| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp |
| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp. All rights reserved. |
| about the book |
| The Homeschool Diner's Guide to Homeschooling by Subject "Learning to Read" Resources by Julie Shepherd Knapp, copyright 2006 From the alphabet to phonics, to early readers and reading remediation -- here's a sampling of resources for teaching your child to read. What is Reading? -- and how do children develop the skill? an article by Reading Rockets Early Literacy Development by Bank Street College, discusses the natural growth stages of reading skills (click on their side menu for more) What is Reading Comprension? -- teaching tips and links to practice passages Reading Instruction for the Primary Gifted Learner by Bertie Kingore, Ph.D -- how do teachers differentiate for early readers or gifted readers? Written for classroom teachers, but includes good points that home educators find helpful, too. Speech Language Home Activities -- tips for teaching your children the proper lip and tongue placement to make each letter sound Should I Teach My Baby to Read? by Ruth Alice Jurey Homeschool Diner's favorite alphabet books Why settle for just an ordinary ABC book? Reading Programs and Free Online Resources: The Reading Treehouse by AdvanceAbility -- tips, strategies, and activities for teaching children to read and write, includes phonics, letter direction, etc., wonderful resource StarFall - free online activities and games for beginning readers - "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" by Siegfried Engelmann -- teaches phonics and sound blending in 100 20-minute lessons, takes child from non-reader to 2nd grade level, supplemental materials available, but not required, endorsed by the National Right to Read Foundation, may be hard to use with "squirmy" children, doesn't require writing skills. "Rocket Phonics" by Stephen Guffanti -- teaches phonemic awareness and phonics using visual cues and games, children begin reading included stories after learning nine letter sounds -- to build confidence, children learn tricky sight words in the process of reading, using visual phonetic clues for pronunciation, recommended by John Taylor Gatto, does not require writing skills. Headsprout - learn to read and learn to use a mouse, subscription required, first 3 lessons free as a trial Lexia - a computer-based reading program designed to build strengths in phonemic awareness, sound-symbol correspondence, decoding, fluency, phonetics and vocabulary, based on the Orton-Gillingham method of reading remediation (often recommended for dyslexia), separate programs for early readng, primary reading, and strategies for older students Touch Phonics -- (K - 5) (or 1 - 6 for remediation) a manipulative based multisensory phonics system by Dr. Robin Steed, improves reading and spelling, uses textured plastic letters ("touch units"), teaches phonemic awareness, sound-to-symbol correspondence, segmentation, blending, and substitution, sold as a kit Letterland -- a complete learn-to-read program published in the UK, uses a story-based phonics system where each letter is associated with a particular character (such as "Clever Cat" for "C"), includes phonetics, pictograms, visual mnemonics, multi-sensory activities -- children sing, act, draw, write, move, speak and build words (the website even includes tips for dressing up as and acting out each letter character), offers early readers (stories about the letter characters), and software programs, useful for different learning styles and special needs Stevenson Learning Skills - teaches reading, spelling, grammar, and handwriting using a combination of visual images and mnemonic cues, reportedly helpful for visual-spatial learners, and those having trouble with typical programs Right Into Reading -- (K - 3) (or for remediation with older students ) a phonics based reading and comprehension program provides phonics instruction, reading comprehension questions and writing practice Picture Me Reading -- is a visual-conceptual method of teaching the ABCs and the 220 high frequency sight words that are often known as “the Dolch Sight Words, helpful who kids who struggle with phonics and visual learners, uses visual cues to help remember a list of words Explode the Code -- a systematic phonics program, includes phonetics, decoding, vocabulary, writing, games and accessories available Hooked on Phonics -- a complete system for teaching reading based on the use of phonetics (letter sounds), described as a "learn-practice- play approach" to learning to read School Zone Series -- pre-K - 6 workbooks for reading readiness, alphabet, letter sounds, phonics, reading comprehension, grammar, spelling, math, etc., clear and simple lessons, view samples online Reader Rabbit from The Learning Company -- the classic learn to read software with engaging characters and fun activities. JumpStart Reading and Reading Blaster -- both developed by The Davidsons, then acquired by the Knowledge Adventure Company. Both of these contain fast-paced, fun, learn to read games and activities. Spectrum Reading Series by McGraw-Hill -- K - 12 workbooks for reading comprehension and vocabulary building, available at Borders Books, teacher's stores, and thru Amazon.com Between the Lions -- a PBSKids show for 4 - 7 year olds, "designed to foster the literacy skills of its viewers, while playfully demonstrating the joys of reading", also available on video Be a Word Detective by Kathy Gursky at The School Bell -- learn to talk about words you see in everyday situations, free online activities (a good website to browse :-) Artsy Animals Learn to Read by Visual Manna -- learn letters while you learn to draw animals Be a Word Detective by Kathy Gursky at The School Bell -- learn to talk about words you see in everyday situations, free online activities (a good website to browse :-) Superkids Reading Software Reviews -- read reviews of the most popular reading software games. Related Issues Does your child seem to be having a really hard time learning to read? Do you have an older child who is still struggling with reading? Take a look at the resources on the Reading Struggles, Reading Remediation and "Catching-Up" page of the Homeschool Diner. Mary Johnson's Two Sentence Reading Test -- an easy way to see if your child is reading phonetically or only by sight words (from Don Potter's Education Page) Illiteracy: An Incurable Disease or Education Malpractice? by Robert W. Sweet, Jr. of the National Right to Read Foundation -- a discussion of the history and results of the switch to a Whole Language ("look and say" or "sight word") approach to teaching reading, and the history and benefits of using a phonetic approach Kids are Reading for Speed -- and Getting Nowhere by Valerie Strauss |
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