1st grade: "Reading Program" after OPG?

[Sahamamama]

My K'er will be finishing up OPG at the end of this year. What do we move into after completing a phonics primer? She easily reads at a 4th/5th grade level, but could use some work with diligently sounding out longer/harder works. But, to her credit, she read aloud chapter after chapter of "The Long Winter," and the only word she didn't pronounce correctly or know was "saleratus." :001_huh: She has read through most of the Little House series, Charlotte's Web, Beatrix Potter, Thornton Burgess, Just So Stories, and the DK Children's Illustrated Bible.

 

I don't know what to do next with this child. Any suggestions?

[RobinF]

I would think after OPG that you wouldn't have to have any more phonics but at that age I would probably do ETC just for review and practice and continued reading practice. (Realizing that none of my boys finished OPG that soon.:001_smile:)

[ElizabethB]

Webster's Speller and Syllable Divided Books!

 

You could also work through my syllable division exercises, linked at the end of my how to tutor page.

 

I think most people would be challenged by saleratus!

[Lovedtodeath]

I found it enlightening that in the case of a young child who already reads, The Peace Hill Press videos recommend that you use a phonics program but have the child spell the words instead of reading. The official TWTM answer is likely to move on to Spelling Work Out now.

 

I have chosen to use Phonics Road. You can also use Elizabeth's resources (in fact, I would try that first) or a program like All About Spelling or How to Teach Spelling.

[Sahamamama]

She reads them TO me. I know, it's amazing, but that IS where she is. She came to me when she was two years old and asked me to teach her to read that day. I had just gotten home from the hospital with twins and said, "Oh, not today, Sweetie, maybe when you are three."

 

So the next day she asked, "Am I three yet?" :001_huh:

 

By the time she was 3.5 she was reading CVC, CCVC, and CVCC words. Four years to five years, she worked on long vowels and R-controlled vowels and so on. But somewhere in there, she took off like a rocket and then I wasn't sure what to do. She didn't seem to need the phonics instruction, in a way... but to be sure, we decided to finish OPG and that was a good choice. She reads far beyond her "lessons," though.

 

What I don't want is to get her into a grade-level program (i.e., first grade) that teaches reading she already knows -- The Cat Sat on the Mat. :tongue_smilie: My 3.5 year old twins are there, LOL, and it's driving me :willy_nilly:. Two at a time on "A big pig can dig in the mud" is ENOUGH, let me tell you.

 

No, the oldest girl needs something beyond this for Reading... but WHAT? Most first grade programs focus on teaching basic phonics, or at the most, Frog & Toad level books. We love F & T, but for entertainment, not "growth-level," KWIM? For example, at this moment, she is happily reading the Little House Cookbook and her new Bible (purple and pink, what's not to love?). So she reads and understands and applies what she reads at this level. I don't think this is typical for Kindergarten.

 

Some materials I've seen that I do like are Story Time Treasures and More Story Time Treasures from Memoria Press. My husband thinks they might be too "easy," but I think that's a good thing. The whole format -- (1) read an assigned section or chapter; (2) write down answers to specific questions; (3) develop vocabulary; (4) discuss the story in a slightly more analytical manner;;) and (5) complete an assigned activity related to the reading -- this would be a sweet, gentle introduction to "Reading Comprehension" for a VERY sweet and gentle first grader. And, these are all books we LOVE. :001_wub:

 

I've also looked at the study guides from Memoria Press for their second grade level -- Mr. Popper's Penguins, Little House, Sarah, and Beatrix Potter. I like these, too, but I'm not sure about the typos. :glare: They are beta versions, so that might be part of it. I know my daughter would enjoy the more challenging and complex stories in these books (as opposed to Little Bear's Friend, LOL), but then again, I think they would be perfect for second grade. :lol: Can you tell I drive my husband crazy? :D

 

But, seriously, I don't know what to do with "Reading" as a subject after we "finish" phonics. One option would be to get All About Spelling for, well, spelling -- and THAT would reteach and reinforce the phonics from a different angle. She loves spelling, too, BTW. Weird kid.

[Sahamamama]

Webster's Speller and Syllable Divided Books!

 

You could also work through my syllable division exercises, linked at the end of my how to tutor page.

 

I think most people would be challenged by saleratus!

 

Elizabeth, once again, you amaze me with the resources you have gathered and created! Thank you so much for your links, these are perfect -- and not just for this student! :D

[Satori]

It doesn't sound like you need to do any more than you're doing! I would add some sort of spelling program though.

 

We'll be done with OPG soon and we'll continue with ETC 4-8 as long as my daughter wants. She actually really enjoys these workbooks, even though they're review in everything. We're also doing All-About-Spelling 3-4 this year.

[kmacnchs]

It doesn't sound like you need to do any more than you're doing! I would add some sort of spelling program though.

 

 

:iagree:Once my 3yo finished OPG, she was at the same place - still needed practice sounding out words. Your challenge is to get challenging books (and it's perfect that she reads them too you so you can make sure she is sounding out said difficult words) that are appropriate :\

 

Someone suggested to me to have her read read alouds for her age - this guarantees they are age appropriate but also challenges her (as read alouds are generally not on that age's skill level - make sense?). Look at some suggestions from Ambleside Online. We are a big fan of Kipling (I see you are already reading him). Have you looked at Dahl? His books are challenging but if you are particular about certain words, you may want to skip HER reading them. (I read them aloud & skip over parts)

 

I also agree with others about a Spelling Program. We did SWO A when dd1 was about finished w/OPG. It was easy but it worked on her writing skills as well, which was good. We are now on SWO B and I am expecting it to challenge her a bit more this year.

[Sahamamama]

I found it enlightening that in the case of a young child who already reads, The Peace Hill Press videos recommend that you use a phonics program but have the child spell the words instead of reading. The official TWTM answer is likely to move on to Spelling Work Out now.

 

I have chosen to use Phonics Road. You can also use Elizabeth's resources (in fact, I would try that first) or a program like All About Spelling or How to Teach Spelling.

 

Thank you. Yes, I was thinking that this might be the next step for her. It would be a reinforcement of Phonics, but from the opposite end -- have the student encode the words, instead of decode them.

 

I also will take another good look at Elizabeth's site & Don Potter's site. I've used some of these materials before for tutoring 4th/5th/6th grade boys. Good stuff. We might find what we're looking for there (and it's more affordable than AAS). ;)

[Sahamamama]

It doesn't sound like you need to do any more than you're doing! I would add some sort of spelling program though.

 

We'll be done with OPG soon and we'll continue with ETC 4-8 as long as my daughter wants. She actually really enjoys these workbooks, even though they're review in everything. We're also doing All-About-Spelling 3-4 this year.

 

Do you like it? (Obviously, yes, if you're on 3 & 4, but I just have to ask, LOL). What do you like about it? Dislike (if anything)? What level should we start with (I probably would begin at the beginning)?

 

BTW, totally off topic here, but your daughter is adorable. We enjoy your blog. :D We love the little notes she writes to you. I get those all the time, too, things like

 

 

Dear Mommy,

I love you so so so so so so so much!

You are the best Mommy ever.

I miss you today.

(heart) S_____

 

 

 

I wonder, "Why does she miss me, we've been together all day?" Oh, the guilt of motherhood. :lol:

[Sahamamama]

:lurk5: