To start phonics or not to start phonics...

[Terabith]

My dd is four years old. She has good pre-reading skills and knows all of her letter sounds and is beginning to blend. I am torn about whether or not to start formal reading and phonics instruction. On the one hand, she is ready, but on the other, she is only four. I can't decide whether or not to start reading instruction now, whether to get Headsprout and let her develop her skills pretty much on her own, whether to start in September (she'll be five in November), start in January, or wait until she would be in kindergarten or even first grade to start formal instruction. I'm eager to get started and I want to make sure she's got the strong foundation for a good classical education, but I don't want to rush or pressure her and she is not enthusiastic about learning to read herself. (Although, again she is making really good progress and can decode 3-5 letter phonetic words on her own without any real work on my part.) Part of me wonders if I wait, if she will continue her progress and basically teach herself to read with no pressure and that we could just do a good spelling program afterwards. I guess it just comes down to a difference of philosophy: do I start early or wait until later? Advice?

[Beth in Central TX]

I always start mine when they can identify all the letters and drive me crazy by asking me to read every sign they see. My youngest started with he was 4. He wanted to read like his big brothers, so I started with 100 Easy Lessons. It worked well for his middle brother, but not for him. We stopped for awhile, and then I switched to Ordinary Parent's Guide to Reading, and he can read most easy readers now. Some of the blends are still difficult, so we go slow and review when we need to. I also use Phonic Pathways to reinforce the blend sounds that he struggles with.

So, my advice is to start when they're ready and be prepared to stop or slow down when you need to.

[Sue G in PA]

Capitalize on her interest while it's there. Teach her. My ds6 learned to read on his own with no instruction from me (except reinforcing his letters/sounds and reading to him). He was an exception. He never expressed interest in learning; he just sort of picked it up! You could try OPG. My ds HATED it w/ a passion and runs away when I get it out to "test" him on certain phonics rules. Personally, I find it to be thorough and complete and a gentle, oral approach to phonics. I'm saving my book for ds5 and dd2 (who knows as many letter and sounds as ds5!). I plan to start her next year.

[Terabith]

No, she is definitely NOT enthusiastic about learning to read herself. If she were, it would be an easy decision. She can read the beginning Bob books, but she has absolutely no desire to do so. I think she gets visually very tired quickly and finds it definitely to be work. She loves being read to. I'm not worried about curriculum either; I'm just trying to decide whether to start now, when she's almost five, after she turns five, or when she starts kindergarten or first grade. (Grandma's suggesting I wait until first grade and that she'll probably teach herself before then. I just dunno. And there is so much cool beginning reading curriculum I am anxious to use!)

[Beth in Central TX]

Hmmm...I think I would wait in this case and probably start her in Kindergarten. Maybe not a full program, but at least something structured like Phonics Pathways.

[Chris in VA]

I would wait, but continue to introduce phonics in fun ways, like games and such.
And, there's excellent research that shows kids who are read to, learn to read earlier. Of course, you read to her, but remember how it's helping her, and that may keep you from rushing.
When she's ready, she'll gain enthusiasm. That's my theory, anyway.
After all, if she's decoding, she really is reading already, just in a beginning stage.

[Elisabeth in IL]

I began reading when I was four. If she is ready, begin slowly. If she fights you, stop or just play some phonics games. My thought is to go at her speed at this age and read to her a lot pointing to the words as you go.

[Terabith]

Yeah, I think I need to curb my own curriculum junkie impulses. I've been so ready to start with Bear Necessities or ABeCeDarian that I'm afraid I would be pushing her. She's not interested. Maybe I'll order Headsprout for her to play with at her own speed (anyone know of any discounts?), and then play it by ear. Maybe by September she'll want to start. Or not. Or maybe not till kindergarten (when she'll be almost six). Or maybe not even then. I really *believe* in waiting on reading instruction; it drives me nuts when preschools and kindergartens push reading. It's just my own personal desire to get this homeschooling thing under way and feel like *I* am doing a good job that is getting under my skin. Now that she is four and not in preschool, I'm starting to feel really pressured by people for "results." And heck, she can decode, which is more than many (or most?) barely four year olds. I need to tell myself to relax, I think.

[JESSICAinMD]

I agree with the other posters about introducing it slowly. If you are interested in a book like Phonics Pathways, 100 Easy Lessons, or OPG, I would check them out at the library and try a lesson or so before picking the book you want to buy. It helped my family pick out the best fit for us more than reviews.

[Narrow Gate Academy]

Both of my girls started learning at 4 once they knew their letters and sounds. We used Phonics Pathways and just took it very slowly. In the beginning lessons were usually 5 minutes or less. If we hit a wall where they just weren't ready for a concept, then we took a few days off and try again or backed up in the book and reviewed. I don't think it hurts to try. If all goes well, keep going. If not, put it away for a few months.

HTH

[Emmy]

My son is the same age and is in about the same place - decoding words on his own and such. He will be 5 in december. He very much wants to read and begs to do school with me "like his brothers", so I went ahead and started the Ordinary parents guide with him after the holidays. He's on lesson 32 and it's going really well. He likes to read Bob books and the Nora Gaydos readers to me and he likes to do the lessons. If he did *not* show enthusiasm for learning I would not have started. I would wait have waited until fall or possibly next january.

[kimmyandgracie]

My dd will be 5 in June and is decoding like your ds. We have started reading instruction, but we have gone slowly. We use OPG and The Family Readers. She loves the readers and will read up to 5 of them in one setting. I sometimes use them as a reward for doing OPG. You could maybe use the readers and some phonics games as a gentler start. The link to The family readers website is:

http://www.writeexpress.com/LearnToRead/

Also, if you are OK with computer use at his age, you could try this website: http://www.starfall.com/ My dd4 begs to play on this website.
Hope this helps!