Reading Program

The Reading Ranch in Allen has a preschool with Strong Literacy, and also offers preschool tutorial classes. Great program-

AppleCreek preschool in Frisco and Allen have phonics programs after school and in the summer. We are in one now at the Allen location and my son enjoys it.

The Bob books are good, but Hooked on Phonics is better. I totally reccomend it. It is not just books, there is workbooks, cd-rom, cd's, sticker/reward system. You can buy it at most bookstores, sam's club, wal mart. It is about $40. The very first day my son read his very 1st book and he never read before that day ever. We loved it so much we started it also with my daughter who is responding very well to it.

As a kindergarten teacher, I taught several children to read. I highly recommend the book "Mommy Teach Me to Read!" by Barbara Curtis. It has a soild easy to use program that shows how to make learning to read a part of everyday activities, which is how young children learn best. Scholastic has some good beginning phonetic readers also.

I used Reading Made Easy with great success with my oldest son. We started it a couple months before he turned 4 and he was reading by his 4th birthday. Now he's 6 and reading between a 3rd-4th grade level. I'm about 1/3 of the way through RME with my youngest now.

http://www.readingmadeeasy.net/ReadingMadeEasy.aspx

There is also a book called "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" that a lot of people have had success with. I haven't used it, but it is cheaper than RME. You can find it on Amazon.

Starfall is great too. Both of my boys play on that site from time to time. I also highly recommend the LeapFrog DVDs. The first is the Letter Factory, which teaches the letter sounds, then the Talking Words Factory (cvc words), Code Word Caper (silent e), and The Storybook Factory. There is also a numbers one called Math Circus. My boys have learned a lot from these videos.

Handsdown the best program! Headsprout. Got o www.headsprout.com

Self lead computer based program that comes with books, a map, certificate of completion and more printable books and flashcards are available.

Hello J.. I have a 3 year old son who I am teaching how to read through Hooked on Phonics. I used it for my oldest son when he was 4 and it worked really well. I also have my 3 year old play games on the computer and really helps a lot. Some good computer games are the Jump Start games. My son plays the Kindergarden one and there is one for Phonics which is really good and then a Spanish one that I love. My son is really learning. He is speaking spanish to me every day. It is really great. Those are just some ideas for you. Hope it helps.

My son almost overnight learned all his letters and the phonics with the videos from Leap Frog. "Talking Words Fatory" is just one of the many videos that they put out. We LOVE Leap Frog!!!!

Also, I started working with him at home. Buying those Beginner Reader books and encouraging him to sound out the words. He's in Kindergarten now and doing great. He can read by himself, and only needs help with the big words.

(they also have a Leapster handheld game thing, and a Leap Frog Wrod Pad from Leap Frog that Alex loves... it has many games you can buy to play with it that teach stuff...)

My son did great with the BOB books. They're basic, simple books that build on phonics & sight words. They come in level sets of 8-10 books. I found them at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Learning Express & Half Price Books.

CJ started with them around your daughters age. He's now in 1st grade reading on a 4th grade level. I think they were a great foundation for a kid who now loves to read.

I've been a homeschool mom for 17 years, and the best book I've found for that is "Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons." We usually skip the writing part unless I think my child is ready for it, and just do the reading.

We did 100 easy lessons, and yes it works. However, as we were nearing the end, I mentioned to my aunt, who is a reading expert, what we were doing. She said, "Hmmm" and so I pressed. She said that while it does work, some children have trouble moving from the symbols it uses to normal writing that they see in books. To me, as an adult, I really didn't even notice the symbols. It's things like the t and h being connected. After we got home from that Christmas vacation, we were just getting to the point where we were supposed to transition to reading words written normally, and I was so surprised that my "brilliant" son actually had the same problem that she had referred to "some" children having with the program. (He's since been identified in K as gifted and talented, so I know it wasn't a learning disability). He would get VERY frustrated that the letters didn't look the way they had when he was learning, and it kept him from wanting to ever try to read other words out in the real world. So, we switched to hooked on phonics, and loved it. Both programs are great in that while you do it with them, you don't have to spend time preparing a lesson. HOP worked great, and he loved it. Of course, it was a breeze getting started because he did have the basis he had learned with 100 lessons. Hope that helps! With my next, I plan to just use HOP.

I have used the book "how to teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons" with my 5 year old, who was struggling somewhat in kindergarten, with great success. We are about two thirds of the way through the book and are moving ahead of the kindergarten class. My daughter is almost four and she wants to start the book as well. I am going to start it with her once she is four. This is great for bonding time as well. My son loves "phonic lessons", as we call it, cries if he misses his lesson.

