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A couple of things…..
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1. Has anyone used the McGuffey readers to teach reading? I’m so tired of the myriads of worksheets (using Bob Jones curriculum) I’m presenting to my 5,6,7 year olds and I honestly wonder if I’m not slowing them down by going through the pace that the worksheet dictates. Seems to me that it’s time to start reading to learn to read. Is there a different way to teach reading without A Beka or Bob Jones? Any thoughts?
2. A long time ago I used Tapestry of Grace with my children ( I have 7 kiddos and am educating the last four as the first ones are off to college)and was completely overwhelmed by the load of information. I’ve been following the SCM curriculum guide and feel that I don’t have enough structure with that. I have been having the 9 year old read books that are recommended; he reads, we talk a bit about it, I ask a couple of questions but don’t really know if his responses are accurate because I haven’t read the book. Somehow I feel out of the loop and not really sure what he’s reading. Does anyone have some suggestions without me having to read multiple books each day?
Thank you and blessings, Brooke
Brooke,
I am sorry I don’t have a lot of things to say on this topic other than I have used one and only 1 book to teach 3 and starting on #4 how to read. That book is “Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons” by Siegried Englemann. I love this book.
I have had others come to me and ask to borrow this and I will not let them for fear that it might not come back. But they have bought it for there new readers and children who seem to keep having problems and re-teach using this book and say thank again for telling me about this book.
After they complete the 100 lessons (each lesson about 10 – 15 min a day) I go right to step 1 books and they are quite ready for this, my advanced reader went right to level 2 and at 6 is now at 3/4 reading level.
I hope this helps. This has worked awesome for me and I love it’s simple way of teaching.
Blessings,
Misty
Brooke,
I am using the “100 easy lessons” just like Misty spoke of. And my 5yr old daughter loves it. Well at first she didn’t but we kept on trudging through until lesson 30 or so and just went to some easy readers Step 1. After some help, she was able to read them and gain some confidence. Then we returned to the “100 easy lessons” and she is flying through the lessons. I plan to use the McGuffey readers or the Pathway readers after we have completed the 100 lessons. Or I am contemplating using them right along side the “100 easy lessons”.
Oh hey, I ment to mention that I use the McGuffey readers for dictation with my 7 yr. old son and really like them for that purpose too.
I’ve used from the beginning SImply Phonics:
http://shoelacebooks.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=1373002
I’ve been extremely pleased and successful w/the program. YOu can go as fastor as slow as you need. It’s very thorough and CM based. After a time of phonics training, I started on the McGuffey’s primer.
Brooke,
I’ve used “100 Easy Lessons” and we did okay with it. One dd liked it, two didn’t! I’m using “Happy Phonics” with my 10, 9 and 7 year olds. It’s a game developed by Diane Hopkins of Love To Learn– http://www.lovetolearn.net I take about 10-15 minutes per girl and at their level–whatever they need to work on next. Diane has a guide with it–it covers everything I can think of in a fun way!
I also use “Teach a Child to Read With Children’s Books” by Mark Thogmartin. I *think* it might be out of print, but I was able to check out a copy through interlibrary loan. I then purchased an ex-library copy through Amazon. It’s also online free, but I can’t seem to find the link (thought I bookmarked it). You can Google it with his name and probably find the free website. Anyway, I feel it really meshes with the CM way as we are using books to teach and cement those skills. I break his suggested “lessons” up over two days since I am solidifying one dd (the 10 yr. old), one is reading some (the 9 yr. old) and the youngest is just starting to get it!
And hopefully not to confuse you more 🙂 there’s Reading Made Easy by Valerie Bendt. I have seriously considered this one, but would like to look at it “in person”!
Hope something here was helpful!
Trisch
Rachel,
I love the look of the shoelace books!!! Why have I never heard of them? What subjects have you used? How old are your children and have you found them to continue to be successful after using them. I really need something different for my current beginning reader and I love gentle method of these books. Could you please expound a bit?
Kelley
We are using Reading Made Easy by Valerie Bendt and absolutely LOVE IT! My 7 year old son is really getting it and enjoying reading on top of that! It includes short phonics/reading lessons, narration, copywork, living books, and much more. We’ve tried many things and this has worked best for us. May the Lord bless you and yours!
