OT - Learning to Read

[tmarquez]

Hi

Sorry about the off-topic, but htis is the only "family" board I use and I know alot of you homeschool...so...

My DD(4) wants to read. It's more than an interest...she is actually upset that she can't read (most of her friends are older and are beginning readers). Anyway, at school they are learning the letter sounds so that's a start. She knows them all pretty well. She also knows certain words by sight (like mommy, her name, daddy, cat, etc.) I don't think they actually seriously teach them to read until Kindergarten, which she isn't eligable for until Fall 2008

She loves to do "workbooks" and spends alot of her playtime at home doing those, but they don't teach reading at all. I want to be able to help her at home but don't know where to start. I looked at the Hooked on Phonics stuff online but it seems expensive and I don't know which ones would be appropriate for her.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!

 

[meandtheguys2]

HOP is boring as all get out, imo. Walmart has some fun workbooks, 100 easy lessons to learn to Read is not thrilling, but works well for the basics.

Frankly, I'd just start putting together the sounds she is learning. My middle son taught himself to read when he turned 5. For some reason it was vitally important to him. Good luck!

 

[NotUrsula]

So let her read. I was a fluent reader at age 3, and so was my DS, and I assure you that neither we nor my parents ever used any kind of special program to do it. Teaching a highly motivated child to read is usually very easy.

Make sure that she knows her letter sounds and her common consonant combination sounds, so that she can sound out words that she does not know. Correct her when she mispronounces, and show her the written word to sound out when you do so. Start with books with just a few words per page, and work up. As you read aloud, have her follow along with you and occasionally supply a word. Over time, have her fill in more words until she is the one reading aloud and you are the one just adding a word here or there.
If she is hungry to be able to read she will devour a lot of books, at least about 6 new ones every week; don't repeat the same ones too often, or there is a risk that she will simply memorize them and not mentally stretch.

Have fun. It's a great goal to accomplish together.

 

[itsagirlthing]

Hey tmarquez! My daughter, now 5 1/2, learned to read when she was 4...still in preschool. Her big sister is 2 years older than her, and had just learned to read, so I think that's why she was so interested. I really didn't do anything special to "teach" her. She pretty much learned on her own. We went to the library often and she started reading the books that have simple words with pictures for the harder words. She knew her letter sounds and was very good at blending, so I sat with her and helped when she needed it. She feels very proud of herself since she can read very well now (some of her classmates are struggling) The only downside to this is that she is a little bored at school sometimes because they go over letter sounds and stuff that she has already known for quite some time. I would suggest that you save your $ and just spend some good old fashion time with her at the library reading with her. It worked for us!

 

[Mermaid4me]

HOP is boring as all get out, imo. Walmart has some fun workbooks, 100 easy lessons to learn to Read is not thrilling, but works well for the basics.

Frankly, I'd just start putting together the sounds she is learning. My middle son taught himself to read when he turned 5. For some reason it was vitally important to him. Good luck!

Hi there, I couldn't agree more about HOP. I am a reading specialist and I do not care for that program. It is too artificial for me. Anyways, I would start with sight word cards, and have her match pictures to their sound and have her start reading the easy books that repeat most of the same words and add a new one each page. As she starts to memorize the book, have her point to each word as she says it. This will help her build her sight word vocabulary. In addition, the easy books usually have pictures that also help the children figure out the new words. Hope this helps.

Mermaid4me

POP May 07
POLY 06
CR 05
ASMO 01
Offsite 86
CR 79

 

[crisi]

My experience matches others - a motivated kid will self teach. If she knows the letter sounds, she'll figure it out.

 

[belle&beast]

My DD5 is in preschool and learning to read. My DSIL is a teacher and used to do Reading Recovery. She gave us sight words and some beginner books. They start with "I see..." and "I like..." DH was getting upset because she was looking at the pictures to finish the sentences, but she is reading them as well because she can read them from her sight word lists.

 

[scouthawkk]

When I am reading to DS4, I stop every page or so and have him sound out some of the words I think he can figure out with no problem. Sometimes it is only one word on a page, other times it is a bunch of words in a row. He knows all the letter sounds, and recognizes all letters (caps and lower case). So it is just a matter of combining them with their sounds. He has a blast with it. He also loves his leap pad and the leap frog movies (letter factory, word factory and a story book one). Plus we have some early reader books that he can sound out most of the words by himself. It is pretty cute to hear him sitting on the potty sounding out words and reading to himself! I like the idea of the sight word cards. I'll have to look in to that as well.

 

[RachaelRol]

Hi. I don't HS, but I did purchase the Hooked on Phonics Kindergarten Deluxe for my son in November. (He is in Kindergarten.) it was on sale for $70 and I paid the extra $20 for overnight delivery. It was the best $90 I have ever spent.

It teaches letter recognition and sound of the letters then transitions very easily to reading. It comes with CDs, a work book, a computer game, and flash cards and about 20 books your little will read. There is a progress charts and stickers too for recognition.

DS was reading within 5 days. It was great to see and hear him read. Most importantly, the pride in his face and increased confidence really made me a HOP believer.

