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Anonymous wrote:Listen to the "Sold a Story" podcast. It's horrifying. You definitely need to take on reading instruction at home

+1. And “horrifying” is dead on, not hyperbole.

OP here. Yes, I listened to that but thought our school district had switched to an evidence based curriculum. Yet I am worried when they send home books/worksheets that focus on memorizing sight words/matching whole words instead of sounding out words they are ready to sound out. It feels counterproductive and frustrating for my child.

What curriculum?

I taught all 3 of mine to read. I also focus on knowledge building in the stuff we read at home for comprehension purposes. In addition to Sold a Story look into the work of Natalie Wexler on reading comprehension and writing skills. There's so much more to actually good language arts than phonics, and schools still aren't there yet (except those using CKLA).

So it is CKLA. I did hear there were delays in getting the materials. And they sent home a bunch of.books from the previous curriculum.

I don't think they aren't teaching any phonics at all. I do think my child is learning the sounds associated with letters at school because I can tell she has learned that.

That’s the first step in phonics along with phonemic awareness. Students need to associate the symbol with the sound in order to be able to decode.

Anonymous wrote:Listen to the "Sold a Story" podcast. It's horrifying. You definitely need to take on reading instruction at home

Please understand that lots of teachers know how to teach phonics and even tried to teach it despite the higher ups pushing Lucy Caulkins and other crap.

Years ago, my school got a grant and a trainer from the American Reading Company came to our school. She was there all day for a month “training” the primary teachers. It was an awful program. At the end of the month, I told my principal I would not be teaching kids how to read using “strategies” like “look at the picture” and “look at the first letter of the word.” She said my refusal would be reflected in my professional duties. I started looking for another school but thankfully she left our school at the end of the year.

Nobody listens to the teachers. We have next to no power at all in regards to curriculum, pacing, etc. Thankfully the science of reading is currently in vogue so my students are learning how to read the right way without me having to close the door and hide my materials.

I focused on kindergarten readiness at home in pre-K, but after the initial kindergarten assessments, it was clear she was above grade level in reading and math, so I stopped doing any academic work at home as I thought any further instruction would contribute to her boredom in the classroom. Now, I read to her for 30+ minutes a night from books we both enjoy and occasionally let her read a few lines first. She's my youngest, and everything about her childhood feels so fleeting. I prefer cuddling and reading her books, which she can comprehend but wouldn't have the stamina to read independently.

Are not* providing reading instruction.

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, but most people do it before K. So then in K they can pick up whatever the school does teach.

My oldest was a covid K kid, and we homeschooled and then went to private for 1st and 2nd. He could read at age 4. Started my second in public K, but had learned to teach her before then. So, I can say that private schools are generally much better at teaching reading than public, but in both cases you should do it at home before starting K.

MOST people do NOT do this before K. You must live in some crazy DCUM bubble.

I mean maybe, but this is DCUM. Everyone I know taught their kids to read before K. Not everyone was fluent by K, but they had all gone through the bob books or whatever method they chose. If you live in the DC area and are not doing this you will be in the minority.

No, this is not true nowadays, the trend is much more towards play based for ages 0-5 and not forcing reading.

Agree, most in my circle didn't want their kids doing formal worksheets at preschool. They learned letters and sounds, they read with the teacher a lot, but it was mostly play based and social skills in preschool. We had Bob's books at home when she showed an interest in reading, but ended up not getting through them. She's doing great in K with a phonics based cirriculum and a good teacher. I do not prioritize early reading. We have been supplementing math at her teacher's suggetion.

My kid's play-based preschool had 10 minutes a day of "kindergarten preparation" for the 4 year olds. 90% of their day was play but they also learned letter identification and sounds and could sound out basic words by they end of that year. Also knew numbers to 20 and had practices writing both letters and numbers (which is a great way to work on fine motor skills and build up hand and wrist strength).

I was glad when we got to K. It was very academic and it helped a lot that DC had that basis. We didn't "prioritize early reading" but kindergarten readiness was absolutely important and didn't feel at all at odds with a play-based Reggio program. It's not like the kids were tested or graded on the academic instruction they were getting. It was a small time commitment that helped ensure they were familiar with some basics which I think then helped K go a lot better.

I have never understood why some people seem to think it's all or nothing. You can emphasize play and social skills for 0-5 but also incorporate fun activities that will help set them up for academic success in early elementary. 5-10 minutes a day of academics (even GASP worksheets which are actually fine if used in moderation and as long as the kids are game) for a few months is worth not having to struggle with reading in K and 1st. Why not make that a bit easier for your kid if you can?

I commented above. My daughters preK did 10 mins of Haggarty each day. It was good K prep and a fine use of time. My point about play based was that most people do not teach their kids to read before Kindergarten as was suggested above. Most parents I know are or providing any reading instruction to their PreK age kids.

