 at 11:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MyLittleWonders View Post
Well ... first I wouldn't push a 5 year old to learn to read unless he/she wanted to learn to read and shows signs of being ready to learn to read.
I agree. I knew my DD was ready to read when she started picking up books all the time and pretending to be reading them and asking me to read them and then trying to copy what I said and memorizing book pages. That was a definite sign she was ready!

My DD started kindergarten in the fall of last year not ready to read. She did do a little but was not interested as much as both of her brothers were at the age of 5. She started school in the fall and started getting more and more interested as time went on. I worried at first since I had put her in a school but something just finally clicked. She is reading at a good level now. Plus, next year we will be H/S'ing her so it will be a non-issue. She can read at whatever pace she wants at home.

We've used Hooked on Phonics with all three of our kids. We purchased it in 2001 and have used it for them all. I love it! It includes books, tapes, everything. Although the newer versions of HOP may have more. It's been over 7 years since I purchased mine.
post #11 of 17
4/21/08 at 3:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kareybear View Post
Thank You for your responds, thought and resources. I think the reason why she wants to read is because I have read to her since she was a baby. We go to the library every week when she was able to walk. She loved books that I would read about 20 books a day to her. She got burned out two years ago then picked right back up. I still read to her everyday. That is our quality time. We don't read 20 books now but about 10 or less. She has been doing starfall.com and phonics and yesterday she was saying some sound of the letter B. So I was wondering if there was a cute song to help her say the sound to every letter.
I went to the library and it was that book I mention. NOthing else is available. It is a small library.
If you have more info that can help me GREAT keep it coming.
Thanks again for your help!
the leapster dvd's are really great & honest my kids learned SO MUCH from those dumb videos. they are "the letter factory" and "the word factory". i think those would be very easy & educational (yet still informal) in addition to public school. hth!
post #12 of 17
4/21/08 at 3:41pm
I would truly not worry at all about it, and let her read in her own time. By the time they're 8, you can't tell the difference between a child who learned at 4 and one who started at 6.

Just like walking and talking, the age when reading begins varies from child to child. and I believe that like walking, if we push our children to read before they are physiologically ready, then it can set up problems later.

read to her. read read read. and not just story books - all kinds of things, from everyday life. the newspaper, the bus timetable, magazines, novels...
post #13 of 17
4/21/08 at 4:11pm
My son learned some crazy stuff from the LeapFrog videos. We got them as a gift and I wanted to just SPIT! Then MIL insisted that he watch it... while she was there to watch. But seriously... it's been a year and he still calls his magnetic uppercase letter "E" his "silent E". I was astounded that he understood how two different vowels together would sound--nailing it every time. If he struggled with it, all I had to do was sing "When two vowels go walking..." and nothing more--and he totally got it.

They also have Math Circus. I didn't think that would make an impression. VERY wrong.

There are 5 DVDs total:

Letter Factory
Talking Words Factory
Talking Words Factory II
Learn to Read at the Storybook Factory
Math Circus

I'm pretty sure we have all of them...
post #14 of 17
4/22/08 at 3:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by heatherdeg View Post
My son learned some crazy stuff from the LeapFrog videos. We got them as a gift and I wanted to just SPIT! Then MIL insisted that he watch it... while she was there to watch. But seriously... it's been a year and he still calls his magnetic uppercase letter "E" his "silent E". I was astounded that he understood how two different vowels together would sound--nailing it every time. If he struggled with it, all I had to do was sing "When two vowels go walking..." and nothing more--and he totally got it.

They also have Math Circus. I didn't think that would make an impression. VERY wrong.

There are 5 DVDs total:

Letter Factory
Talking Words Factory
Talking Words Factory II
Learn to Read at the Storybook Factory
Math Circus

I'm pretty sure we have all of them...
Great Info. I have a couple of leap frog videos. my daugther loves them and they drive me crazy because I hear them over and over. Blah Blah LOL LOL
post #15 of 17
4/22/08 at 4:18pm
You said you already read pages on the subject, so maybe you already came across this, but I'll post it again just in case. This is an article of excerpts from the Home School Source Book on how the authors helped their four children learn to read - very simple and natural, not methodical, but an effective approach for many children: Learning to Read. And of course no one method is going to be great for every child.

Lillian
post #16 of 17
4/22/08 at 4:56pm

Add me to the just read a lot to her camp!

I have three children that learned how to read on their own from age 4 to 6 years 8 mos. I still read to them everyday. We never used phonics or any curriculum. Typical children will learn to read when they are ready ime. (My oldest has Asperger's Syndrome so maybe that is why he learned to read at 4 by himself. He's very smart!)

We all know our library numbers by heart!

Sincerely,
Debra, homeschooling mom of 4 ages 11, 10, 8, and 4
post #17 of 17
4/25/08 at 1:10am
we've also really enjoyed Progressive Phonics
www.progressivephonics.com

we're using that, ordinary parent's guide (which i reformat and make a little more sexy for DD), BOB books, some used MCP readers I scored for dirt cheap, the leap frog videos and explode the code.

then again, i have a very "academic" kid and i'm a curriculum junkie
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