Memorizing instead of learning to read

Tagged: ,

Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • January 27, 2015 at 7:51 pm
    jenhorsfall
    Participant

    I’m fearful that Ds is memorizing words instead of actually learning to sound them out or make word families.  We are just getting back to using Delightful Reading and Ds has memorized “Rain”  by Robert Louis Stevenson.  How can I be sure that he is actually learning to read and not just memorizing?  I’m very frustrated and have found myself wanting to start looking for a different reading program but not sure if I should.  I read on one of the posts that it’s important to only use DR instead of adding other programs in.  I also have All about Spelling level 1 that we are just starting and now I’m wondering if I should have bought it.  I thought that I’d use AAS twice a week with DR three times a week.  It looked like one could work well with the other but maybe I’m wrong.  I’m concerned that Ds is not learning to read, yet when he picks up the Pathway readers he is doing great.  So what’s my problem?  I don’t know.  Can anyone help me think this through?

    January 28, 2015 at 6:51 am
    MrsB
    Participant

    I’ve not used Delightful Reading, so this post isn’t about the program. Learning to read does involve both sounding out, and at some point memorizing words. For average children, this is fine, and will work to get them reading well. For some kids, memorizing can mask the fact that they don’t have good phonetic skills, and they may need more intensive phonics.

    This is especially true of dyslexic kids. We are just starting down the path of learning about dyslexia in our family. Its a weird, catchall diagnosis, but the truth of it is that some kids develop lots of coping mechanisms (like memorizing) that can obscure the fact that can’t sound out unfamiliar words.

    As for AAS, you aren’t supposed to start spelling instruction until the child is reading well, (per their website) so I’d stop that for now. You *might* need a different program, but it will just depend on your child. Keep hitting the phonics, and see if he can catch on with that.

    January 28, 2015 at 1:30 pm
    jenhorsfall
    Participant

    MrsB – This comment has helped me more than you know!

    “As for AAS, you aren’t supposed to start spelling instruction until the child is reading well, (per their website) so I’d stop that for now. You *might* need a different program, but it will just depend on your child. Keep hitting the phonics, and see if he can catch on with that.”

    I was really praying last night that I could get some guidance on how to continue teaching Ds and voila!  Your comment was exactly what I needed to hear.  PtL!  I did not realize that AAS says to start spelling  ‘after’ learning how to read.  Somehow I missed that part 😛  I will put aside AAS until he’s done with DR.  Phew!  A weight has been lifted off my shoulders and is a simple solution.  Why didn’t I think of that?  I was thinking that I had to do both phonics and spelling.  I got a bit wrapped up with The Well-Trained Mind philosophy for a while and came back because CM makes more sense and just down right works better for DS.

Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • The topic ‘Memorizing instead of learning to read’ is closed to new replies.