Simple Steps to Reading
by Eleanor Joyce
The ability to read well is probably the most critical element of a good education.
Perhaps that is why many parents are intimidated by the idea of teaching their child
to read. “What if I don’t do it right? My kid will be messed
up forever!” they cry. And so the hand-wringing, second guessing, and frantic
curriculum searching begins!
Just stop, and take a deep breath. Now…think about the millions of children
in our nation’s history who learned to read at their parents’ knees,
or in a one room schoolhouse, with a teacher not much older than themselves. Their
curriculum was often the King James Version of the Holy Bible, or the equally stern
New England Primer. Nobody told their parents that teaching reading was
a skill that could only be accomplished by a highly trained specialist.
As a parent, you are best able to provide the optimal learning environment, incentives
and encouragement for your child. Without spending a lot of money, investing huge
amounts of time, or sweating buckets of bullets, you can teach your child to read,
and both you and your child can enjoy the process! The one-on-one interaction of
parent and child in the learning experience is priceless, and cannot be duplicated
anywhere else. It is pure joy to watch your child’s face light up the first
time he sounds out two letters together, and realizes that he has read a word!
Before you break into that first box of flashcards, there are a few foundational
principles about reading that should be established. Long before Junior can even
hold a book in his hands, there is much you can do to increase the likelihood of
his being an excellent reader.
First, make sure that your home is a print-rich environment. Fill your rooms with
good quality books and magazines. Incidentally bookshelves on “outside”
walls are very good insulation, and muffle sound if you are in an apartment or townhome
situation! Building an excellent library need not cost a fortune. Books are readily
available at garage sales, library sales, second hand stores, and thrift shops.
Great deals can be found online on book closeouts, and re-sales. Remember that your
local library is one of the best resources and bargains around! Make it your friend…and
visit often.
Develop your own reading habit. Take time every day to sit down and read something.
You are your child’s first model, mentor and teacher. An environment where
parents and older siblings are frequently seen reading encourages an early interest
in books. Be sure to have colorful, sturdy board books in a basket or on a low shelf
within your little one’s reach. Even if all he does independently for the
first several months is to chew on the corners…at least he will have a book
of his own in hand.
Read to your baby! You can get away with reading something like Better Homes and
Gardens or The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Sitting snuggled in your
lap, hearing the soothing sound of your voice, and seeing colorful pictures is a
wonderful experience for a baby. What a beautiful reason for you to sit down and
relax too…it’s educational! Soon you can move on to simple, colorful
books. Slowly turn the pages, and talk about the pictures.
Teaching reading is not a race. It is more like watching a flower unfold. Do not
try to rush it, and do not stress about it. Let your child set his own pace. Some
children will learn to read much later than others. That’s quite okay! Frequently
children who learn to read later will make very rapid progress within a few weeks
or months.
Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore are considered the “grandparents” of modern
homeschooling. Both are certified specialists in education, and have spent years
researching how children learn. If you find yourself stressing about teaching your
child to read I recommend that you look into one or two of their excellent books.
The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook and Better Late Than Early
are just two of the titles that are available.
Finally, keep early (and all) lessons short! Nothing will kill the love of reading
faster than tedious, frustrating, lengthy sessions spent poring over a book or worksheet.
So, you have a good foundation in place, you’ve decided you CAN teach your
child to read….now what? There are many excellent resources and curricula
available, designed to both teach the mechanics of reading, and to foster a love
of good literature. A few are listed at the end of this chapter. Talk to parents
at co-ops, support groups or online forums. Take the time to ask about what has,
or has not, worked for them. Know your child and tailor your approach to their strengths
and interests.
For pennies, there are many things you can do at home to start your child on the
road to reading. While it won’t get you featured in a decorating magazine,
try putting labels on everyday household objects. On index cards clearly print words
like “bed” “lamp” “window” or “step”
and tape them in place.
Shake things up a bit. A child who doesn’t have the fine motor skills to use
pencil and paper effectively can still learn letter shapes. Try finger paint, or
tracing the letter in a pan of rice or cornmeal. Spray shaving foam on the counter
and let him “write” in that. Write a letter with glue on construction
paper and have him stick cereal, marshmallows or beans to the glue. Use sidewalk
chalk.
After your child learns the “alphabet song”, teach him letter sounds
in a song of your own. Make a poster board phonics chart or book with pictures either
hand drawn or cut from magazines, and letters printed in permanent marker. Help
the child point to the letter/picture as you sing “ah ah apple, b b ball,
c c cat, d d doll, eh eh egg”, etc to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle,
Little Star”.
Teach short vowel sounds first. The child will soon be able to look at “a”
and know that it both makes the “ah” sound, and “says its name”.
After the short vowel lessons your child will be able to sound out words like up,
it, pot, and (mom’s favorite) nap!
There are hundreds of easy, fun, cheap ways to teach and reinforce reading skills
at home, which obviously can’t be covered here in one chapter! The point is…there
are simple steps to teaching reading. You can take those steps, and you can enjoy
them too!
A few resources to take a look at:
Biographical Information
Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by authors above. Content provided by
The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.
Eleanor Joyce is a homeschooling, homemaking, home-working mom who lives in western
Pennsylvania with her husband, four children, and two dogs. She is the editor of
“Molly’s Money-Saving Digest” a popular monthly publication for
thrifty homemakers, featuring practical articles and friendly encouragement. Visit
Molly’s website,
www.Econobusters.com for your free daily dose of cheap and cheerful
inspiration.
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