Hello Moms!
My son is 4 and a half and misses the cut off day for Kindergarten by ONE DAY. He'll have to start next year. However, my little guy is just like a sponge. Anything to do with letters or numbers or counting or writing... he wants to do it. I would LOVE to find a great reading program to teach him how to read in the next year and a half. Have any of you tried a structured program at home that worked really well? Thanks for the input! :)
Yes... I do have him in preschool and he's learning a lot there.. I'd just like to supplement it with something at home
I use the Barton reading and spelling program. No training needed. The kits were designed for parents to use.
I use this program in my private practice. I work with children and adults who have dyslexia but this programworks with all children.
you can look at the website www.brightsolutions.us
My sons teacher bought these books from starfall.com it is also an interactive website. There are 20 8 page books in the set and once they can read 5 there is a certificate that you can fill out for them. My son and I enjoy reading them. I am also going to make copies of the certificates for my daughter to do as well.
Check out Sonlight's programs. http://www.sonlight.com/registration-request.html If your son soaks up information that well and loves to learn, I would highly recommend this program for you.
Do you have him in preschool? My son is 4 and a half as well, and goes to preschool and is already reading. I could suggest the preschool we go to, but it looks like you are in Albuquerque. So I'd suggest that if he is not yet. Otherwise, if you want to do it at home-I have heard good things about the "my baby can read" program. Haven't tried it myself, but was thinking about getting it for my 2 yr old. Good luck!
We bought our 5yr old the Tag system by Leap Frog. We are so glad we did too! You can hook it up to the computer to track his progress. There are tons of products for it and it is something he can get out on his own to do.
Our son was a non-reader (didn't want me to read to him, wouldn't pick up a book). He got the Tag for Xmas and did a complete about face! I don't even have to ask him to get the Tag, and sometimes he even lets me read to him. He is also walking around trying to read every word he sees.
I love Leap Frog products, we have always had them in some form for our boys!
Hello!
Have you checked if they would let him start with a waiver or something? I am not sure how iron-clad these cut-off's are.
D.
I highly recommend the Leap Frog videos. There are three, that I know of. One is "letter factory" learning the alphabet. The next is about blending words together,"Talking Words Factory" and the third is "lets go to school" more about math and the things they will learn in school. They are so Great! My daughter was just like your son, loved letters and soaked it all up. These videos along with this website, http://www.starfall.com/ helped her start reading on her own. They are great!. It has always been a priority to read to her but when I noticed that she could read words Then I made sure to have her start practicing with me as I read.. When she started kindergarten she was one of two kids that already knew how to read. She loves it.
Good luck
E.
I just looked it up and there is also a Talking Words Factory 2, called Code Word Caper. Just so you know:) looks good.
Have you checked to see if a charter school will take him in kinder? That's what I did with my son and he missed the cutoff by 20 days. He's doing well.
My friend recommended the BOB books to start and the Leap Frog videos. Start with phoentics and then go for the reading. The BOB books are very simple: Mat sat. Kit sat, etc. They're easy enough to start and give confidence before moving to more difficult books. There are 12 BOB books in the beginner set, I think and they get a little more complex as they move along, but still simple enough.
Don't be sad about him not being able to go yet. It is for the best. That will give him the chance to be bigger than most boys in his grade, which will give him the competitive advantage in sports for years to come. Also, if you are helping him at home academically, it will give him a giant head start there as well which will affect him for years as well. Kudos to you for being so involved in his education!
We use the Teach Your Child to Read in 100 (?) Easy Lessons book and it worked very well for us.
On another note, you could also ask your district about testing into kindergarten. Our district allows it I know, as long as they just go to half day kinder.
