Comments on: How I (Don’t) Teach My Kids to Read http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/ Children's Book Author Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:55:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Lee http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5124 Lee Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:09:53 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5124 We have been using an online program called www.Headsprout.com . So far, my son is really taking off reading using it. It is alot of fun. Super cute. He is 4 but is doing 1st grade work except for not being able to read, so I really wanted to focus on that for awhile. You can get a free trial of headsprout & there is a money back guarantee. My 2 other kids enjoyed the Bob books & the Now I'm Reading! Level 1 Animal Antics & 2 Amazing Animals. (these are much more appealing than the Bob books) Another fun free website is www.starfall.com My son was not even wanting to try with the books, but BEGS to do headsprout each day. Good luck! We have been using an online program called http://www.Headsprout.com . So far, my son is really taking off reading using it. It is alot of fun. Super cute. He is 4 but is doing 1st grade work except for not being able to read, so I really wanted to focus on that for awhile. You can get a free trial of headsprout & there is a money back guarantee. My 2 other kids enjoyed the Bob books & the Now I’m Reading! Level 1 Animal Antics & 2 Amazing Animals. (these are much more appealing than the Bob books)
Another fun free website is http://www.starfall.com
My son was not even wanting to try with the books, but BEGS to do headsprout each day.
Good luck!

]]> By: Deb http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5123 Deb Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:56:30 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5123 Yes, reading is the best way to teach your child to read oviously. BUT... besides that... There are so many games that teach letters & letter sounds. The key is to make it fun. Kids learn when they do not know they are learning. Find out what interests them and work from there. When my son was 5 he loved race cars and those were the first books he WANTED to read. When my other son was 3 years old he knew how to spell the word train because he loves trains. So, we went from there and now he spells quite a few words related to trains and recognizes them in print. Of course it helped that I read him a thousand books about trains. The point is that he know understands that print has meaning and by knowing sounds you can read any word you want. My six year old loves the computer so he types out his spelling words and types sentences for them and then he prints them out and illustrates the sentences. Then He does this for fun not for homework. But after doing this a few times those words become part of the sight words he can now read. Here is the most important thing I can tell you. *READING like walking and potty training is developmental. When they are ready they will read. My friends daughter could not read at the end of 1st grade and she was concerned. That summer it just clicked for her. Now she is third grade as is in the top of her class in a gifted school. Keep it fun and wait. Yes, reading is the best way to teach your child to read oviously. BUT… besides that…
There are so many games that teach letters & letter sounds.
The key is to make it fun.
Kids learn when they do not know they are learning. Find out what interests them and work from there. When my son was 5 he loved race cars and those were the first books he WANTED to read. When my other son was 3 years old he knew how to spell the word train because he loves trains. So, we went from there and now he spells quite a few words related to trains and recognizes them in print.
Of course it helped that I read him a thousand books about trains. The point is that he know understands that print has meaning and by knowing sounds you can read any word you want.
My six year old loves the computer so he types out his spelling words and types sentences for them and then he prints them out and illustrates the sentences. Then
He does this for fun not for homework. But after doing this a few times those words become part of the sight words he can now read.

Here is the most important thing I can tell you.

*READING like walking and potty training is developmental. When they are ready they will read.
My friends daughter could not read at the end of 1st grade and she was concerned. That summer it just clicked for her. Now she is third grade as is in the top of her class in a gifted school. Keep it fun and wait.

]]> By: Sarah http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5122 Sarah Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:40:36 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5122 I know I'm late commenting on this, but I wanted to chime it to say we are using the Bob Books with our daughter. We've been through the first set once and we're doing them again and I'm about to order set 2. I was wondering what your kids read after the Bob Books. Did you start listening to them read the Easy Reader type books or did they read some of their own short books. I'm just not sure where to go from here. I know I’m late commenting on this, but I wanted to chime it to say we are using the Bob Books with our daughter. We’ve been through the first set once and we’re doing them again and I’m about to order set 2. I was wondering what your kids read after the Bob Books. Did you start listening to them read the Easy Reader type books or did they read some of their own short books. I’m just not sure where to go from here.

]]> By: Laura http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5121 Laura Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:33:18 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5121 Hi Lissa, Sorry, I've lost your email address! I've got a question about reading aloud to Jack. He LOVES it when we read to him (picture books), but he's constantly asking questions about the story, pointing out tiny details in the pictures -- all really good things and I don't want to shush him because I want to encourage his interaction with the content... How do you deal with that? Also, I'd love to read "bigger" books to him as you mentioned, stories "beyond" the typical 4-1/2 year-old level... Are there any books in particular that you'd recommend? Please reply to me by email. I hope y'all are well. Lisa said they had a FANTASTIC time with you last month! Much love and joy to you, Laura Hi Lissa,
Sorry, I’ve lost your email address! I’ve got a question about reading aloud to Jack. He LOVES it when we read to him (picture books), but he’s constantly asking questions about the story, pointing out tiny details in the pictures — all really good things and I don’t want to shush him because I want to encourage his interaction with the content… How do you deal with that? Also, I’d love to read “bigger” books to him as you mentioned, stories “beyond” the typical 4-1/2 year-old level… Are there any books in particular that you’d recommend? Please reply to me by email. I hope y’all are well. Lisa said they had a FANTASTIC time with you last month!

Much love and joy to you,
Laura

]]> By: Maria http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5120 Maria Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:26:04 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5120 I'm so psyched that this is how you do it - because it's how we did it, too! :-) I’m so psyched that this is how you do it - because it’s how we did it, too! :-)

]]> By: Rebecca http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5119 Rebecca Sun, 16 Sep 2007 05:52:06 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5119 Melissa, I used the Bob books exactly like you describe. I first knew my young son was reading because he made a silly magnetic poetry poem on the fridge and read it aloud (it was rhyming). I figured it was time to pull out the Bob books, supplemented them with 4 or 5 sessions of word family fun, and he was off to the races, independently reading in no time. My son found the books to be very fun and reassuring... confidence building (for him!). Melissa, I used the Bob books exactly like you describe. I first knew my young son was reading because he made a silly magnetic poetry poem on the fridge and read it aloud (it was rhyming). I figured it was time to pull out the Bob books, supplemented them with 4 or 5 sessions of word family fun, and he was off to the races, independently reading in no time. My son found the books to be very fun and reassuring… confidence building (for him!).

]]> By: Mary Beth P http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5118 Mary Beth P Sat, 15 Sep 2007 22:44:34 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/09/13/how-i-dont-teach-my-kids-to-read/#comment-5118 Thanks for the tip- I'm going to try them. Oredered sets 1&2 (Amazon.com has free shipping on them- if you place a $25 order) Thanks for the tip- I’m going to try them. Oredered sets 1&2 (Amazon.com has free shipping on them- if you place a $25 order)

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