I have used the Hooked on Phonics program with huge success.

I have 3 boys all excellent readers well above their level. They started with phonics (there are many simple tools out there. the leap frog videos worked for us as well as a CD with a phonics song on it sold by Discovery Toys). I also introduced my boys to the first set of the Bob Books. They read them in sequence several times at age 4 and by age 5-6 they were reading early chapter books. I did not drill them or force them. We also spend a lot of time in the car, so my kids read signs on the road and at businesss. Reading is and was part of the routine. They love to read and be read to. Good luck!

http://www.startreading.com/

"Teach Your Child in 100 Easy Lessons" was developed by real reading experts with a solid 30-year record of teaching success.

THE BEST BY FAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know your child isn't a baby anymore, but there's a great book called, "How to Teach Your Baby to Read" by Glenn Doman. It's available in every library and I highly recommend it.

Dear J.:

It is expensive, but I used the Phonics Game. I worked with my 4 year old for 1 1/2 hours on the first game, and then did the same thing one week later on the second game.

He said, "I get it! It's a pattern." Then stated looking for patterns and reading everything. By the age of 5, he was reading on a 4th grade level.

Now I do admit that we read alot and my son must have a special talent, but this program worked for me.

Jen

Hi J.,
When my son just turned 4, I bought a good used "Hooked on Phonics" from ebay; paid around $50. It was the best $50 i have ever spent! We worked on it every day for 10-15 minutes. He was reading at 1st grade level BEFORE entering Kindergarten and his teacher has continued what I have started and he is now reading at 2nd grade level and he hasn't even finished Kindergarten yet. It is a wonderful program. I have never taught anyone to read before and was very scared about the whole thing but Hooked on phonics made it so easy with great instructions, great short books / stories to start. Peter got so much confidence and we had lots of fun. I highly recommend it but don't waste your money on a 2008 set; an older one while do the job just the same.
Hope that helps
H.

I second the suggestion for Starfall.com My 2 year old is using it and doing great! We also have a video called "Meet The Sight Words" that has taught him many sight words. He loves watching it as much as he loves Thomas or Cars!

There are some really great programs out there to help children read. Hooked on Phonics (Schools do not teach phonics as a platform, but I feel it is important.)Also "The United Educators, Inc has a great program- (1-800-323-5875)It helps children in many different ways. I have used both and like them both. Also preschool workbooks are always a good tool.
Hope this helps.

Before I became a stay at home mom I was an educator. (Ipre-school through 4th grade)I hope this helps you provide a good strong base for your child to stand on.

Hooked on Phonics for sure. It works! My 4 yr old daughter has loved nda learned an amazing amount with the Leap Frog videos. She likes them as much as any cartoon. They start from the Letter Factory with learning the letters and sounds and go to putting words together with the subsequent videos. There is also a math video that is excellent. If I am going to let her watch a movie/video would much rather it be something like this and I highly recommend them. :)

As a teacher of several toddler age children and mother of two elementary age children, we LOVE the Leap Frog DVDs. They start out simple with the letter sounds, then build up to words. I have found them at Wal-Mart & Target. Then after they know their sounds have them sound out the letters in the books you read to her. It is so important for us as parents to open the world of reading early to our children. I am so proud of my little girl for being in 3rd grade and reading on a 5th grade 3 semester level. Good luck and have fun with reading!

Sing, Spell, Read and Write is a wonderful program. It incorporates song into the program, which even my 18 month old likes to sing (she'll be ready to read earlier because of this). My son loves to do it. It is encouraging for them becasue it takes them one step at a time and shows them constant success. It was also very easy for me - as everything is laid out so nicely.
You'll do well, whatever you choose!

They have a summer reading program for 4 y/o at TCU this summer. I don't know how much, but I've heard good things about it.

I've taught 2 of mine to read with the book Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. When it was first recommended to me the person said "Don't judge the book until you have done 20 lessons." That was good advice! I think it is sold at Mardel with the Homeschool resources. My best advice is enjoy the process and don't push it. If they aren't enjoying it, just keep reading great books aloud to them. The book Honey for Your Child's Heart is a great resource for read alouds.
Blessings,
P.

We love starfall.com. We have borrowed several programs from the public library. Blue's Clues phonics, Reader Rabbit, and JumpStart are a few we've done.

Hi J.,

When my son was a toddler, we introduced him to computers, yes a brave thing, but well worth it. He also had the little kid "computers" that were available (VTech, Pico, etc). But we also set him up to use the "Reader Rabbit" programs on our home computer. At the time, I believe they were only on Mac, but I imagine they are available now for PC as well. This is a FABULOUS program and it takes the kids up to like, 2nd or 3rd grade. The kids think they are playing games, but are doing alot of learning in the process. My son, by 2nd grade, was reading well past a 5th grade level.

