MagnaSky Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 My 5 year old loves math, enjoys learning to write, but the moment we start to work on reading he acts like I am torturing him. We are using Hooked on Phonics. He knows the sounds associated with each letter, so I know that he has the foundation to keep moving on. But how do we get over this constant struggle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siloam Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 My 5 year old loves math, enjoys learning to write, but the moment we start to work on reading he acts like I am torturing him. We are using Hooked on Phonics. He knows the sounds associated with each letter, so I know that he has the foundation to keep moving on. But how do we get over this constant struggle? I would just back off for now. Does he yawn, rub his eyes, lay his head on the table? All those are signs of mental exhaustion. While he might be able to do it, it might be taking a lot more out of him than you realize. There is no need to push it. Take a break and let him mature, or he might only learn to hate reading. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatmansWife Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 Well, a couple of ideas. First, what version of HOP are you using? The old one in the clam shell case? If so....that's the problem; Totally Booooring! If it's the newer version.....well, then I'm not quite sure. They are definitely an improvement over the old. Secondly, either consider putting it away for awhile, like the other poster suggested, or check out a different approach. Two of my favorites that you might like to look at are McRuffy and Reading Made Easy. Here are some links: http://mcruffy.com/Kindergarten-Phonics.htm http://valeriebendt.com/ReadingMadeEasy.aspx In the blue box to the right of the above link you'll see samples and lots of reviews. You can also see more samples of the book and activity books here: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=reading+made+easy&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devotional Soul Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 (edited) Don't push too much. 5 is still young. Maybe he still needs more time building that foundation before moving on. If it's not the curriculum that's the problem, find ways to integrate his interests into reading. I noticed that my ds was taking in a lot just from me pointing to each word while reading stories. Be patient and he may surprise you! Edited September 9, 2010 by Devotional Soul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Sherry Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 I agree with those who have said to back off of teaching him to read for now. Reading to him is a good option. Learning to listen and tell back what you have heard is a good way to develop vocabulary and comprehension skills. I would suggest reading to him every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagnaSky Posted September 9, 2010 Author Share Posted September 9, 2010 Thank you all for your advice. I think I will just back off for few weeks and will focus on the things he likes to do. Meanwhile I will explore the options that AprilMay suggested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivka Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 For my daughter there was a looong gap between knowing the letter sounds and being able to blend. I think she knew all the letter sounds by 2.5, started to blend simple CVC words when she was 4.5, and is now reading well at 5.5. I really think it is a developmental process. Something needs to mature in the brain before kids can make the jump from isolated sounds to words. So I second the idea of backing off for a while. Let his brain grow up a little more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Indeed Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 Yes back off for a while. Then give reading made easy a shot. The lessons are short, and simple, and it is my favorite learn to read program ever. The one thing I have never curriculum hopped, or even searched for- I had exactly what I wanted. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagnaSky Posted September 9, 2010 Author Share Posted September 9, 2010 I am really relieved that there is consensus that I need to back off for a while. He does like writing and is asking to write words and sentences. Hopefully this will lead to the next step. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 At that age, I like short, fun lessons from the white board and a lot of games. Blend phonics is free online and easy to do from the white board. Here is a good games thread, but I would not do the sight word games. I have tutored too many remedial students who had problems from doing sight words as wholes. A good phonics program will teach most of them phonetically. You can teach all but 5 of the 220 sight words phonetically if you add in a few rules and patterns, my sight word page shows how. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205315&highlight=Mona+games+game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 I might be way-off base here, but since he loves math (me too!), Spell to Write and Read might be a good fit. I'm checking out SWR to help with my spelling; it's a phonics based approach. The markings they use appeal to me - my analytical nature is showing! My 5 year old loves math, enjoys learning to write Best Wishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 Oh, here a couple of links for SWR http://www.swrtraining.com/id14.html http://www.bhibooks.net/catalog/item/4154895/4030654.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whereneverever Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 I'd rest on it for now. Spend more time reading out loud and doing other things- a lot of the early reading seems to be tied into developmental and emotional readiness. My DD1 hit a wall early on with phonics and couldn't get past it. I quit teaching it completely for months and just focused on other things and then when we came back to it she was ready. She wasn't frustrated because it hadn't been pushed, so we were able to do it without upset. It will come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagnaSky Posted September 9, 2010 Author Share Posted September 9, 2010 This is very helpful, thank you! At that age, I like short, fun lessons from the white board and a lot of games. Blend phonics is free online and easy to do from the white board. Here is a good games thread, but I would not do the sight word games. I have tutored too many remedial students who had problems from doing sight words as wholes. A good phonics program will teach most of them phonetically. You can teach all but 5 of the 220 sight words phonetically if you add in a few rules and patterns, my sight word page shows how. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205315&highlight=Mona+games+game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagnaSky Posted September 9, 2010 Author Share Posted September 9, 2010 Oh, here a couple of links for SWR http://www.swrtraining.com/id14.html http://www.bhibooks.net/catalog/item/4154895/4030654.htm Thank you! Now that I am ready to relax a little, I will look into SWR and other programs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Sherry Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 Yes back off for a while. Then give reading made easy a shot. The lessons are short, and simple, and it is my favorite learn to read program ever. The one thing I have never curriculum hopped, or even searched for- I had exactly what I wanted. ;) Here's a link to get a look at "Reading Made Easy" This is the first I've heard of it. It does look good. http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=reading+made+easy+valorie+bendt&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1&search= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 This is very helpful, thank you! You are welcome! Here is what I am doing with my 5 year old, I am working through Webster's Speller. I did it with my daughter, and she was reading at the 12th grade level by the end of K. My son is not as verbal, he will probably not get to that level until the end of 1st grade. He is good at math, though, he is where my daughter was halfway through 1st grade after only a few weeks worth of work. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=208407 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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