October 13, 2007 10:47 AM
When phonetics just don't work
I had a question about sight reading. I think you wrote recently that one of your children did better with sight reading. My 5 year old son has been working on sounding out words for over a year, but isn't catching on. For instance, he has sounded out c-a-t probably 200 times, but still needs to sound it out each time. What do you suggest? The words he has memorized, like Mom, he can read.Many thanks,
A
Dear A -
Your son may just not be developmentally ready to read yet. Each child has a unique internal timetable - which I discovered through experience while trying to apply a method I'd learned as a teacher which was supposed to work for everyone :)
When I wrote Mommy, Teach Me to Read! to share the Montessori method of teaching reading with moms, I also shared my experience with my daughter Sophia who despite my best efforts, did not learn to read until she was seven - and then learned through sight reading first, followed by more word-attack skills like phonetics and phonograms.
If your son seems to be able to learn sight words, then I'd say you should try to teach him that way - picking up the formative skills later.
But the important thing is not to push or make these efforts result in frustration. Almost every child with the opportunity to learn reading learns reading. It's important for parents and teachers to relax and allow for individual differences as the process unfolds.
Hope this helps!
Posted in Homeschooling, Preschoolers | Permalink
Comments
I do agree with Barbara to use whatever method works, AT FIRST. I work for a local community college tutoring students in Anatomy and Physiology.
In working with a lot of the students with the vocabulary words (mostly Latin, but can be easily sounded out), I found that the school districts that teach sight reading produced students that lack the ability to see and pronounce a new word, which further frustrates the reading process. And forget them trying to read aloud in class!
I like phonics based reading programs, because you can read and pronounce ANY word.
Posted by: Nicole | October 13, 2007 11:56 AM
My niece is an obviously very bright girl, but my sister about lost her mind trying to get her to learn to read. She just DID NOT GET IT. It was horribly frustrating to both of them, so my sister just quit for a while. Finally about five and a half, she finally comprehended what was going on and now at just turned six reads at the third grade level.
Apparently, you just can't force it. When they're ready, they'll read. And not a day sooner.
Posted by: Amy K. | October 13, 2007 8:03 PM
Dear A,
Way to go in trying to teach your own son! I just wanted to encourage you. I did not read a bit until I was 7 years old. I knew all my letters and their sounds, but my brain just wouldn't put it into words. But you know what, when my development level was ready, I took off!!! I have been an avid reader since. Books are not read but devoured! Don't sweat it. He is a boy for one, and a lot of times boys aren't ready to read at 5. My six year old daughter still can't read phonetically. But she'll get it. Someone suggested that when she is frustrated with "reading" to put it aside and teach her something else! (Her favorite thing was to learn to wash the tub! Double the bonus! She is not stressed about reading, and now, she can clean my tub!!!!)
Just don't put so much pressure on your son or yourself to make sure he is reading right now! If he can sound it out, I am confident in him that he will get it when he's ready! A big plus for him is that his mom cares so much for his education!
Posted by: Sara | October 13, 2007 8:22 PM
I've noticed with my children that you can't push it and there is an inner timetable. My oldest taught himself how to read before he turned three. My next son was reading, with little effort on my part, by age 5. My oldest daughter struggled to learn the alphabet between the ages of 3.5 and 5. We gave up learning the alphabet when she turned 5 as so many experienced parents told us to just wait. When she was just shy of six, we tried again and everything clicked. Three months ago I tried to work on blending sounds with my 5 year old. No results except tears. I waited and tried again 4 months later. She caught on within a few lessons. I really think something developmentally happened during those waiting times.
Posted by: Deb Amend | October 15, 2007 3:02 PM
Thank you so much for posting my question and for your responses! It has lifted a weight off of me not to get worried about my son learning to read. So we will learn about other things during this time. He loves to have books read to him and I am enjoying them as much if not more than he is. It is so wonderful to be able to ask you questions. Thanks again!
Posted by: Angela | October 16, 2007 3:09 PM
I'm working through Webster's speller with my 5 year old, in Webster's day, they used to learn to spell AND sound out words before they learned to read them, I find that spelling the word really helps cement its sound spelling correspondence in her brain.
If they can't write well yet, they can spell with magnetic letters on a cookie sheet until you teach them to write.
Posted by: ElizabethB | October 21, 2007 1:47 AM