We didn't do any formal reading teaching, but we sent them to preschool and read to them at night. We would also point out letters/words on signs or in the elevator (push L for lobby), for ex, like I imagine all of us do on this board. They all learned to read well at school. No HW (except being read to). Their school used/uses the Fundations curriculum. We play a lot of games, which I think has helped my kids with math and reading the most (they are aged 5-13).

I think reading is developmental in many cases- my kids picked it up anywhere between preK and 1st, but the latest to read is (so far) our best reader. She is never without a book and aces her standardized tests.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, but most people do it before K. So then in K they can pick up whatever the school does teach.

My oldest was a covid K kid, and we homeschooled and then went to private for 1st and 2nd. He could read at age 4. Started my second in public K, but had learned to teach her before then. So, I can say that private schools are generally much better at teaching reading than public, but in both cases you should do it at home before starting K.

MOST people do NOT do this before K. You must live in some crazy DCUM bubble.

I mean maybe, but this is DCUM. Everyone I know taught their kids to read before K. Not everyone was fluent by K, but they had all gone through the bob books or whatever method they chose. If you live in the DC area and are not doing this you will be in the minority.

No, this is not true nowadays, the trend is much more towards play based for ages 0-5 and not forcing reading.

Agree, most in my circle didn't want their kids doing formal worksheets at preschool. They learned letters and sounds, they read with the teacher a lot, but it was mostly play based and social skills in preschool. We had Bob's books at home when she showed an interest in reading, but ended up not getting through them. She's doing great in K with a phonics based cirriculum and a good teacher. I do not prioritize early reading. We have been supplementing math at her teacher's suggetion.

My kid's play-based preschool had 10 minutes a day of "kindergarten preparation" for the 4 year olds. 90% of their day was play but they also learned letter identification and sounds and could sound out basic words by they end of that year. Also knew numbers to 20 and had practices writing both letters and numbers (which is a great way to work on fine motor skills and build up hand and wrist strength).

I was glad when we got to K. It was very academic and it helped a lot that DC had that basis. We didn't "prioritize early reading" but kindergarten readiness was absolutely important and didn't feel at all at odds with a play-based Reggio program. It's not like the kids were tested or graded on the academic instruction they were getting. It was a small time commitment that helped ensure they were familiar with some basics which I think then helped K go a lot better.

I have never understood why some people seem to think it's all or nothing. You can emphasize play and social skills for 0-5 but also incorporate fun activities that will help set them up for academic success in early elementary. 5-10 minutes a day of academics (even GASP worksheets which are actually fine if used in moderation and as long as the kids are game) for a few months is worth not having to struggle with reading in K and 1st. Why not make that a bit easier for your kid if you can?

My kid (now in 2nd so this is recent experience) was taught lots of phonics and learned to read at school (Title 1 DCPS). She got lots of emphasis on letter sounds and identification in PK (at her public school) and had started to put it together and could sound out cvc words by the summer before K. Then in K it took off thanks to terrific instruction from her K teacher with a lot of emphasis on phonics.

Having said that, this does not describe the experience of every kid I know at our school. I think reading clicks more easily for some kids than others and I also think how you support at home makes a difference. We always reinforced whatever she was doing at school, at home. Whether it was when she was in PK and we had lots of letter-based toys at home and would play rhyming games or ask her to find words that started with a certain letter, always providing level-appropriate reading material from BOB books to early readers to accessible chapter books when she was ready, to reading to her a ton and also helping expand her vocabulary and literacy with audio books and lots of verbal interaction.

I think expecting the school to teach your kid to read without you doing ANYTHING is unrealistic. Maybe you get lucky and you happen to have a kid for whom reading comes easy, but you're just as likely to have a kid who isn't like that. If you are doing your part at home then your kid gets what they need no matter what. I can't imagine just sitting back and expecting the school to make it happen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but most people do it before K. So then in K they can pick up whatever the school does teach.

My oldest was a covid K kid, and we homeschooled and then went to private for 1st and 2nd. He could read at age 4. Started my second in public K, but had learned to teach her before then. So, I can say that private schools are generally much better at teaching reading than public, but in both cases you should do it at home before starting K.

MOST people do NOT do this before K. You must live in some crazy DCUM bubble.

I mean maybe, but this is DCUM. Everyone I know taught their kids to read before K. Not everyone was fluent by K, but they had all gone through the bob books or whatever method they chose. If you live in the DC area and are not doing this you will be in the minority.

No, this is not true nowadays, the trend is much more towards play based for ages 0-5 and not forcing reading.

Agree, most in my circle didn't want their kids doing formal worksheets at preschool. They learned letters and sounds, they read with the teacher a lot, but it was mostly play based and social skills in preschool. We had Bob's books at home when she showed an interest in reading, but ended up not getting through them. She's doing great in K with a phonics based cirriculum and a good teacher. I do not prioritize early reading. We have been supplementing math at her teacher's suggetion.

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Because who bears the risk of it not going well? Get learn to read in 100 easy lessons. It's like 10 min a day.

This is what we do with my kindergartener and previously with his older sibling. It worked great.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but most people do it before K. So then in K they can pick up whatever the school does teach.

