Last summer, I shared my tips for a reluctant reader. Of my three school-aged children, two of them didn't begin to read fluently until around age 8. Both could read easy words by age 4 or 5, but it took a lot of practice to pull it all together and have it 'click' enough to read anything they wanted. We took it at a slow and gentle pace, while continuing to encourage comprehension and build vocabulary by listening to higher-level literature being read aloud.
I've taken two different approaches to teaching reading. I began Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
with Gavin in kindergarten. After about 15-20 lessons, he had had enough. He was confused by the method of symbols and decided reading was too tedious. His frustration became my frustration.
We gave phonics a break, then gave the Explode the Code series of workbooks a try. Gavin enjoyed the short lessons, the funny pictures, and the slow pace. (He did not like figuring out which word went in the blank!) We plugged away for a few years, slowly learning the phonics rules. By the time he finished Book 5 (out of 8), he was proficient enough to discontinue the series. He was "reading" long before this point, but this was when he became able to read with confidence.
Maddie began longing to read at age 4. I decided to try Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessonsagain and she took to the series with much more enthusiasm than Gavin did. By the time we finished the book, she was reading easy-to-read books. Then she stalled. While she could "read," she had a difficult time progressing. She began the Explode the Code series of workbooks that had worked so well for Gavin, but after day and day of tears, we put those aside.
again and she took to the series with much more enthusiasm than Gavin did. By the time we finished the book, she was reading easy-to-read books. Then she stalled. While she could "read," she had a difficult time progressing. She began the Explode the Code series of workbooks that had worked so well for Gavin, but after day and day of tears, we put those aside.
Last year, in the summer before she started second grade and Owen started kindergarten, we began Alpha-Phonics: A Primer For Beginning Readers
by Samuel L. Blumenfeld. We did 2-3 lessons a week and by the end of the school year, both of them were reading well.
While I liked both programs, Alpha-Phonics more closely fit our style. Each lesson began with a simple word list, consisting of various words using similar sounds. Part two of the lesson was reading sentences using various words from the list. Simple, but still fun.
Finding easy readers was another story. Because they are used to listening to more advanced stories, the stuff of easy readers was often boring to them, but since we love Cynthia Rylant, we gave her Puppy Mudge Ready-to-Read series a try and were happy with the quality. Though still using very basic vocabulary, no one complained because the stories were engaging. My new readers quickly moved onto Rylant's other books which are Level 2. While Owen likes to read the Henry and Mudge series, Maddie prefers the Mr. Putter and Tabby series.
Were your kids "early" or "late" readers? What are your learning to read tricks?
Were your kids "early" or "late" readers? What are your learning to read tricks?
by Linda Lacour Hobar. After scouring the library for the past four years during our 
with the three older kids sharing a workbook. 
(Hymns For A Kid's Heart, Volume 3) by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada. Everyone is excited about singing Christmas carols all year long. We have used both 
and 
in previous school years. We'll read a short story or description of a song, then listen or sing along to the music on the accompanying CD for several weeks in a row. Doesn't get much easier than that!
this year. I plan to have him do only the even-numbered problems every day (because 30 problems is a lot for any kid!) I'm hoping this is it and we can stick with Saxon through middle school and high school.
(from School Zone) together but with separate workbooks. They are also begging to do the (non-consumable) 
book by Jennie Von Eggers so I'll probably dig that back out by mid-year. (If your children are having trouble with learning their times tables, 
which introduces cursive and Owen will start 
. 
(from Queen Homeschooling) which combine 
by Kathryn Stout. 
from the library and each Sunday, I read two sections to my kids and my youngest sister. (Last year, the kids ranged in age from 4 to 10.) We covered first aid for everything from burns to dog bites and at the end of the summer, the kids took a simple multiple choice quiz (included in the back of the book) and passed with flying colors. 
every time we've been to the library lately and I'm so excited to start reading it. I'm fascinated by books on the human body. I'm waiting to check it out at the end of May so can I utilize all nine weeks (one 3-week checkout, plus two renewals). I'm thinking that if we we read 2-4 pages at least 4-5 days a week, we will have learned more than enough to fulfill our health requirements for the entire year. 
