[Motsy2006]

My son will be starting kinder this upcoming September so this will be the first year we'll be doing regular and more organized homeschooling. As the date approaches I'm becoming more and more anxious mainly about teaching him to read. I'm definitely doubting my ability and worrying that I might fail him. Because of this I wanted to get some input from moms who have BTDT. What suggestions do you have for teaching them to read? Curriculum, programs on the computer (this would be nice to supplement with curriculum when I need to tend to the younger two), etc. Any help would be appreciated!

[BensMom]

Don't worry. REALLY! Just read, read, read together. Animate your voice... don't read as if it's a chore. Point out words in everyday life, like at the store, "can you hand me the box on the bottom shelf... it's (color name) and starts with a (letter name)."

As for curriculum, I really like Explode the Code for teaching phonics. It moves as quickly or as slowly as you need it to, and there are extra practices if necessary, or reviews that can be skipped if necessary. There's also an online version, but I like the workbooks best.

Surround yourself with books like Dr. Seuss. The non-sense words will force real reading with phonics, because you can't sight read a word that isn't really a word at all. The rhyme and rhythm help kids figure out words.

Also surround yourself with sing-along or read-along books w/ CDs. They provide the repetition and encouragement that kids really need sometimes, especially reluctant or struggling emergent readers.

Most of all, don't stress. Not every child will get their first tooth by 4 months, so why should every child be expected to read in kindergarten? Emphasize the strengths as they emerge, and give the weaknesses time to develop on their own. Try very, very hard not to compare one child with someone else's child or with the child's siblings. Even in families, kids learn differently.

[The Studious Mrs P.]

There is nothing mystical about teaching reading. I went through all manner of curriculum with my first and now with that experience I'm using nothing more than a free primer and a lot of books with my next ones.

Chrystal gave a lot of great suggestions for encouraging the process and interest in reading. As for curriculum, these are a few I've used but are not guaranteed to jive with you, your child, or your budget:

Phonics Pathways (a book - doesn't have step-by-step instruction but there is nothing to it)
Hooked On Phonics (fun perhaps, but expensive and full of unnecessary pieces - I did like the incorporated and included readers)
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading (scripted so you know exactly what to say)

A few more I haven't tried but others love (or don't .. as with everything):
Teach Your Child to Reading in 100 Easy Lessons
The Reading Lesson
Reading Made Easy


Starfall.com is a popular and free place to go online to supplement whatever you're doing.

[BensMom]

Another good (free) resource is Progressive Phonics - Progressive Phonics. I always forget about that one!

[Happy Song]

I am doing teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons.

I did it with my older daughter when she was 5 to 6 and she hated it, and reading too. I am currently doing it was Scarlett I started when she was two and she is three now we are on lesson 36ish and she loves it. we will go back through as many of the activities are beyond her as she is still learning how to talk, and not quite ready for the the writing part of it. However she know her ABC's by name and by sound too.

In theory the book is scripted which is nice but I adjust it.

[Anna2ds]

We used Mc Ruffy ( a series of little phonics reading books with workbooks and a teachers guide). He did fine with it. Transferred to a private school midway through the year and was not behind. The reading books are cute and funny and the teacher guide is easy to understand.