View Full Version : How do you teach a 4 year old to read?
My DS is 4 and is really eager to learn. He doesnt start school until he is 5 1/2 so its a fair way away but he wants to learn to read.....does anyone have any tips, ideas etc on how to teach a 4 year old to read???? I have no idea where to start, he knows his alphabet, numbers etc so where to from here?
Cheekychops
14-09-2006, 19:27
it's one thing to know your alphabet but another to know what sounds each letter says.... cause otherwise they can't really sound out words.... I used 'Gold Star' books - they have ones on phonics which is sounds, english and maths for 3-4, 4-5 and 5-6....these have been great...... recognition of some simple common words is also good..... and, I, a, am etc......it really just takes time - and patience!!! Lots of patience....but if he's interested - start!!!
Good luck! :thumbsup:
Read lots to him!
Use books with big print and as you read, follow the sentences with your finger so he can see what you are reading.
Flash cards are good, but don't just flash the card, show the word and then go onto the next one. Talk to him about the picture, the word. Discuss places that you may have seen what's in the picture and/or show him the real life version (if possible) make it real to him.
He will start to make a connection between the words you are saying and the squiggly things on the page. Keep it simple, use lots of repetition. Use rhyme, use sounds.
WHile you are in the car read out signs to him. Stop, GiveWAy, other road signs arer great. Then get a book (or make your own) with these pictures and words in them.
Create a book where he is a chracter. Kids love to hear their own names in books.
Read to him lots and lots!
Good luck.
Funkychicken
14-09-2006, 19:33
One of the best books I have read was a book called Reading Magic by Mem Fox. it is designed as a book to read prior to teaching them to read and it is such a warm, wonderful book, plus it only costs about $8.00. Try your local book shop. :thumbsup:
He already can read (if thats what you call it) all the signs on the roads...to the point where it is driving me crazy....he yells them all out all the time, even if I miss them! Mum that sign says 60 are you driving 60, mum that sign says 80 etc etc....so thanks will give the books a go too!
jess_live_die
14-09-2006, 21:13
my daughter is 3 and can read i kept reading her books over andover and she lernt the words that go to the pictures and now she knows that the words shes already seen. she will b 4 in april and starting school next year.
I will second what cheekychops said. Start with the alphabet and learn the letter and then the sound it makes. Gold star books are great I have used them too. I also started off with "brand new readers" (walker books).
jessgray
15-09-2006, 12:34
leapfrog have some great books to teach numbers and phonetics and reading etc. i havent actually had one in my house yet coz ds1 is too young for it. but ia m told they are great.
dr suess books have a early learning book range i have a few that i read to ds :) they are very basic books with stuff like "Cup, Pup. the pup is in the cup" on the pages.
hope that helps :D
MordecaiAliVanAllenO'Shea
15-09-2006, 17:10
books that are predictable are good starters eg This is my mum (picture of mum); This is my dad (picture of dad; This is my nan (picture of nan). You can make some together using photos. Kids learn the words that are repeated and realise to check the picture for the final word.
Mel
Cheekychops
15-09-2006, 17:15
my daughter is 3 and can read i kept reading her books over andover and she lernt the words that go to the pictures and now she knows that the words shes already seen. she will b 4 in april and starting school next year.
Can she read words she hasn't 'memorized'??? I would say a child can 'read' when they can work out words they haven't seen before and put them together with expression and understanding of a story line so to speak.
Also, just wondering, how is she starting school next year??
A Party of Five
15-09-2006, 17:32
One of the best books I have read was a book called Reading Magic by Mem Fox
Mem Fox is the best, we just love her. Thanks to Mem and some hard work, are DD who is four and can read!:thumbsup:
And also try Paul Jennings "The Reading Bug, and how you can help your child to catch it". He has a listed of books for all differnt ages. To start to learn to read.
But we really liked these ones by Mem Fox. Koala Lou,
Where is the green sheep? and good old Possum Magic.
Just rememeber most children learn these things naturally, so we son't need to push to much. The fact that your son is reading enviromental print (road sign is great). Just read predictatble books like Dr Suess, Mem Fox, or Pamela Allen just to name a few. Other good place to start is with noun books. These generally just one a picture and the word on the page.
Other suggestions on what you can don is just reread your childs fav books, dicuss what is happening in the story and ask your child questions about the story, because reding isn't just about reading words, but it is also about understanding and making meaning of those words on a page.
Signs that a child is ready to read include:
- being able to recongise that there are words on the page and being able to locate where on each page the words are
- understanding that print goes from left to right, top to bottom orientations as well
- being able to expalin in there own words what is happening in the picture
- know letter names and sounds (as these are very different)
Remeber also that these things are the focus of teaching in the the first 6 to 12 month of school. If you do too much now he will be bored at school, and in my experience and opinion children who become bored at school generally become a behaviour problem.
Hope this has helped
Belinda
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