Of course, you will want to read with her, (sorry, I know that is obvious). Books with audio tape or cd are great when in the car. She can listen and follow along in the book. When I went to the grocery store, I had my son help me shop. He would look for words on the list, and compare them to items on the shelf. Eventually, I had him writing the list for me.

Stroll through the computer store's educational software section. I'm sure there are alot more programs available now compared to when my son was little. He's 15 now.

Hope all this helps. Good luck and enjoy the experience!! (It helped me decide to become a teacher.)
E :)

I have to agree with all the others who recommended "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons". I have home schooled my chilren for 5 years and it has been successful for me. And the best part is you can usually find it used for around $10 instead of the $100's that most other programs cost! I also like starfall.com for supplemental activities. My daughter would go there during her free time just to play the games! I didn't even have to schedule it into our school day.

A good alternative to the expansive programs. There is a book called how to teach your child to read in a hundred easy lessons. Also, use the Bob books set. Have her read it several times a day. J.

Another recommendation for 100 Easy Lessons! I am teaching my third child to read using this program. It is simple to follow and all 3 of my kids have loved it. It is a great start to get the child reading quickly and build their confidence. With it being such a small monetary investment ( around $10-15) if it doesn't work for you, it is not a huge loss. BUT...it has worked for us and I will contuinue to use it with my last 2 when they are ready.
Blessings!

I found out about the your baby can read program at the fair this last year, and I started my son on it at around 18 months old. I've not been 100% consistent, but he has watched it quite a bit and I've also used the cards and books and he actually read his first word a few days ago. He just turned 2 years old and it caught me by surprise. I was reading his book with him and letting him slide the pictures and when we got to the word "dog", he said it before he slid the picture to see what it was. He can also look at the words on the cards and can say the animal word and pick out the animals that go with the words. I am still helping him by saying the word first, but he will repeat the word and place the animal on the card, so it is a start. I'm not sure we are talking about the same program, but you can find the "Your baby can read program" on the web if you do a search. How did you teach your daughter the alphabet? Thanks, W.

Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons is an excellent program for parents/children. Available at major bookstores.

The best reading that you can do with your child is repetative reading. Point your finger to the words and use what they call "Turtle talk"--talking slowly and sounding out the words. She needs to know her letter sounds first. But if you just keep reading like this everyday making sure you point to the words and get her to point when she gets more advanced. This method is supported by research and I learned it from Dr. Gough at UT in Austin. I hope this helps.

My son LOVED hooked on phonics. We also used lots of computer reading games. I have recommended the computer reading games (Reader Rabbit is awesome) to my sister who has a kinder and two 4 year olds. My son is 12 now and an avid reader. - I have checked some of the other suggestions, now. yes, Starfall is very good. www.starfall.com. I substitute in my son's school and notice the kinder teachers use Starfall as something "fun" to do.

J.,
Go to Borders and get the "Bob books" they teach a few phonetical sounds at a time, are fun and children love them! I am a Montessori teacher and have used them time and time again. Good luck.
C.

We have used "Hooked on Phonics". I have been impressed and my sons like it.

We use starfall.com on an almost daily basis and the reading part is very well done. My 3yo follows along with the reading (repeats everything said) and is doing well with it. You have to click on each word in the "books" and they'll say the word. It's fun and I think it works.

I work at an elementary school, and the teachers there use an online program called "Starfall" that is a free website. I showed it to my son, who is your daughter's age, and he LOVES it. He has learned how to point and click on the different icons, and he is learning some great pre-reading and early reading skills. It is www.starfall.com if you want to check it out. And of course, there is no substitute for reading with your daughter. Read as much as you can with her - read books on her level so she can start picking out sight words, sounding out simple words, and becoming familiar with features of books, and also read books that are a little above her level so she can get used to the way sentences sound and be exposed to higher interest subjects. We also read things that we are personally reading aloud to him (sports stories if my husband is online catching up on his favorite teams, etc.)

I really don't know about any of the books or programs designed specifically to teach children to read -- but 30 years ago both my girls read well above their grade level to the point that the teachers asked me what I had done to teach them. My answer was simple: I read to them. I also shared books with them on my lap pointing out pictures and letters; talked to them with "big people" words; played with them; drew and wrote their letters with them; had plenty of books they could hold and read as well as special ones we read together. Time and attention rather than electronics or a specific plan worked for us.