Teaching your kiddo to read

There are about a million different ways to teach your child to read.  I'm no literacy specialist, but I have some basic training in K-8 literacy (enough to be dangerous).  A friend recommended this book to me and here are a few reasons I love it so far:

1) It is designed for a parent-child interaction, not for a classroom.

2) Each lesson is pretty short (20-30 minutes).

3) It is a scripted book so even if you know NOTHING about literacy, you can do it!

4) Each lesson is broken into a few different "activities" that Charlotte thinks are pretty fun.

I got this copy from Walmart.com for $12.99
http://www.walmart.com/ip/390907 

Notice the "script" for each lesson

This is a later lesson

It even gives you a guide on pronouncing

Ok, so my daughter is 3 1/2, which is on the young end of the spectrum they list in this book.  As with anything I would teach, I know I have to take my time.  Charlotte has a normal attention span for a 3 1/2 year old (which is to say almost non-existent).  Some days we can do an entire "Lesson" in no time flat.  Other days we can't seem to get through 1/2 of a "lesson".  Who cares?  If the idea is to teach my child to eventually read, I should move at her pace, right?  If she doesn't seem to be in it one day, I move on to something else, or cut it off at 1/2 a lesson. 

So, here are a few recommendations for any program you try:

• Keep it fun (If they are bored, stop)
• Span out the lessons if they seem to be struggling
• Do other "fun" activities to reiterate the parts they seem to struggle with
• Take your time
• Remind yourself that this is a bonding experience that no one can ever replace :)

Charlotte and I are currently on Lesson 14.  We've taken weeks off here and there and rarely do a lesson daily.  A few things that Charlotte seemed to struggle with in this particular program were the "rhyming" activities and the normal "sounding out" of words.  So, we've reiterated these two things over the last few weeks, without teaching more lessons.  Today, I taught a new lesson and we sailed through the lesson.  My patience definitely paid off and her confidence is a sure sign!

Sidewalk chalk makes everything more fun!

One of the things we've been "reviewing" is sounding out words.  I like to write them on the sidewalk with sidewalk chalk.  This allows Charlotte to "hop" along the word instead of just using her finger in a book.  If you know my child or watch her in the video below, you will see why this is helpful :)  However, as a teacher, I can tell you that most kids benefit from this type of kinesthetic activity.

I copy them exactly as shown in the book

 Another reason this is great is that it's there every time we go outside.  A great way to have your child "review" (if you're at home with them during the day, especially) is to show Daddy when he gets home.  It's a win-win interaction.  It shares with Daddy what we've been learning AND gets your child to review an extra time.

I also noticed that Charlotte seemed to minimally understand rhyming words.  So, I went to the library and asked those amazing librarians to help me find some narrative stories with rhyming words.  So, as we read out bedtime stories, Charlotte listens for rhyming words (and yells them out if she hears them). This is an easy way to review rhyming words, while also reading a story that will engage Adelyn (my 2 year old).  Here are a few of the books we have this week for this purpose.  There are tons of examples though.  Your public librarian can probably hand you 10 without thinking twice.

I'm sure I will have updates and new learnings as we move throughout this program.  Right now, we're at a good place and moving at the perfect pace for Charlotte.  If you decide to give it a whirl, good luck!  Let me know how it's going and what you might need help with!