March 3, 2009 1:28 PM
Mommy, Teach Me to Read! success story
Catching up on old email -
Lauren wrote this last October, her success story using Mommy, Teach Me to Read!
My son, Holden, was born 9 weeks prematurely. We naturally assumed that he would have some developmental delays. He was a very late talker, and honestly we were starting to get very concerned about his overall development. At age 2 he had only a handful of words. I had been reading Mommylife for about a year since I had found it on a pro-life blog ring and I knew that Barbara had written "Mommy Teach Me" and "Mommy Teach Me to Read". I knew we had to do something, so I decided to get the books as a first step.
I honestly didn't expect much success. Even at 2.5 my son was barely talking and I figured that "Mommy Teach Me to Read" was going to be shelved for years. I was more focused on just trying to teach him some basic concentration building skills. We did several activities. He especially loved the button sorting and shape puzzles. He still wasn't talking much, but I noticed his concentration was getting much better. Prior to starting his activities he would jump up and leave half way through a book. Now, he was starting to sit through the entire thing and ask for more. I was thrilled!
Around this time he started acquiring more language so we started playing the phoneics game. His progression was exactly as Barbara described it in Mommy Teach Me to Read. First I'd say "let's think of mmm words" and he'd say "dog" or some other random word. So I'd give him example after example after example, and he finally realized that an "mmm" word was "monkey". Huge breakthrough!
We did this for a long, long time and he stayed at this level for probably about 6 months. Somewhere during this time we started to show him letters and he was able to make the sound. We started letting him watch signing time and Wordworld and he picked up the names of the letters on his own through those shows. I was a bit worried he would become confused, but it seemed to only cement his understanding of letters.
I made flash cards of the list of 3 letter phonetic words found in "Read" and for the past month or so we've been going over them. He got the individual sounds, but wasn't putting together that they made a cohesive word. Last week he started sounding out the letters in stop signs and said the word STOP. Huge celebrations abounded.
The next day we sat down with the cards. His big breakthrough came about 5 cards in when "hug" came up. He sounded it out and then said "hug". He looked at me and said "HUG!?" and gave me a hug. I felt like Annie from the Miracle Worker. He went on to READ every word that I gave him. He was actually making the connection that duh ah duh said "dad" and that "dad" meant Daddy.
So we bought the Bob Books
that were recommended and he read the entire first book! I am confidant that he could have read far more, but I didn't want him to get overwhelmed so we stopped there for the day.
I am so beyond thrilled that my little preemie is reading at 3.5 years. I'm also elated that he's not just sounding out the letters, but actually comprehending what he's reading. This is huge because my son has struggled with comprehension in the past and really seems to be making a breakthrough.
I am so thankful that I found your books, Barbara, because your techniques have completely opened up my son. He is so excited to be reading and now asks us for books. I've also noticed a huge change in his behavior since about 2 weeks ago when he really started catching on to everything. He used to have terrible temper tantrums, but he's starting to tell us more what is wrong and even putting himself in timeout! It feels like a light bulb has gone off and he finally understands language and its uses.
Thank you so much for your books. I know that we are just starting the journey of having a reader and I can not wait to continue using your techniques to foster his love of learning. I would be happy to recommend you to anyone with a young child. Thank you!
God Bless,
Lauren
If you want to try this method - which is based on the Montessori approach and which I used successfully in my own classroom and then years later with my own children at home - you can purchase my books here, look for lower prices on used books at Amazon
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Photo note: The picture above of Lauren reading Pat the Bunny
Posted in Homeschooling, Preschoolers, Reading, Toddlers | Permalink
Comments
I'm so glad you were able to post my review! It has really been amazing seeing my son's development skyrocket since we started using your books.
I posted this review on Amazon as well. For anyone out there wondering if they should get these books, all I can say is BUY THEM! They have made all the difference with my son, and I can't wait to start them with my daughter.
Posted by: lauren | March 3, 2009 3:39 PM
Hi Barbara,
Did you use this method with all the Downzers? Garrett has been memorizing lots of sight words, which he LOVES...but I'm wondering where to go next. Also, how do you decide what level of books are appropriate for your boys to read? Because Garrett is speech delayed ~ I don't know what he's comprehending and how to give him the most from the books I choose. Thanks!!!! Jenny
Posted by: jenny | March 5, 2009 1:27 AM
Barbara,
I just bought this book from you on amazon. My son Corban is 4 and he had a smile from ear to ear when he read the word "pop" on the pop tart box! We are both eager to "learn" to read. The most exciting part about it is that we can go about our "normal" day and just read! Thanks! We plan on homeschooling next year for K-5 and we are way ahead already! Thank you so much for your help too!
Posted by: Katie | March 5, 2009 10:27 AM
