Inspired by Hooked on Phonics

[ntburns22]

My DD is in AM kindergarten. She is only in school for 2 1/2 hours everyday. She is not reading books yet at school. At her conference we were told by her teacher and the aid that she is above most of the class. This was in November. She can pick out words when we read the level ones together. Shouldn't she be reading books by know? We work with her at home daily in workbooks because her homework is only bring in something that starts with the letter of the week. Yes they are still doing letters of the week. Any thoughts or tips for me?

 

[ckmommy]

I would be doing sight word flash cards with her (you can find lists of words on the net for sight words, or just make up your own words). You can find easy reader books at the library. I would read them to her once and then have her try to read them back to you. I think that she should be reading books by now. My DD was reading books by the second month of K last year.

Good Luck!!

 

[mickeyboat]

We have half-day K here, too, and they do not teach reading in our school district until 1st grade.

That being said, if you think your daughter is ready to start reading, work with her. It will make things so much easier next year.

I have two DD's in K this year. One is the probably the oldest in the class, one is the youngest. The older one recognizes many many sight words and can sound out many easier ones with a little help. The younger one recognizes many sight words, is very good with her letter sounds and can sound out words when she fees like it. We work on reading, but I don't push too hard. I don't want them to get frustrated if they aren't really ready to read.

Denae

 

[EthansMom]

My DS is 4.5 and in preschool; he'll start kindergarten in the fall. Our grade school doesn't teach the kids to read until First Grade.

However, we got my son a Leapster several months ago and The Letter Factory video for it. Within two or three weeks, DS knew all of the phonics for consonants and the short vowel sounds. I picked up a few phonics readers and we were off and running. My son still has problems with long vowel sounds, but is currently reading at about a First Grade level.

I highly recommend the Now I'm Reading phonics books from Innovative Kids: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/15...f=pd_bbs_2/104-0024652-8459111?_encoding=UTF8

 

[diznygirl]

Try the Dick and Jane books. They repeat words over and over, and each story builds on the words from the previous story. DS felt good about knowing the words and being able to read a complete story. It got him excited about reading.

 

[Sparx]

I learned to read about half way trhough kindergarten. It was with a version of the Dick and Jane books. we would write the words and say them over and over and that was how they taught us.

ETA--to this day I can NOT do phonics. I never understood it, and it was never taught to me (extensively if at all)

 

[JoyG]

I learned to read about half way trhough kindergarten. It was with a version of the Dick and Jane books. we would write the words and say them over and over and that was how they taught us.

ETA--to this day I can NOT do phonics. I never understood it, and it was never taught to me (extensively if at all)

Sparx,

That doesn't surprise me that you can't do phonics. There are probably alot of kids your age right now who are in the same boat. You were learning to reading during the "whole language" craze which all but abandoned phonics for quite a few years. The pendulum has swung back and people now see how valuable phonics is in teaching children to read.

OP,
I second the Dick and Jane books. My boys are in kindergarten right now and they read those...they have been redone...they are WONDERFUL!! Go on amazon right now and get some...you will not be disappointed.

Joy

 

[DVCLiz]

Just an honest question, but why are you pushing this in kindergarten??? Most kids without significant learning disabilities will pick up reading by the first grade, won't they?? We had some "must read by kindergarten" moms when my DDs were younger - can't tell any difference between those students now, many years later. Why not let your child have access to the material, but chill out a little and let it come when it comes???

 

[Cindy B]

Try the Dick and Jane books. They repeat words over and over, and each story builds on the words from the previous story. DS felt good about knowing the words and being able to read a complete story. It got him excited about reading.

My kids found Dick and Jane incredibly boring! We had better success with Dr. Suess or other books--any thing but Dick and Jane

 

[JoyG]

Just an honest question, but why are you pushing this in kindergarten??? Most kids without significant learning disabilities will pick up reading by the first grade, won't they?? We had some "must read by kindergarten" moms when my DDs were younger - can't tell any difference between those students now, many years later. Why not let your child have access to the material, but chill out a little and let it come when it comes???

