As a past elementary school teacher I was determined to have my kids reading before Kindergarten! However, I always taught 2nd grade and all of my students came into my class with the basics already in place. My questions: How do you start the process without all the resources the school has to offer? Is there a simple program that doesn't take much time? (I have plenty to do, and not a ton of time to make lesson plans or put together huge learning activities) I was ready to contact my cohorts back at the Elementary school when my friend Heather Pruett asked me if I'd heard about BOB books. This is her second recommendation that has been just perfect! The first was the Leap Frog videos.
So here is my current formula for pre-kindergarten reading... It might seem simple or lazy, but it worked and that's what counts! (Side note: If your child can't sit through a 1/2 hour movie they may not be ready!)
Step 1: (Build the foundation) purchase the DVD movie "Letter Factory" by Leap Frog and let your child watch it over and over until they know all the letters and their sounds! (It took Spencer at age 3 about 2 weeks of watching) I have seen it for $7 at Costco or a few dollars more at Target!
Step 2: (Cool and Fun) Give your child a work book (i-phone app, game, etc.) where he can practice drawing and having fun with letters. Have them point out letter and sounds all around them... make it a game everywhere you go!
Step 3: (Putting letter sounds together) purchase the DVD movie "Talking Words Factory" by Leap Frog and let your child watch it over and over until they start trying to sound out words around them. (For example: While driving around town Spencer would point out the window to a Subway Sandwich sign and say,"Does that say S...s..s.., UH, B..B..., Wa/wa ..." Sounding out the word subway!)
Step 4: (Why not actually READ) purchase the first set of BOB Books and follow their instructions... As a past teacher I recommend reading 20 min. a day 5 days a week! Plus if your getting frustrated with your sweet little guy for trying to guess words, and not sounding them out I bribe with candy. I gave Spencer a bowl of 8-10 skittles to start with and myself the rest of the skittle bag. Each time he missed a word I took a skittle from his bowl. If he got the sentence correct he got to take one of mine. He cried after I took the first one, but then he caught on and ended up with a bunch of skittles to eat at the end of his book. Interesting how a little bribe can make you a better reader :o) HA! Plus repetition... I have a few books going at a time, but I make him read each book at least 6 times (that's 6 days of reading the same book) - Spencer earns a sticker to put on the last page of the book each time he reads it. When he gets 6 stickers he know we get to add a new book to our reading the next day, and now when he pulls out any of the past books he can read them with no mistakes.
The BOB Books are a step-by-step program for guiding children through the early stages of reading. They are simple to sound out, but also add sight words and letters that borrow sounds like (HAS - the s uses the z sound etc.) We are only 1/2 way through the first set, but it's working with only about 20 minutes a day! (I also found these at Costco for $10)
Here is Spencer reading... This is for his Grandparents (not trying to brag) He just wanted to show them how well he's doing.
10 comments:
Oh my gosh! He is awesome! That is so cool that he is already reading:) Thanks for sharing your magic methods!
thats great! I think I will try it with Ayden. Shes already good with letters and loves books. Im sure shed love to read! Thanks for sharing.
Who hoo! Way to go, Jen and Spencer!
It's interesting to read your whole process- I'm glad you shared- we have similar thinking as teachers!
I hear you on the LeapFrog videos, our little guy loves them and has done great with his letters. Now I'll have to check out the BOB books!
This is fantastic. How exciting to hear Spencer reading! Thanks for sharing.
Spencer is awesome!
I didn't know about those until my 2nd boy. He was doing the same thing. It is AMAZING! I love those movies and the Bob books. You are such a good mom.
wow--way to go cousin Spencer! He's reading so well! Maybe we'll pick up a couple of those BOB books for Charlotte.
Although I have heard through my educational grapevine (my kids' elementary school) that guessing the word based on the picture is an entirely normal part of learning to read. But if they can sound it out from the get-go, more power to them!
congrats darling spencer!!
my WORD VERIFICATION WORD to leave a comment is HOLLYBRA.
Go Jen! This will be my 4th year teaching preschool now and I WISH I could get all my little ones reading. Most do pretty well. But I will have to recommend those movies to my students parents. thanks!
3 boys! That will be so exciting. We are expecting our 3rd as well...but still awaiting the ultra sound. But I am fully prepared and ready for 3 boys too! It sounds like a lot of work- but lots of fun! :) Good luck these last few weeks with your pregnancy. Tell Nick Hello.
Great advice Jen. We actually got the Letter Factory for Noah a while back and he loves it. He knows all his letters as well...I love watching them learn (and they do it so quickly!). Kids amaze me.
That's great! I bought the BOB books last month and Ani loves it too! I love to see her so happy with her accomplishment! Letter Factory is amazing as well, Cambrie knew all of the letter sounds @ 19 months just because of that! Isn't it so fun to be a parent!
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