Teaching Reading

Neither of our girls learned how to read the traditional way, the way we all probably learned, through phonics.  At first I thought it was an anomaly and that Big C was just very smart and didn't learn the 'regular' way.  It was interesting to see little c have the same experience.  I've never taught the girls phonics, they just started reading, and have progressed without any instruction. 

There are two main ways to teach a child how to read.  Phonics is the most common way children learn to read at school.  The problem I have with phonics is all of the exceptions to the rules.  The second way children are taught to read is through sight word identification, the Dolch method. There is a list of 220 service words and 95 common nouns that compromise 50-75% of all words in children's books.  The thought is if children learn these words they will be able to read most children's books.  Many of the Dolch words cannot be sounded out and must be set to memory.   Often times Dolch words are taught through the use of flashcards. 

Here are my suggestions for teaching a child how to read:

1.  Read often and at an early age to your children.  When you read, point to the words as they are coming out of your mouth.  Your child will begin to identify the words coming out of your mouth with a particular word.    If your child is learning to read Easy Readers, read the book out loud to your child first, slowly and while pointing to the words, and then have him/her read the book independently. 

2. Use your library.  Check out the c.d./book packets at your library.  Your child can sit and listen to the book on the c.d. as they follow the words in the book.  The c.d. will beep when the child needs to turn the page.  If you have a child who will not sit still to listen to a c.d. and follow along with a book, use this technique when they are in the car. 

3.  Introduce Bob books.  Check out the Bob book series from your library and begin using the series at a young age, again pointing to the words as you read the simple book.  I would suggest starting this around age 4. 

4.  Starfall.  Utilize technology, like www.starfall.com to help your children learn to read.  Starfall does essentially what I am recommending but on the computer.  It will read a story to your child while highlighting the words in the passage as they are read.  Again, your child will begin to see a word and remember what the word sounds like when being said. 

5.  Relax.  Make sure reading is a fun, non-stressful activity for your child.  They will learn to read!  Maybe not on the schedule you would like but it will happen.  Most importantly you want them to grow up with a love for reading.  Model reading at home so your children realize it's something to be enjoyed, not an agonizing, unpleasant task!