reading

Signed up for a trial period of Reading Kingdom. It’s a whole word based reading program. So far, the lad is bored silly with it. He doesn’t like that he has to find letters on the keyboard and it doesn’t give him enough time to do so. I’ll encourage him to keep at it, the sessions are really short so it shouldn’t be too onerous for him. I do have to admit that part of it he likes (where he has to find pictures or click on things on the computer screen), but mommy isn’t allowed to help him at all so he finds that a challenge – particularly when it comes to using the keyboard.

The program takes a multi approach to learning how to read. not only knowing how to see the word and read it, but also learning how to spell it at the same time.

I like learning to read phonetically as I think it will serve a person well in the long run, but I don’t see the harm is blending methodologies of learning to read either. Some words just don’t sound out well… and for those words you need to recognize the pattern of them in order to read them. So we’ll work with this for a month and see what we think at the end of it.

The lad also played some thinking and logic games on the computer today. One was a math game where he had to accumulate points in order to progress in the game, and the rest were thinking games. I found it interesting that sometimes he was able to figure things out sooner than I was. 🙂

Playing with Lego was a big thing today as well. It was a snow day, and a Friday so we take things easy. It was a good day and he learned a thing or two so it’s all good. 🙂

Found this post on different ways to teach your child to read, from the very simple start of learning the ABC’s and so forth.

• Step One: Learn the alphabet.
• Step Two: Connect beginning sounds to alphabet letters.
• Step Three: Connect ending sounds with alphabet letters.
• Step Four: Put letter sounds together to make words.
  
  

Here’s a post from More4Kids

Reading readiness is defined as the time when a child transforms from being a non-reader to a reader. This can be a tough transition but is very rewarding. Not only are your children very proud of themselves as they learn to read, but children who learn to read well are better learners throughout their school years. Here are some tips to help your young elementary student become a better reader.

New readers
Children who are in kindergarten and first grade are just beginning to learn to read. You can help children this age by

• Playing with rhymes. Read books with rhymes and teach your child rhymes, poems, and songs. You can also play rhyming games, such as taking turns rhyming words.
• Creating stories. Ask your child to make up stories for a picture book.
• Practicing the alphabet. Play the alphabet game in the car, where you try to find all the letters of the alphabet on passing signs. A variation we made up is to spell out words or names from signs. You can also read alphabet books, make letter cookies or pretzels, make play-dough letters, look for letters in newspapers and magazines, etc.
• Listening to your child read. Be patient and listen as your child practices. Help sound out words as necessary, and let your child know you are proud.
• Reading together every day. Show your child that reading is important by making it a habit. Make it exciting by being expressive and using different voices for the characters.

As you read, pause before words in a familiar story and let your child fill in the blank. Also point to the words on the page as you read so your child learns that sentences consist of separate words and can begin to identify sight words.

Also, don’t limit yourself to reading stories. Read information books, magazine articles, newspapers, comic books, cereal boxes, etc.

• Talking together regularly. Children learn words when they hear them used, so introduce new and interesting words at every opportunity.

Improving readers
Children in second or third grade have hopefully learned the basics of reading but still need lots of practice and encouragement. To help children this age, you can

• Reread familiar books. You may get bored, but rereading familiar books gives children needed practice with books they enjoy and are comfortable with.
• Build reading accuracy. As your child reads, gently point out missed words and give the correct pronunciation.
• Build reading comprehension. Talk with your child about what is happening in a story or book.
• Encourage your child to read individually, but also continue to read to your child. Spend time talking about stories, pictures, and words.

Children acquire reading skills through a long series of “little steps,” so when your child reads, even a few words, show your pride!

No part of this article may be copied or reproduced in any form without the express permission of More4Kids Inc © 2007