My oldest was a covid K kid, and we homeschooled and then went to private for 1st and 2nd. He could read at age 4. Started my second in public K, but had learned to teach her before then. So, I can say that private schools are generally much better at teaching reading than public, but in both cases you should do it at home before starting K.

MOST people do NOT do this before K. You must live in some crazy DCUM bubble.

I mean maybe, but this is DCUM. Everyone I know taught their kids to read before K. Not everyone was fluent by K, but they had all gone through the bob books or whatever method they chose. If you live in the DC area and are not doing this you will be in the minority.

No, this is not true nowadays, the trend is much more towards play based for ages 0-5 and not forcing reading.

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Anonymous wrote:Our MCPS 3rd grader got phonics in kindergarten, but they never sent anything home about it; they just covered it at school. We never did any formal reading instruction at home, and our kid learned to read just fine and is a very good (and avid) reader now. I wouldn't assume you need to do more than read to your kid and model reading as a pastime.

That’s my experience too. Three kids, three different districts. They learned to read on time.

If your child is still going to school you have to assume that they are doing some of the teaching too.

No, no, no. If your kid was in elementary in MCPS a few years ago their literacy curriculum was Benchmark which uses balanced literacy which is total garbage. It doesn’t teach kids to read based on the science of reading. They didn’t even purchase the phonics or handwriting components of the curriculum at first so those things were not part of the curriculum. It’s completely unconscionable. I can’t say enough bad things about this crap curriculum as a former teacher. The only teachers who succeeded in teaching kids to read at this time were ones who used phonics materials they brought in themselves. Or who had kids who learned in preschool, or who got pulled out because they were failing and got one on one support using the Really Great Reading curriculum which is science based. Or who had parents like me that spent multiple years working with my kid each night on phonics. I’m so angry about this still and it’s not right that a public school harmed millions of students in their education in this way. The kids who didn’t learn to read well will suffer the impacts the rest of their lives.

OP here. Okay I think I am understanding better now. They must have sent home extra Benchmark books they had lying around. I looked at them and was like wtaf. Though the fact they are sending home materials that are shown to actually create bad habits does not inspire a lot of confidence.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but most people do it before K. So then in K they can pick up whatever the school does teach.

My oldest was a covid K kid, and we homeschooled and then went to private for 1st and 2nd. He could read at age 4. Started my second in public K, but had learned to teach her before then. So, I can say that private schools are generally much better at teaching reading than public, but in both cases you should do it at home before starting K.

MOST people do NOT do this before K. You must live in some crazy DCUM bubble.

I mean maybe, but this is DCUM. Everyone I know taught their kids to read before K. Not everyone was fluent by K, but they had all gone through the bob books or whatever method they chose. If you live in the DC area and are not doing this you will be in the minority.

Lol no
Many kids in the DMV don't go to preschool and they don't have fancy nannies
Also reading at 4 confers no long term advantages to kids and may even set up bad habits if they are not ready

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our MCPS 3rd grader got phonics in kindergarten, but they never sent anything home about it; they just covered it at school. We never did any formal reading instruction at home, and our kid learned to read just fine and is a very good (and avid) reader now. I wouldn't assume you need to do more than read to your kid and model reading as a pastime.

That’s my experience too. Three kids, three different districts. They learned to read on time.

If your child is still going to school you have to assume that they are doing some of the teaching too.

No, no, no. If your kid was in elementary in MCPS a few years ago their literacy curriculum was Benchmark which uses balanced literacy which is total garbage. It doesn’t teach kids to read based on the science of reading. They didn’t even purchase the phonics or handwriting components of the curriculum at first so those things were not part of the curriculum. It’s completely unconscionable. I can’t say enough bad things about this crap curriculum as a former teacher. The only teachers who succeeded in teaching kids to read at this time were ones who used phonics materials they brought in themselves. Or who had kids who learned in preschool, or who got pulled out because they were failing and got one on one support using the Really Great Reading curriculum which is science based. Or who had parents like me that spent multiple years working with my kid each night on phonics. I’m so angry about this still and it’s not right that a public school harmed millions of students in their education in this way. The kids who didn’t learn to read well will suffer the impacts the rest of their lives.

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Anonymous wrote:I think supporting your kids in learning to read, and developing a love of reading, is a parent's job. I don't think that means you have to use a formal curriculum before or during K. Reading with your kids and practicing sounding words out will get most kids there eventually. It's important to make reading enjoyable.

This. My aunt was a K teacher and I asked her what my kids needed to be ready for K. She said social skills, waiting turns, ABCs and motor skills.

None of my kids were seriously reading before K - they knew some words from their books, their names, but I certainly didn't have a curriculum or program. I also believe there is more to brain development in a young child than what an adult necessarily understands or values. I wanted my kids to be kids. They've all learned to read at school in time and are bright and healthy and happy.

When was she a K teacher, though? If prior to about 2011, then her opinion doesn’t really apply here.