Another Reading Program?

[friendlyjas]

My DD is 4, my DS is 3. We have been working through TOPGTR for quite a while now. My son gets it, likes it, likes how quick it is. He has picked up on it very well. My daughter cannot get past the first reading lesson. She knows all her letters and letter sounds. She has no trouble recognizing them, but for some reason when I get out the book, she glazes over. I even had her eyes checked because I thought she couldn't see the book! (Her eyes are fine.) She loves reading books, loves her TAG, loves being read to, but just cannot move forward with TOPGTR. She loves workbooks. (She will sit and do 10 pages in her math book if I let her.) I'm trying to figure out if this is an age thing, that maybe she just isn't ready to read (though she is constantly asking to read) or if this is a curriculum doesn't fit the kid problem. We've done lesson 27 about a dozen times now, and she still just doesn't seem to get it. She acts like she has no clue what I'm asking her to do, then stares off in space and starts just guessing random words. (You'd think after 12 times, she'd have all the words memorized!) Help!

[shinyhappypeople]

She's 4. I'd bet my cat it's an age thing. Try again every few months until she seems more able to get it.

 

FWIW, my younger DD also wanted to read, but blending just wasn't clicking for her. When she was almost 5, everything seemed to click and she's been make lovely progress since then.

[Dawn E]

My dd did not like OPGTR. We used an eclectic mix of Primary Phonics plus Rigg's Institute's (The Writing Road to Reading) phonogram cards. I also just started compiling a basket of good books at her level. Primary Phonics is by the same people who put out Explode the Code. Primary Phonics has a set of 10 storybooks that correspond with each level/workbook. The main difference between the content of PP and EtC is that EtC requires less handwriting. PP has the child writing out words and simple sentences. If she prefers workbooks, one of these might be a good fit. I plan on trying OPGTR again with ds when he is older, but it just was not a good fit for dd.

[mom2boys030507]

I tried at 4 with both my older boys - just didn't click. They knew their letters and all the sounds even a few blends. Once, they were closer to 5, it clicked and they flew through all the levels of Hooked on Phonics.

[kmacnchs]

is she saying 'a-t' and just can't blend it? I just would then say "a-t...at!" and have her repeat. dd1 just needed me to model how to blend first...dd2 got it by herself...she may not be ready or she may just need a little help at first - doesn't hurt to try :)

[boscopup]

It sounds like she just hasn't had the blending lightbulb come on yet. My oldest could sound out words for a good 6 months before he could blend. It just clicked one day. I would recommend putting the phonics programs away for a few weeks or a month, then try again later.

[friendlyjas]

Thank you, all. With the OPGTR, she will look at "at" and sound each letter, but won't blend them. I'll help her, tell her it is "at." Move on to "mat" and she stares at it, sounds out each letter and says, "dog?"

She likes to play PBS Island on the computer. There is a game that will say, "We're looking for 'og' words." She will pick every single one out without a problem. Not sure how she can do one but not the other.