It seems as if Kindergarten is the new 1st grade (in my district anyway). This is a change/trend I've seen since I've been teaching (about 11 years). There is more emphasis on reading in K now instead of just learning the letters and sounds.

Joy

 

[ntburns22]

Just an honest question, but why are you pushing this in kindergarten??? Most kids without significant learning disabilities will pick up reading by the first grade, won't they?? We had some "must read by kindergarten" moms when my DDs were younger - can't tell any difference between those students now, many years later. Why not let your child have access to the material, but chill out a little and let it come when it comes???

I am asking because her cousin that is in K in another district has a reading class in her half day K. She can read books to grandma and my DD feels embarrassed because she is not reading in school yet. It breaks my heart. We do work on reading and such at home. But she does better when someone else is doing the teaching not mom or dad. I guess I wanted to know where other K kids are at.

I am going to look into the Dick and Jane books. Can anyone recommend a workbook too? She loves to sit and do these after dinner with us.

 

[momsully]

DS6 is in first grade and started reading about 1/2 way through Kindergarten. His best friends dad is the web designer for www.starfall.com and it is really quite good. The entire K class used the website and books last year. We also supplemented with Hooked on Phonics at home and he now reads at a third grade level.

DS4 does some prereading at preschool and loves to get on the starfall site.

You might also look at www.headsprout.com. I have friends whose children have used this website to supplement their reading.

 

[paigevz]

Wow, we use starfall all the time in my school!

The kids in my school (full day K) are reading leveled books that are phonics-based in October. By now, most are on DRA level 4...........some are far, far above that, and a few still don't quite get it and are below.

Dick and Jane are great sight word readers, BOB books are also great little funny phonics readers. I would start with the BOB books, and move into Dick and Jane when she understands many of the simpler words. You can then move into "Easy Readers".............leveled books you can find nearly anywhere, the easier Dr. Seuss books (ABC, Hop on Pop, Green Eggs and Ham....others are at 2nd grade level and above) and there is a series developed by Mennonites, I think, that is great. I can't remember the name of them, but I'll ask my mom.......she bought them for DS.

It's absolutely no issue to do this yourself. Just approach it like reading any other book, like when you read aloud to her, and use lots of praise. Take it slowly, don't rush, don't push.......if she wants you to read it, do...............if she doesn't want to do it that day, don't...........

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

DS could read but didn't want to read the little books at preschool.
"jog ,frog, jog.
jog around the log."
But then i bought a Star Wars book and he took off.
Buy what they want to read.

 

[cats mom]

It really does seem to vary district to district.

My DD was in K last year. The kids were expected to be reading by the end of the year.

DD's friend lives in the neighboring district and about all they did was some reading readiness stuff (letter of the week etc) the focus of K there was socialization skills.

I don't know that one philosophy is really any better than the other. For most kids when they're ready to read they will.

Sounds like your DD is ready for more of a challenge than she is getting at school.

We used the BOB books from Scholastic. I'd try and pick some up second hand on e-bay or somewhere though since they progress through them so quickly. I think they run about $24 per set and there are 5 sets.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We have full day K at our school, but not at all the schools in our county. Most of our K children are reading. It's expected that they will be reading somewhat by the time they leave K.

When my older kids were in K it was a half day program and they had started to read by about half way through. Most of the kids came into K knowing their letters and sounds.

The kids really are all over the place. My son is one of the better readers in K. But there are kids who are still learning very basic words--on, to, be... They don't know the sounds that all the letters make. It's quite a challenge for the teachers.

I would say that K at our school is like 1st grade was when my older kids were little (10-12 years ago).

 

[luvmyfam444]

this is the toy that we've used to work on phonics with her -she LOVED it & now dd#2 plays with it - they learn so much without even knowing their learning.

http://www.littlesmarties.com/phonicfirefly.html

Check around though 'cause I didn't pay quite this much for mine you might be able to still get it cheaper---but it's AWESOME 'cause of all the different levels = you can eventually have child make 3 letter words...

Check it out...