Question for those who've taught reading without a curriculum or program

[Karen FL]

My 6/y/o ds has only done so-so with 100 EZ Lessons, OPTGR, and Alpha-Phonics. I've tried the three aforementioned at varied times and he seemed irritated. I did back off when he would get irritated and I would try again after a few weeks.

I haven't been stressed about this but this did throw me for a curve as our eldest son simply went thru 100 EZ Lessons and the latter half of OPTGR without much fuss at all.:D

Recently, 6 y/o ds asked to 'read' some Starfall books his older brother read three years ago. He is doing a great job with these tiny books. They are similar to Bob books.

I'm thinking that I will just use the Starfall books and Bob books for now rather than 100 EZ Lessons, OPTGR, or Alpha-Phonics. At some point, I'm thinking I will try them again...

He is a visual learner. It seems he is learning much more with books rather than ten minute phonic lessons.

Have you BTDT?

[training5]

Both my 3 and 2yr olds are learning their letter sounds from starfall.com. It works. I am considering using Dancing Bears with them soon. Here is the website: http://www.soundfoundationsbooks.co.uk/
Just an idea.

[Brenda in FL]

Hi Karen!!!

I'm considering doing the same thing with J! I caught him sounding out the words on an oreo cookie at Christmas time and I pulled out the Bob Books and he did a great job reading through the first set.

We're on the second box, and one disadvantage I see to using just books is that some words will likely be learned as sight words. I thought 100 EZ lessons did a good job of progressing with the various sounds and not relying so much on sight words.

I still haven't decided what to do.

When I taught M to read, we reached a point in 100EZ where she just stopped. I had her read from McGuffey's daily for awhile and then she eventually asked to continue with 100EZ and finished the book. (Getting a library card is tied to completing the book, so that's probably why she was ready to start back up again).

If the readers are pulling him in and he's picking up the phonics then use that - And let me know how it goes - so I know what to do with J!!!

[Nan in Mass]

My son taught himself (with my help) to read using a Frog and Toad book. By the time the book was done, he could read. We did formal phonics via spelling later with Spelling Workout. Just make sure you teach them the alphabet so they can use a dictionary later. (sheepish oops)
-Nan

[octavia]

That's how my daughter learnt. She hated reading programmes and started with Bob Books, then just carried on! We did so some phonics (a UK programme Jolly Phonics) informally, but mainly she learnt by just reading.

[Shari]

My older ds was a "natural reader" as well. I started him off in a phonics program ... I think it was Horizons? ... tried to add Explode the Code. I think we were still working on short vowel sounds when he picked up Take Me to the Zoo and read me the whole book. You mean they can learn without curriculum???????? As a beginning homeschooler, I was blown away! :p

After that, I continued to just let him read and narrate back to me a la Charlotte Mason. We used a phonics-based spelling program (BJU) to fill in any gaps.

[chiguirre]

You might want to read Teach a Child to Read with Children's Books by Mark Thogmartin. It's not a program to use with a child, it's a book that explains how to teach without a program, IFYKWIM.

If your ds will tolerate workbooks, Explode the Code is a fairly fun way to do systematic phonics. The pictures are silly and my kids like them. You can do a page or two in less than 5 minutes.

[KarenC]

Then they continue to read to me until they are able to read on their own.

Karen

[lovemyboys]

Ds 6 here started with Bob books and very simple readers when he was 4-1/2, then he wanted to do big brother's 100ez at 5. We raced through the first 30 lessons and he was bored and didn't really need it. We just kept him reading every day. All of a sudden about 6 months ago, he found a series of books that he really wanted to read. He read them all in about 2 months. Since then he's found two other series he likes. He checks out a pile every library visit. These are on a 2-3 gr. reading level but he also reads things up to 5th gr. level now, everything he gets his hands on.

So, my experience with different reading abilities is that a formal program may be unnecessary for your ds. It was with one ds here. Reading and language come easily to him. One ds here was a whole other story -- he really needed the slow progress through 100ez and phonics pathways and ETC to feel more comfortable with reading.

If you see ds not really needing the formal program, I'd give it a try. You can always go back if you see a gap, but alot of reading is just learn as you go, making it a chore for a natural reader just gets in the way, I think. :)

[Testimony]

I want to tell you that I had such a similar situation with my two boys. The older one picked up the phonics lesson with a breeze. I thought teaching would be a piece of cake. Then my second son came along and he was 6 years old and still not reading. I was not worried, but he was not connecting the phonics. So, I dropped the phonics lessons and just kept reading to him. We also continued to memorize scripture and poems. After six months, I picked up the phonics lessons and he breezed through the lessons. He not only started to fly, he soared.

I realize that maybe it was the break that he needed. I don't know. I only know that I now have two readers.

Blessings,
Karen
www.homeschoolblogger.com/testimony

[freethinkermom]

Starfall worked for us. Ds6 used the books and the website. We also used software called Study Dog (used to be free, but they charge now). DS11 learned on his own from being read to a lot. Both boys were read too a lot (ds6 still is, ds11 would rather read on his own). Both of my boys read far beyond grade level now.

[Crissy]

Both of my boys learned to read at an early age through stacks of easy-reader type books from the library.
My younger son hit a snag at one point so we borrowed a copy of Phonics Pathways and worked through the issue.

Whether you use the guides to teach, or just as reference for yourself, they are good to have on hand.

[Karen FL]

Thank you ladies. Our son does pick up a lot on his own. When he was four I asked him to sit down so I could show him how to write his name. He argued that he already knew how to write his name. I told him to show me and he sat down and wrote his name. I had not taught him how to write nary a letter from the alphabet.
We did work on the sounds of all the letters in the alphabet last summer. When he is picking up books, he does try to sound out the words. I do catch him guessing at some words by looking from the picture or what he thinks should be there. When he does that, I remind him that he is supposed to sound out the word.
I think I will just let him work on the starfall and Bob books and then at some point pick up one of my reading curriculums again.

[katilac]

Both of my children learned to read without a set curriculum. Each of them used a phonics program AFTER they were reading fairly well (Saxon Phonics for my oldest, OPGTR for the youngest). Worked for us!

[Sandy in Indy]

Thanks for mentioning starfall.com. (I'd never heard of it.) I checked it out last night and today ds was thrilled with the activities. I don't think he even realized he was reading. (He thinks reading is toooo hard.) I learn so much from this board.