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Phonics Fears
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I am planning for my about to be 3rd grader and I am worried about not teaching reading. He is reading really well at grade level. I am worried that as the words get bigger he will not be prepared. We have used CM methods and they worked great. So the public school girl in me is nervous that he doesn’t know the rules (of course neither do I anymore :)). So I just set him free at this point? I am scared and I need a little push – anything I am missing?
I like CM in many ways but teaching reading is one area that I do not follow CM (at least from what I have heard so far). You have to do what you feel is best for your child in the long run.
I just gave him the reading compentency test from the National Right to Read Foundation. He could read the 6th grade lines and only missed 2 words. I was really encouraged!!!
If people are not using CM, what is the best curriculum to be starting with for Reading? What are the downsides of Delightful Reading? (My daughter will just be starting in the fall). I’d like to hear some ideas!
I am going to first say that I have not taught my children to read yet. I will also be using DR in the fall with my 5 1/2 yo ds. Have you read Charlotte Mason’s volume 1 on teaching reading? I have read it several times and it just makes sense to me. I was also PS’ed and remember none of the phonetic rules I was taught but read very well. After reading CM’s writing on reading, I do feel that my child will be taught “phonics” just not with high priced curriculum and fancy games. I also read somewhere (might have been something from bookworm) that learning latin is the next step level in phonics. That also seemed to make sense. If I can find the link I will post it later.
I don’t know if my ramblings helped any, but I also worried about what to use early on. These are some of the conclusions I came to when I researched what to use. Thank you for sharing your son’s accomplishment. It is such an encouragment for as we start our journey. I look forward to seeing others comment on what worked for their families.
Warmly,
Carolyn
I have used DR and LOVE it!!! We only used last portion with my oldest but have started from beginning with my 6yo. He is moving right along. I highly reccommed it. I have read her writings on teaching reading and that is how I taught my first child. He is reading great for a 2nd grader. I am having fears because he has not had intensive phonics training. Not because he is not reading. Just fearful that when he gets to the much bigger words he won’t know them. But then I think about how I handle much bigger words that I come across now. I do not use the rules – I don’t remember any of them. I really think he will be fine. I am just fearful of being done with reading lessons. silly maybe?
oh, I don’t think it is silly at all. I will probably feel the same way and have a similar post down the road.
We have used a program called “Clicknkids” because I bought it before I knew about CM and because it has worked for both my kids so far. It has a good balance between learning phonics, sight words, word families, blending sounds, and reading sentences.
That being said, if your son is reading well already, I wouldn’t worry. I don’t think having a list of rules memorized is as important as just being able and willing to try a few options when you come across a word you don’t know. Continue having him read aloud to you on a regular basis. When he comes across a tricky word, discuss strategies to use. Use the context, look at a picture, sound it out, substitute a word you think it might be and see if it makes sense, skip it and come back after you’ve read a few lines, etc.
You can throw in some of the phonics ‘rules’ as hints as he needs them in new words. Give him the typical sound of the vowel combination or mention that ‘k’ is silent before an ‘n’ in words like knee and knife. You’ll remember more of the rules than you think you do.
Joanne
I think what Joanne said is really good – have him read out loud to you regularly so you can see where his gaps might be and use those opportunties to spot teach different rules or tricks that might help him remember or figure it out. Another idea if you really feel like he needs something is to use something like All About Spelling or another phonics-based spelling program. I didn’t use a strict phonics approach to teach my dd to read (felt like it was more important to get her reading without bogging her down), but still feel that having an idea of how words are put together was important so this is essentially what we are doing, and I am pleased with how it is working for us.
Phonics is a means to an end and not an end in itself.
Blessings,
Jen
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