Resources for teaching under 5's to read?

[mim1]

What are the best resources out there to teach a young child to read?

My ds is only 3 and is wanting to read, trying to spell all sorts of words in the last few days. It's taken me by surprise (don't know why it's a surprise he's known all his letters for over a year). I don't really know where to start.

I found a book in a newsagent with how to write different letters and he sat down with it for 40 minutes this morning and finished it! Now what?

We read to him all the time, we spell things for him a lot, we constantly make up stories (him & us), he watches some tv like WordWorld which he loves and we play all sorts of games. Up until the last few days that's been enough, but he really just wants to read.

So, what books did you start your kids off reading? How do I get a hold of basic readers? We've got heaps of books but not readers specifically. How do I teach phonics? I don't recall how I learnt to read and it was nearly 30 years ago and I'm sure resources have changed somewhat.

I don't want to push him, quite the opposite really (I never wanted my child to read before school ... seems my ds has other ideas), but if he's going to read I might as well teach him properly.

[fludo]

My DD is not yet 2, so we're a bit behind where you're at, but a website I've found with great info (and a great forum!) is www.brillkids.com

They have their own computer based program you can buy but also lots of info about the main methods of teaching toddlers and babies to read and do maths.

I started showing my DD sight words at about 18 months and she now recognises about 30 of them (using the Doman method - it's important the text is big enough to start with). We've only been working on the alphabet the last 2 months so she doesn't know many letters yet.

Do a google search on phonics and you'll find the basic rules and order to teach the letters and sounds in. I'll probably just teach my DD this way instead of buying a program - I don't really want her on the computer yet anyway!

there are also DVD's you can get, like Your Baby Can Read.

I'd love to know what others are using as I'm new to all this too. Just wanted to share what I'd found so far.

I'd also like to know how to get hold of early readers?

[Phyllis Stein]

For slightly older children - link

[delirium]

Most public libraries have a stack of home readers in the kids section. They start off basic at level 1 and as your child gets better they progress up the levels. They usually have themes of the 'sh', 'th' etc sound words to teach combinations. The only issue we have found is that when they start kinder/prep they start the child at lev 1 and our DD is finding them too easy due to her reading before school.

[jalibali]

Reading Eggs is supposed to be fantastic.

http://readingeggs.com/

It is a little more expensive, but it has a free trial. It is designed for kids 4-7, my DD who is almost 3 loves it.

http://www.starfall.com/

This one is good too and free, but not as comprehensive as reading eggs.

Have fun!

[naget]

You don't need specific readers to teach to read... just any old book! But kids find it easier to follow words/sentences if to start with there are only one sentence per page and repetitive words.

but here's some ideas that might help with the whole phonetics stuff

* Make flash cards with letters. If you make two or more sets you can play go fish, match, snap. Order the flash cards into the alphabet - time it... see how fast your DS can do it!
*Pick a letter, practice the sound then use magazines to find pictures starting with those sounds. Stick them on a poster and put them up somewhere he can see them all the time. Alterntively playing eye spy with a letter.
*Once letters are easy move onto blends like sh, sp, th, pr etc (if you google blends you'll find some resources). Can do the same activities with them as the alphabet ones.
*Words - learning common words by sight so recognising words like the, a, and, can... use newspapers/magazines, give a highlighter and ask them to find/highlight one word in an article (could be all the 'and's...).

There are sooo many things you can do. If you google 'learning sight words activities' you'll find HEAPS of websites/lists of words/activities you can do with your DS!

HTH

[River Song]

my DS did reading Eggs at age 3, he demanded to learn to read lol

I did the $100 - 12 months access plus book packs and it was well worth it.

We made it something fun we did together, and now there are more levels to take you further then when we did it.

after reading eggs we did star fall

A good bookshop can help with readers, but wait a bit as you pay about $10 for a book with about 15 words.

There is a great series by osbourne for phonics (http://www.amazon.com/Frog-Log-Usbor.../dp/0794515045 - you can get them in multiple stories in one book and its cheaper)...really cute lil stories about animals...we also had a diego box set of phonic readers that i got from the scholastic book club.

One thing to really check on...is comprehension....no point just knowing the words....so talk about the stories, ask him questions about what he has read.

Mainly, have fun with it....AND most importantly for school readiness, make sure you balance with writing.

[jaq]

You mentioned enrolling him in school/going for an interview in another thread, mimsgirl - maybe have a chat with them about that? How they learn to read at that school will be a good guide ... we school Montessori, for example, so when they learn the alphabet, the emphasis is on sounds, not the names of the letters. Then the step to reading is quite small ...

In terms of choosing books, you probably have a lot at home already, and starting with his old favourites is an excellent way to go - he has his memory to help then.

Just make sure the books you choose have quite clear, standard lettering ... no fancy fonts that will confuse him from one book to the next.

Reading eggs IS brilliant. It reinforces the phonics combination and stresses th sounds of the letters, and was recommended by my daughter's teacher when she was 3 to help extend her reading. Its great for the basics too, though, and the initial readers are quite good.

Happy reading!

[missie_mack]

Yep another reading eggs fan. Particularly loved that we got a six week trial which meant we could be sure DS liked it before paying for it.

The doctor was astounded watching DS read similar stype words to what other kids do in their first year (like cat, hat, mat, man etc) and he is only 3

[Pina Colada]

I agree, reading eggs is fab. I avoid anything that teaches sight words, I really think it is important to learn phonics.