Teaching a child to read can be a daunting task with all the methods, programs and apps available. I want to put your mind at ease that spending big bucks on a fancy program isn’t necessary. Buying a ton of flash cards or phonics books won’t make it easier. My secret to teaching my middle son to read is very simple. I read to him. Daddy read to him. Grandma read to him. Big sister read to him. Big brother read to him. We listen to lots of audiobooks and include timeless classics.
We read quality books at his comprehension level which is usually much higher than a child’s reading level. We own tons of board books for when our children are infants and toddlers and preschoolers. We own tons of picture books on all sorts of topics. We own leveled readers both of fiction as well as non-fiction. We own chapter books for slightly advanced beginners. But you do not have to own a ton of books to teach your child to read! You can use the library or maybe even swap books with a friend.
My son watched a lot of Phonics Farm a few weeks before he turned 3 years old. He knew all the letters and their sounds. There went my plan for teaching him the alphabet during preschool. I had worksheets printed and organized but just left them in our file boxes.
I am now using those same worksheets with our youngest son who turned 5 years old in August. He didn’t take to Phonics Farm and it’s cast of characters like his older brother. I sometimes play alphabet or sight word videos from Have Fun Teaching on YouTube instead.
We love reading books with a good rhyme and cadence or rhythm. Sandra Boynton and Margaret Wise Brown are two of our favorite authors. Daddy read the Chronicles of Narnia when Eldest and Princess were in 1st and 2nd grade so he did the same for Big Red. I beleive that reading aloud to your children is the best way for them to development their vocabulary as well as their interest in reading. Not reading books at their level but a few grade ABOVE their reading level which makes their comprehension and vocabulary soar!
Our younger boys tablets do have reading apps like Bob Books, Endless Reader, Starfall ABCs, Starfall Learn to Read and Teach Your Monster to Read. These were not used much with Big Red who is 8 years old and in 3rd grade but Lil’ Red who is 5 years old and in Kindergarten enjoys them.
Yes, we own flashcards for all sorts of things but never really used them. I had heard of many books that help you teach you child to read like Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I never even got the book from the library as it seemed too daunting to think about sitting down for 100 lesson!
If you ask Big Red how did you learn to read he will respond, “I just did.” And as simple as that answer is I am grateful that it was easy for him to learn to read.
I love this! <3 My oldest learned the same way! We just read a TON! I've got 2 that are now learning to read, and it's the same thing. We've tried phonics programs and they never seem to "stick". We just go back to just reading a LOT of books. It is just more natural and enjoyable for us.
So many homeschool mama’s STRESS over teaching reading and phonics which usually ends up in tears and frustration.Children are naturally curious and ready to learn at their own pace but with books they can learn any subject anytime at any age as long as someone will read to them or play an audiobook!