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? for McGuffey Reader users


simplemom
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Do I need to use a phonics or sight word list supplement to teach reading starting with McGuffey primer? Ds learned to read in ps K using a sight word list plus word families and some phonics, I did a simple phonics program with him in 1st grade homeschool (Reading Made Easy with Blend Phonics), and he picked up reading from there. We did readers like Frog and Toad and Little Bear, the CLP nature readers, and then picked up McGuffey starting in book 3.

 

McGuffey Primer is working well for my slower to read dd who didn't go to ps K like ds. I just want to add in Learn to Read with Blend Phonics and continue on with our sight word list, but it feels like busywork now that I JUST got into a flow of teaching her with something she takes to better than the other things we tried last year. Is McGuffey meant to be supplemented with a phonics program?

 

My dd does know her basic alphabet phonics sounds, some consonant blends, and I am verbally teaching her phonics like the ow, ending y, etc.... as we encounter those words in McGuffey. She does well blending sounds of new words together if I give her a heads up on the sounds for any new letter combinations.

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If you are verbally teaching her phonics word by word, most children will do fine. What you are doing is not that different than people using an O-G program based on a frequency list.

 

Sometimes we can overdo phonics wanting to use all the methods. The point of phonics is to provide enough instruction to get the child reading, not make them an expert on phonics. Many phonics programs can take on a life of their own.

 

SOME children improve their spelling by studying lots and lots of phonics. Most do not. The recommendations that you need to teacher phonics to strong readers, so they can learn to spell, isn't always valid.

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My dd is in the 4th reader, so beyond phonics. I just have her read a selection aloud to me to work on fluency, etc. and pronouncing and defining words she has trouble with. We are doing spelling & vocabulary separately, and finished OPGTR before switching to McGuffey's. I like it because it's quick and easy ;)

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We used OPGTR followed by McGuffy. We also used explode the code while going through OPGTR, although I don't know if that would be completely necessary. I chose to do it this way because I do not teach the boys English until age five and after they are reading in a Spanish.

 

In my experience, sight word lists aren't necessary unless you really want them. Honestly, once my dc got through the primer, things really started to fall in to place. Even my non reader is solid in this area. Other things I did a lot of were reading aloud to them, and having them read silently to themselves every day. Of coarse, when they are just beginning you can keep simple bob books, beautiful picture books, and audio books around for this.

 

Most importantly, enjoy the one on one reading time. let your dc attach a sweet memory to learning how to read, ;)

 

 

HTH

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