Rachael

 

[PollyannaMom]

We borrowed some phonics videos from the library. - The one DS ended up liking best was "Mrs. Phipps and Snoothy".

His kindergarten program sends home a list of sight words, so we played bingo with those.

I have also heard to label things around the house, and to leave them notes to practice on - by their cereal bowl, or on the bathroom mirror, or whatever.

 

[RachaelRol]

I have also heard to label things around the house, and to leave them notes to practice on - by their cereal bowl, or on the bathroom mirror, or whatever.

Yup we did this too and DS thought it was fun.

I was surprised by the number of people who don't like HOP. Just goes to show you how everyone is different. I liked that it was easy for me to teach to DS. I was concerned about taking this on without a plan, that's why HOP worked for us.

We did the several workbooks too, but HOP worked best.

Try different things, you'll find what's best for your DD.

Good luck!!!

 

[kribit]

Wow, I thought my dd4 was ahead of the game starting to read already and she's not reading complete paragraphs...just putting sentences together. Seriously, what is the average age children start to be taught to read in school? My ds4 has no desire to read yet, but we're not planning on pushing him. He excels in other areas so we focus on those. It was a while ago, but I don't remember reading until 1st grade. Times have changed.

 

[flying_babyb]

I reccomend:
Start to Read! Trade Edition Series

Each book is about $3 and they have differnt levels. Sue likes blue, is a personal favorite. I read that one so many times. We used to buy them at b- daltons. They all have silly ryming titles.
http://www.schoolzone.com/products.vml is there website. They do have preshool aged books. The ones I was talking about are listed under first grade but I was reading them in preschool. Funny thing is, I more remember "reading" to daddy than anything. My fahter loved moby dick and used to ask me to read it to him. He used to make me read bits and peices of it. I would say encorage your child to read everyday things. Ask her to read you the names on cerel boxes, ask her to read you a recipie. She can do all of this by sounding out the words (though I recomend you use a recipie you know well).
Thats how my Moms and dad taught me. I was the best reader in my kindergarden class, and reading at a high school level by 3rd grade. In high school, I was the only one who got a A on our book reading (had to read 20 books in a semester, or 2,000 pages). I applaud you for wanting to help your already excited daughter

 

[momsully]

We used HOP with my older son when he was in Kindergarten but I agree with the others it is pretty boring. DS5, is in preK and learned to read last year. He was taught at preschool and we also used http://www.headsprout.com. He is now reading easy chapter books such as Magic Tree House and Ready Freddy.

Some great early readers are the Now I'm Reading Series by Nora Gaydos. You can buy the sets off Amazon or get them from the library.

Seriously, what is the average age children start to be taught to read in school?

When DS7 was in K about half the class could read beginner books, we had a few kids reading chapter books and we had some kids that did not know their letters. Now in second grade all the kids can read but there are still significant differences in reading levels.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

My DD10 loved to play reading games on the computer, some of her favorites were Reader Rabbit and all the Disney CD roms like ready to Read with Pooh.
I also went to the Learning is fun store and bought some of the sight word books that they use to teach reading. we did borrow HOP from the library but she never got into it much except for the CD rom. Disney's Phonics Quest is a good one also .

 

[kribit]

When DS7 was in K about half the class could read beginner books, we had a few kids reading chapter books and we had some kids that did not know their letters. Now in second grade all the kids can read but there are still significant differences in reading levels.

Thank you. This is kind of what I thought, but recently we saw a 5 year old at the bookstore who was reading an astronomy book that was clearly for a 3rd grader. This is when I got nervous, but I think he was a little out of the ordinary.

I have a whole year to help my kids along with their reading. phew....

 

[momsully]

One other website to look at is: http://www.starfall.com/. The site is free and was designed by a friend of ours. The preschool DS attends uses it as do some of the local K classes.

 

[hematite153]

My mother taught me to read at 2 using "How to Teach Your Baby to Read" by Glenn Doman. I've borrowed the book from the library before--it's pretty easily available.

My general experience of the learning to read process is that it can be highly controversial. Most people are attached to whichever method they have had success with. I'd argue that every child learns slightly differently. So, try some things and go with whatever works. If your daughter is as motivated as you describe she'll probably make it obvious which approaches she likes. If she wants to learn now, then this is a perfect time to try all of the things people have suggested.

 

[dfarner]

I would suggest as other posters have, using a combination of phonics and sight words to introduce her to reading is a good start. It is also important that you help her with comprehension when she is reading. To read fluently without comprehension is a detriment to the child. I have had students whose parents are so consumed by teaching them to "read", and they can say the words on the page, but have absolutely no idea what they've read. Also, writing is an integral part of being a successful reader. Practice writing with her and when she wants to write words on her own, have her sound them out and spell them on her own. Chances are, she may spell them wrong. Do not correct her right off the bat. She will use "inventive spelling", which is fine, until she gets a firm grasp on the rules of our oral and written language.

 

[kribit]

I have had students whose parents are so consumed by teaching them to "read", and they can say the words on the page, but have absolutely no idea what they've read.

This is a great point.