Heather
I use Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading by Jessie Wise. It had two poems to memorize about vowel sounds and consonant sounds in the first 26 lessons and off you go teaching them how to read. I also liked that it went a little further in reading than 100 Easy Lessons- to about a fourth grade level. My oldest just turned 7 and is reading at a second grade level and still has about 100 lessons to go. Once they are reading the most basic of words then I would start have a reading practice time as well as phonics lesson (at different times of the day).
If you are looking ideas for reading books check out http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/. A school teacher leveled children’s books from kindergarten to grade 6. We have a read aloud time after lunch. The boys read a book each to me then I read a story to them. I list the books they have read in their language arts notebook in the reading section and I track what levels they are reading at.
Kelley,
I certainly do not know why they do not have more advertising. I haven’t used any of the other books but I plan, too. My dd is going to be 7 on April 14th and my ds is 7 1/2. We adopted her and she has some sensory dysfunctions and has been a slower reader and my son took off early. It worked wonderfully w/both of them since it is personally adjustable for you. I have the 2006 version, so it was k-3 on one cd, so we are still using it. For my dd, just 5 minutes at a time was all she could do at first. But since it is gentle, it was perfect! Now she’s up to 10-15 min. Just depends on how soon she starts to wiggle and make frequent mistakes, then we’re done! She has Speech and auditory roblems, so the repetition and reinforcemnt of sounds gives her many opportunities to evelop the correct sound. The recommendation is no more 15 min. a day anyway.
I don’t use it every day like I did at the beginning. For dd, 2x a wk., and for ds 1x a wk. I use McGuffey 2x a wk. and the Elson readers 2x a week. She’s almost finished w/the Elson and McG. Primer (in less than a year)and my son (18 mths), has skipped and is in the McG 2nd reader, as well as the Elson 2nd. reader.
I am so extremely pleased. I am always trying to use the same thing w/both of mine to save money and the way she has designed this program has been able to create such a design for two people who are entirely different in learning styles. It has steady reinforcement of what has been previously taught, Mother Goose stories, poems, and a similarity to the McGuffey style. It also helps with spelling without you even knowing it. Also, my children loved the stories that introduce the sounds and the “vintage” b/w drawings. That was another thing. I’m not a fan of “cartoony” style pictures nor having to create cards, charts, or time consuming games. I didn’t have to do those and my children enjoy it, too.
I almost feel guilty when their reading is complimented, due to the fact that I don’t feel like I worked too hard to make it happen!
Hope this was enough explanation. I actually think their book line should be on the list of common CM resources, alongside Queen.
Let me know if you have any more questions,
Rachel
Rachel,
Thank you so much. That helps a great deal. My ds has some comprehension problems and is primarily a visual learner. Math has been very easy for him, but reading is a real struggle. I have just had to back off as he is still really struggling to blend 2 sounds together. I think that this may be just what we need.
Kelley
Trisch,
I looked all over for the free online copy of Teaching your child to read with Children’s books–I couldn’t find it! I could purchase it, but I always like to flip through them first. Any chance you found the link for the free online version?
Faith 🙂
I believe this is a free download of the book you were looking for…
Kelley (and others),
For her speech, I also use Speechercise from Twin Sisters Productions.
http://www.twinsisters.com/onlinecatalog/songsthatteach/earlychildhood2.htm
It works on blends and all tongue and mouth exercising, all to safe, kiddy music.
Rachel
Yay! Amy found it! And now I will bookmark it!!
I will say it’s not a “pull out of the box” nor a scripted program (not saying anything is wrong with either!) But the idea is beautiful, and the last chapter is a sample lesson with a younger child. I stressed about “doing it right” until I realized it is forgiving!! And after awhile I could make more decisions as we went along. It helped me to put the basic elements of the “lesson” on a 3X5 card so I didn’t have to flip through the book all the time! 😉 You could certainly go to the “meat and potatoes” chapters of how to do it without having read the whole book. But it’s pretty easy reading and it helps to see where the author is coming from (I believe he is/was a homeschool dad).
Thank you, Amy, for finding and posting the link!
Blessings!
Trisch
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