Have you ever thought about the English language? How the “rules” of phonics only apply to a certain group of words, and then you have to learn another rule for the same letters in other words? One year in homeschool we learned that English is made up of 5 other languages! On top of that it has evolved a lot over the past few hundred years. No wonder the rules are so mixed up!
Despite the challenges of a very mixed up language, it is possible to teach your kids to read! I know because I’ve done it! I have not had a couple dozen kids to test my method on each year like in a classroom. But I have been able to watch my students through the years to see that they’ve all become confident readers! So today I’m going to share with you how I taught my kids to read.
In this picture she was pretending to be the puzzle.
How to teach your kids to read Step 1: Letters Everywhere!
To help your little ones get ready to start learning to read, they need lots of exposure to the alphabet. Letters on blocks, puzzles, and toys, letters on signs and posters, and letters in books can be pointed out. Talk about them, say their names and the sound(s) they make. Ask your little one if they can tell you.
Read to you kids everyday if you can. Read them picture books and magazines and signs and scriptures. I’ve heard and read numerous times that a parent reading to their child has the most influence on that child learning to read. Use that parent power!
Write your child’s name every time you get a chance. Say the sounds slowly as you write the word, then read it to them when you’re done. This is going to be the most important word for them to read and write in their life.
When they’re old enough for preschool it’s time to focus on a letter at a time. I like to do one letter per week. I point out that letter in words we see, give them a color page with it, and talk to them about it. We find things that start with that letter to read about or do art projects with. I turn to Pinterest a lot for preschool project ideas.
How to teach your kids to read Step 2: Phonics and Sight words
Some say that phonics teach kids to read. Others say that sight words teach kids to read. In my experience, you have to have both. There are words they need to memorize, and they need skills to help decode new words.
Phonics
Keep going over the alphabet with an emphasis on the letters’ sounds. I’ve found some great workbooks to help with this over the years. My favorite one was a cut and paste book that I can’t find anymore. š But you can easily find many phonics workbooks to choose from. š
You can also make learning phonics fun with games. Here’s one phonics bingo game that I came up with. I like how it has thinking, writing, and reading to really enforce the sounds. I also love how simple it is!
Easy DIY Phonics Bingo
- Get a paper and pencil for each person playing. Draw a big tic-tac-toe grid on each paper. You need to make one too, Teacher.
- Have each person take a turn saying a word that has the letter sound you’re working on. For example, we were working on sounds, so we got words like fan and jam. Help them write the word somewhere on their grid.
- Teacher, cut just your grid apart so your words are separated.
- Use old lids, marshmallows, cheerios, or whatever you have as bingo marker. Pick out one word at a time, read it to your kid(s), and have them put a marker on that word. When they get three in a row they say “Bingo!” and they win! We like to play till everyone has gotten a bingo.
Ours looked like this:
Sight words
Teaching your kids to read should include memorizing some words that they will see all the time in their reading. That will take lots of practice. As with the phonics, I love to use games to practice sight words. I feel like it’s most important, though, to get the kids in books to practice. This is how I like to do it:
- Show them a sight word and read it to them.
- Have them say the sight word and write it down.
- Let them pick a book to read. Use your finger or a pointed bookmark to show which word you are reading as you go. Every time you get to their word in the book, pause and let them read it.
- Do this every school day for a week. Then add a new word. Keep a running list somewhere, maybe on a bookmark, to help you remember which words they’re working on.
- Pay attention to how well they’re getting it. Some words might take a few weeks, or some kids might be able to handle 2 or three new words in a week. Go at their pace.
- When the list gets too long, let them take over the reading and pointing. Get them some beginner books and help them with any words they need help with.
How to teach your kids to read Step 3: Practice, Practice, Practice!
It is so important to make time to practice reading. Look for books that are at your child’s reading level. You’ll know it’s the right level if it’s a little bit challenging, but not frustrating. Let them help you know what they’re interested in so they can enjoy reading. Keep reading with your kids. Read yourself where your kids can see to be a good example of a reader.
I remember when I was in third and fourth grade that I felt like I was bad at reading. I shied away from chapter books because I didn’t believe I could to get through them. Then in 5th grade I made a good friend who loved to read. She would often tell me about a book she enjoyed and tell me I should read it. Sometimes she had it with her to hand to me. I did read them, and the more I read, the more confident I became in my reading skills. What a blessing that has been in my life!
If you can teach your kids to read and have confidence in their reading, they will become life-long learners. As a teacher, I don’t know anything that sounds more satisfying than that.
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