When you home school your child from a very young age, you are the person who watches your son or daughter discover that the letters in books, magazines and in store windows have meaning and convey ideas. Develop a plan to teach your child to read, love books and embrace learning.
Time Frame
Your child begins to develop language skills before she can enunciate words. Crying, babbling and cooing are her first attempts at communication. After your child is 3 years old, you can begin working on her rhyming skills, awareness of letter sounds and learning the alphabet. Do not put pressure on your child, but begin if she shows interest. Siegfried Englemann, author of "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" recommends short sessions with a child younger than 5. Once your child is five, sit down with her every day to help her learn to read.
Techniques
Begin by teaching your child letter sounds rather than the letter names. The University of Oregon recommends teaching "alphabetic understanding" and "phonological recoding." You know your child has alphabetic understanding when he realizes that words are made from letter sounds. Phonological recording enables your child to "retrieve" the information needed to read words. As he learns his letter sounds, begin blending instruction and phonics rules. Include easy sight words to make reading easier. Use children's books and designated readers when reading to your child.
Benefits
Working with your child one-on-one enables you to move at your own pace. In a school setting, if your child is slower at catching on to certain letter sounds, she may be labeled as learning disabled. At home, you can stop your forward progression and concentrate on her problem area until she masters the concept. You and your child form a team with the goal of learning to read, which helps your relationship. If one curriculum is not working, you can change mid-year.
Immersion
You know your child better than any teacher. Even the most caring teacher is unable to completely immerse her students in learning. Immerse your child in language as you walk through your day. When he is ready to read, talk about letters and words as you eat breakfast, point out the big letters on signs as you run errands together and praise her progress in front of other family members. Declare a day of the week "b" day and focus all your activities around the letter "b."
Considerations
As you begin home schooling and teaching her to read, pay attention to her stress level and be prepared to slow down if you see her struggling. Children learn at different rates. Do not compare your child to other children in your family or in the neighborhood. Be willing to seek professional tutoring or guidance if your child appears to have a reading disability such as dyslexia.
References
- "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons"; Siegfried Englemann; 1986
- University of Oregon: Alphabetic Principle
- Home School Curriculum Advisor: Choosing Home School Curriculum: Ready to Leave the Curriculum Merry-Go-Round?
- The Children's Reading Foundation: For Families
- PBS Parents: Reading Disabilities
