Comparing Pre-school English Reading and Phonics Enrichment

[MMM]

janet_lee88:

My daughter wants me to read several books to her too, but I wonder how it will help if she listens to so many stories. I didn't read widely to my son then, so I do not want to make the same mistake with younger one. Could you advise ? Thanks

Sorry being kpo here.

For reading to the child, I personally feel that for K1/K2 level, it would be more effective if we read not just to them but with them. Eg. Get books of their level, sit down together and get them to read to you. Over time, you will see results in the child's sight words and I supposed when the child knows more words and become more confident, they will be able to read by themselves.

I get my K1 to point the words as she/ we read. If there is a word she don't know, I will tell her. But the next time we see the same word, I will prompt her to see if she remembers.

[jesschan]

I think reading to kids will help to cultivate an interest in the kid to read because usually parents are able to add in animation to aid understanding. I remember reading the Little Men series to my boy and he was very interested to look at the pictures and read some of the dialogue voluntarily.

[Charmaine_chong]

Hi MMM,


Not KPO at all. Is great to see so many parents here willing to share. This is indeed a great idea.

Hi Janet,

My son (Mar06) reads 1-2 pages of Peter and Jane daily since Jan 2010. He is at book 2b now. I spend time praticing phonics with him. I want to stress that phonics + sight words readers = reading.

However, it is not necessary the best or the only way to teach a child to read.

I have many friends whose children read well at young age, this is what i understand from them.

1. Get the child to read 1-3 pages of graded readers daily + the mom reads loads of books to them by pointing on words. Pause to explain the words/pictures. Be more interactive with your child.

2. Another mom who reads to her both kids since baby. Her 3 years old pick up reading just like that.

Your K2 girl, i would suggest phonics + sight words readers. If she does not like Peter and Jane, please get other graded readers to get her to read daily. At the same time, share good books with her, try to encourage her to read by pointing words herself. If she refuse to point, you point the words instead and read. It will take a while to see result.

Popular has great offer for Scholastic readers, buy 2 get 1 free. The Magic School Bus, Dora explorer, fairy tales or sight words readers are good buy.

Otherwise, you may go to library, get books that sentences keep repeating eg: Eric Carle’s The very busy spider. Read to her and get her to read herself. It is no harm when she reads from memory, soon she will pick up herself.

Hope this helps.

[janet88]

Charmaine_chong,

Thanks for the tips. I will take out the story books returned at the end of each term and read with her.

MMM,
You are definitely no KPO here. I appreciate what you mentioned. Thank you.

[MMM]

Yes, I agree on books with repetitive words. My K1 goes to LW and she is given 2 of such books every week. I also buy other repetitive series for her. I happened to buy some pre-loved australian graded books from another mum. I like it as no offence to Peter and Jane. I found that alittle boring. LW also uses those pelangi publisher books. I wanted to go to JB popular to buy but saw this at Marine Parade popular last weekend but range was limited.


We have been doing it since Jan this year and I do see a marked improvement in her sight words. For words that she had learnt in her phonics class, I would get her to sound out. She is alot more confident when reading now. It helped that she needs to read to her LW teacher every week. 2 weeks ago, she asked to read infront of the class and the teacher had been giving her great comments. So she is very motivated to read now. I hope that by K2, she is able to read Enid Blyton by herself. :lol: my target.... let's see.

[Happybirdks]

Hi MMM


Can you kindly share which series you are using now? From Australia, is it Fritzroy series? I also find Peter & Jane too boring, and too many words to learn in each book. Of course, we can just read a few pages each time, but hardly any fun because can’t have full story then.

Some people highly recommend the Oxford Tree series, but that is so expensive!

[MMM]

Happybirdks:

Hi MMM


Can you kindly share which series you are using now? From Australia, is it Fritzroy series? I also find Peter & Jane too boring, and too many words to learn in each book. Of course, we can just read a few pages each time, but hardly any fun because can't have full story then.

Some people highly recommend the Oxford Tree series, but that is so expensive!

The series is call \"Go Books\". I think it's the illustration that makes the difference. Peter and Jane is abit serious and probably that's why it look boring :?
http://www.blake.com.au/Go-Books-Series-s/1888.htm

[Charmaine_chong]

Hi MMM and happybird,


I do find Peter and Jane boring too. I took about 6 months to got him read this series by himself. This is the cheapest graded books available in the market and yet it help a child to read. There are many good graded books out there but very costly. I tried my best to get his interest in this series. Luckily he likes it at the end.

The Go books look great. I am sure my son would love it but too costly to have it.

Does library have it?

I do casually ask my son to read out simple books when he is in mood.

[Happybirdks]

Hi Charmaine


How do you get him to read P&J? A few pages each time? Yes, agree P&J the cheapest around.

[Charmaine_chong]

Hi Happybirdks,


He started to read by himself this year. He needs lots of repetition to remember a word.

I didn’t force him when he refused to read by himself. I looked at the picture of 'Peter" and described about him; his attire, his look, his feature… Then my son looked at the book again and read out the word ‘Peter’. That was how he started to read. Since then, i get him to read one to two pages everyday and revise new words learnt last night. Those words that he isn’t sure, i would point at it to get him re-read.

Some children have good memory, read very well without phonics. My friend gets her daughter to read few pages a day for all series. Finish the whole series book a & b in a year.

So it depends heavily on a child’s reading ability. For my case, i get him to read a page since book 2a.

You may try to read aloud to your kid by pointing words if he isn’t interested to read by himself. Read the words and don’t forget to talk about the pictures.

Hope it helps.