Best way to teach a preschooler to read?

[Anonymous]

I am curious if a preschooler only knows a few letters and knows nothing about phonics, can he/she still capable to learn how to read? This is for my youngest child, somehow she does not know anything even though she has been in daycare/preschool for a year. She is 3.5 now.

My oldest knew how to read simple book by himself by 3.5, because he knew all letters, phonics and good at sight words. He could read and understand what he read. I am not sure what has happened.

[Anonymous]

Reading for Dummies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is 3.5 and wants to learn to read. He knows his letters and phonetic sounds as well as blends. He rhymes well and plays a game where he takes the first letter out of a spoken word and replaces it with another. I think he’s ready.

I don’t want to f up and make him hate reading if I do this wrong. But he keeps asking me to teach him.

I told my kid he’d learn when he’s ready. And then he taught himself.

What’s the rush, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious if a preschooler only knows a few letters and knows nothing about phonics, can he/she still capable to learn how to read? This is for my youngest child, somehow she does not know anything even though she has been in daycare/preschool for a year. She is 3.5 now.

My oldest knew how to read simple book by himself by 3.5, because he knew all letters, phonics and good at sight words. He could read and understand what he read. I am not sure what has happened.

Basically, learning phonics (the letter sounds and how they combine and blend together to form words) is learning how to read. Your son learned how to read when he was learning his letters and phonics.

A preschooler may of may not be ready to learn to read. I’d say a good indicator is if they are wanting to learn about letters, sounds, and words. If tgey’re not, they may need a little extra time. Once a child shows interest, you can start teaching them about the sounds letters make (don’t worry about their names).

Forget sight words. The vast majority of words can be sounded out, and most of the ones that are irregular can be sounded out to a very close approximation allowing identification of the word. It is more efficient in learning an individual word to sound it out, and also a better practice to be sounding out words, rather than trying to memorize them.

There are lots of good methods to teach a child to read, many of which have been listed in this thread. The important thing is to use a method thet teaches phonics to teach them how to read.

[Anonymous]

I used Logic of English. It has some engaging ideas for wiggly boys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious if a preschooler only knows a few letters and knows nothing about phonics, can he/she still capable to learn how to read? This is for my youngest child, somehow she does not know anything even though she has been in daycare/preschool for a year. She is 3.5 now.

My oldest knew how to read simple book by himself by 3.5, because he knew all letters, phonics and good at sight words. He could read and understand what he read. I am not sure what has happened.

Probably lack of interest. She can learn I'm sure but it will require work on your part and bribes. Or you can wait.

[Anonymous]

Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading

[Anonymous]

My three year old learned just from asking me what words were in books. We did also have some letter magnets from the fridge and some letter tiles. I also wrote words out in crayon and chalk.

Just lean into natural interest and don't be pushy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious if a preschooler only knows a few letters and knows nothing about phonics, can he/she still capable to learn how to read? This is for my youngest child, somehow she does not know anything even though she has been in daycare/preschool for a year. She is 3.5 now.

My oldest knew how to read simple book by himself by 3.5, because he knew all letters, phonics and good at sight words. He could read and understand what he read. I am not sure what has happened.

...why didn't you teach her phonics yourself? How do you have conversations about letters without immediately launching into the sounds they make, words that start with them, etc. etc.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teach Your Child to Read in 10 Easy Lessons

It’s 100 lessons, but I agree this book is good. I used it for both my kids. We didn’t do the writing exercises and I loosely followed the text - I don’t ask all of the reading comprehension questions. It goes quickly, but my kid who asked to start at newly 4 went in spurts where he would ask to do it every day and then not touch it for weeks or months. We let the kid dictate the pace and only do it when they ask.

[Anonymous]

Bob books worked for us at age 4. I think they’re too boring for older kids, but preschoolers have lower standards and the method in then is great.