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Cincinnati Babies
MrsMoher
member
Teaching kids to read
MrsMoher
member
Eli expressed interest in learning to read the other day and who am I to deny that request? We have been working on letter sounds for a while (both at home and school) and he isn't perfect yet, but knows the most common letters hands down and can usually get the others with a little thought. While I don't want to force him to read, I want to encourage the fact that he is willing to learn to read.
So I bought about 6 of those step into reading books, step one. He picked out his favorite ones that had disney characters and superheroes, so I know he likes them. We play games in the tub on what letter makes this sound or what sound does the _ letter make. We look for letters while taking a walk and I have him tell me their sounds too. And we read before bed each night. He also plays the mobigo games that "teach" spelling and help him learn which letter is which and he does amazingly well on those too (even games for the 5 to 8 age group, which shocks me). Also when I read to him I have him sound out the repeated words in the story. For example, in a book about cars, the word cars and trucks are repeated and I have him sound those out. I have noticed if I do too many (or all) the words he gets frustrated and just wants me to read the book without him sounding out anything, which I understand because he is still learning and since I want to keep it fun, we do a handful in each story to try to learn the concept of sounding out words.
Any advice from teachers on how to teach reading and phonics besides what I am already doing? Any books that would be good for him that you think are great for learning to read, even before those step into reading types of books? Also any books for me as a parent that will help me with how to teach him to read (maybe there's a "for dummies" book out there)? Seriously it sounded so easy to me standing in B&N when I bought the books for him, but now I am completely befuddled as to how to do this and still keep it fun for him. Now you know why I decided not to pursue teaching. 
Mr & Mrs - 10/15/05
Elijah Matthew - 5/3/07 ~ Adalyn Rosemary - 3/23/11
*Photos by Kacy Cierley*
Elijah Matthew - 5/3/07 ~ Adalyn Rosemary - 3/23/11
*Photos by Kacy Cierley*
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Teaching kids to read
What you are doing is fine but phonics isn't the only aspect of reading. Before a child can really grasp phonics (what sound does what letter make and then blending those sounds to form words) they need to master phonemic awareness which is the ability to break down the language into its component parts - outside of print. This is where songs, rhymes, nursery rhymes, books that repeat rhythms and words, and making up silly words come in. One of the best things you can do to help him learn to read is actually not a reading activity at all but to play games with him in the car or on walks such as "What's a word that rhymes with bat?" and you guys go back and forth creating rhymes. And then you make it more complex (rhyming is not complex) so you move into "What's a word that starts with the same sound as bat?" book, ball, basket, etc And then move on to words that have the same middle sound (this is shockingly difficult for young kids to do. His phonemic awareness will not be fully intact yet. And don't freak that it isn't, it's not wholly age appropriate at this point. It's more a kindergarten skill.) But you can point out sound similarities as you are reading books together to help him be aware of the sounds in the language.
Some teachers and parents like to label things around the classroom or house. This has some mild positive impact for school-aged, English Language Learners but the jury is still out as far as if it is beneficial for pre-reading children.
As far as actual books - you're doing a good job of having books that repeat words so that he may start to recognize those words from repeated exposure. Simple Dr. Seuss is good for working within word families (cat, hat, bat, sat, pat, ball, wall, tall, etc). But at the end of the day, he must master phonemic awareness AND to develop a love of reading it's best if he listens to stories that excite him. Maybe spend some time at the library choosing books he cannot read but that focus on stories or themes that excite him.
Elijah Matthew - 5/3/07 ~ Adalyn Rosemary - 3/23/11
*Photos by Kacy Cierley*
B plays on this website: www.starfall.com He loves it!
While I don't believe that any website can truly teach reading, I think many of the points moesten hit on are built into games on this website. It tiers the different things and has resources for you as a parent.