Saturday, January 30, 2010

Reading Lessons

My camera is currently out of commission, but I promise to someday post pictures again. Life has been pretty hectic around here. I started my first week of classes and teaching. I am currently making lesson plans, taking a full load of classes, and preparing a research grant proposal. I am at the point where I am asking myself, "What are you doing?!?" But I know that in a few weeks I will get into a rhythm and it will all be ok. On the plus side, last semester was the fastest four months of Dan's residency so far! I am hoping that the next three semesters of chaos will make residency just fly by :)

I am currently trying to teach Grace and David to read. I have the book "Teaching Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons." Have any of you ever used it? I would say the lessons are easy for me to teach, but not always so easy for the kids to learn. They are both doing pretty well. It is kind of hilarious because they both have entirely different strengths and weaknesses. They are about as different as two kids can be in their learning approaches. It's fun to watch them figure things out, and to learn more about their personalities as I watch them approach this difficult task. I keep reminding them that this is probably the coolest thing they will ever learn (I may be a little biased.) Grace keeps telling me she doesn't want to do it because it is hard. I am glad that I can tell her about the hard things I am learning in school and remind her that we all do hard things, and it's ok to mess up sometimes.

One thing I have definitely been reminded of during this process: I was not meant to be an elementary school teacher! I have very little patience, and so admire those who can do this every day, all day. I am working on it, but oh boy. So, I am looking for some supplementary materials to make this process a little more exciting. Any ideas? Does anyone have any very early reading books to recommend?

6 comments:

Courtney @ Ordinary Happily Ever After said...

we have that book and I used it for Lucy. It caused many a fight and she didn't really get it until she started kindergarden anyway.

With Emma I'm using "Expode the Code" workbooks and primers and she seems to be getting it a lot faster than Lucy did. Personally I like Explode the Code better.

My sister swears by 100 easy lessons though, it is what she used for her 7 kids. But she also doesn't start them until they are 6 or so (they are all homeschooled)

ed and brooke said...

I am probably the last person who should be commenting on this post, but I have these books that I LOVE. The author is Saxton Freymann and he uses fruits and vegetables to create stories for children (the books have words too). Seriously though, look it up on amazon. I love the How Are You Peeling one and the one about the lonely sea horse.

Natalie said...

I tried 100 easy lessons with James. I don't know where the title came from. I didn't think they were easy at all. James hated it, I hated it and about five pounds of M&M's later that I used as bribery, I had to just give up and put it in the hands of people who are paid to do that. I totally admire you for trying it with your busy schedule. Good Luck! I think Grace and David are probably smarter than my kids.

Starley Family said...

I have a couple of easy reader books (Eleanor's Enormous Ears) and church stories that use pictures and letters. I have been combining those with illustration only books (to give them confidence creating a story) and the letters that are shaped like animals. My girls are younger than your bambinos but I am just trying to create the bonding experience with letters, sounds, and books. I have really liked the www.letteroftheweek.com program but...everybody has different tastes. I am sure I will be looking for advice from you in the near future! You go girl!

April Hargan said...

Wow! I am so impressed that you're teaching them to read! You are amazing Heather! Keep us updated on how it goes.

LizzyP said...

Reading is so much fun--what a great window of time for them! My only tips, no matter your curriculum, is to listen to them and not neglect the reading activities that they think are really fun like read alouds. Way to go, Heather, for being the master of your fate!