Was contemplating whether to share this on my blog. But after thinking it through and after a chat with Pauline, she was right to say that we keep our blogs like our online diary to record our memories of parenting, kid's milestones, our challenges and interests at specific points in our life.
Ok then, it's my space and I can share whatever I like, really doesn't matter even if I get labelled.
So the latest milestone is that Kyle can read.
I discovered it about 4 months ago and it pleasantly surprised me. When he turned 2 and a half years old, I started teaching him letter sounds phonetically and we spent about 18 months learning all the letter sounds at his own pace. Thereafter, I introduced word families end of last year to get him started on blending, but he was not responsive to that method, so I thought that it will be best to take a break from all reading activities for a while.
We took a break for about 4-5 months and did not do any reading activities, except for bedtime stories that I would usually read aloud to him. I spent that time evaluating if his slow progress was due to a lack of interest or just simply non-readiness. Then in April this year, I decided to give it another shot, pulled out the phonic readers from my bookshelves, and started reading it aloud to him by sounding out the sounds and blending the letters together. I did this consistently for about 2-3 times in 2 weeks and he was able to pick up the blending method through the modelling method. During the last parent-teacher meeting prior to the June holidays, his teacher remarked in a surprised tone, "he can read!"
So at 4, is it still considered early to reach this milestone? In my perspective, the exact age or timing is of little consequence. What matters is that I picked up on the indicators that showed that he had a propensity to learn to read at a specific time. And I am quite certain that I would not have the same ability to be so sensitive to his unique time table if I were a full time working mom.
I hear alot about moms posting on the local parenting forum, enquiring how they can help their child to read at 2. Seriously, why would you need your child to read at 2? Unless, the mom can say with a resounding "Yes!", when asked if she thinks that the child is ready to learn to read at that age, then by all means go ahead. But please do the research on the various methods that will be best suited to your child. The problem with most who participate actively in forums is that they will go what seems popular amongst other parents and follow the advice shared, which may not be a suitable method for their child's learning style.
What worked for Kyle was that since he is a kinesthetic and auditory learner, he learned letter sounds through games and songs, and could grasp the concept of decoding when I use the modelling method. Coupled with lots of good quality phonics books which he enjoys and plenty of read alouds on a daily basis, which I think encouraged his reading development. Half the battle is won when the parent encourages their child's interest for books. When the child enjoys being read aloud to, they will eventually be motivated enough to want to read books by themselves.
He is undoubtedly a lazy reader. He will initiate picking up the phonics readers these days, but he will ask me to sound out all the letters individually for him, while he blends it together. So this may not the most ideal kind of reading development, but I am thrilled nonetheless. I can now take my time and let his reading development 'take-off' naturally the next two years. And he can start to use his new found skill to entertain his grand-parents to bits by reading environment print out loud in their presence.
As for chinese language development, that's a different story altogether. It's an uphill task and we are progressing at super snail's pace.
That’s great, your consistent efforts paid off
I think my son is a kinesthetic and auditory learner too. Can you elaborate on the modelling method? What would you recommend for this type of learner? We have been using Progressive Phonics (not that consistent though) and it doesn’t seem to be working well for him. The only consistent thing we do is read alouds.
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Hi Joce. For most kids, the connection of letter and sounds, stringing them together is not so easy when they have just acquired the skill of learning the sounds. Thus, modelling is a very useful concept in phonics instruction, whereby, parents can model ways a reader uses the sound-symbol relationship to decode unfamiliar words by reading aloud…letter by letter, then sounding the whole word out for the child. This method shows the child a way to decode unfamiliar words, which then helps him to apply the same strategies in his own effort to read the text.
In fact, I will consistently use this method when we encounter environmental print with bigger words, 2-3 syllabus words included. And it seems be working gradually for these bigger words as well.
We use quite a number of books, from Scholastic phonic readers, Dr Maggie Phonics Readers, Usborne My first Reading Books and Now I am Reading. All phonics based. I have realised one of the most effective way to get the child interested to practice their skills, is to provide a wider variety of books that they can decode.
I don’t need my child to read by 2. But then, it’s so easy to have a child read before 1 that I don’t see why not? So effortless. And then I don’t need to research on all the appropriate methods and spend so much time trying to actually guide/teach when the child is older. With one who read at 4 yrs and two that read at 7 years , I sure know what a chore it can be !!! Am glad not to have to go through that again with the youngest. Phew!
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It is easy to teach before 1? That’s something new, your child must be gifted.
Thanks for sharing, Rachel. Will try out these tips.
.-= Joce´s last blog ..What A Ride! =-.
It was really easy. I didn’t mention teaching him right? Very simple. And I don’t think my child is gifted since I’ve observed him to be slow in quite a number of aspects. Basically exposure. Its worked for Brain-injured children, so why not our kids?
.-= Sam´s last blog ..Carnivorous Food =-.
I find the surest and easiest way to teach a child to read is to read out loud to them. The kids somehow magically pick up new words just like that! And the good, they learn at their own pace this way. No need flashcards- though I believe in them, no need phonic classes. Save money, time and all that jazz!
Read alouds really help…but that’s provided if you are a mom that does not mind your kid naturally learning how to read when they enter primary 1. That was exactly how my brother learn to read. He had no phonics instruction or whole word training, but was read aloud to most of the time between the ages of 3-6. Once he entered primary 1, he learnt to read by himself in about 1 week. However due to the education standards in Singapore these days, kids need to know how to read once they enter primary one. So kids will still need some form of help when it comes to sounding out words, phonics or whole word learning…and they should be able to understand the concept of decoding sounds by the time they turn 5-6.