https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Fri, 08 May 2026 12:21:10 +0000 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:14:29 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 11.10 360 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=32589 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/ https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=1007113&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#1007113 Author: mum2paris
Subject: 32589
Posted: 26 April 2010 at 1:14pm

Hi there ladies!!!!

Paris kinda was a bit interested in this kinda thing so we just started with writing her name, we also had one of those phonic letter things for on the fridge and she'd play with that so learnt the letter names and sounds pretty early on.

Flash cards work ok if you have a kid that sits and is interested.

what we did was go to our local library and they have the Zip and Mac books which i found great as you get ones that start easily and progress, ones that are lie "I am..., I am ...." so they learn that first.
with writing letters, we got a little exercise printing book like they use at schools with the big printing lines on it.. (it's a half size one with purple cover from memory). I went through that and did one letter per page, and would draw a Capital A, for instance, then leave a space, another A, then do one in dashed lines so that they could have a go with guidance....
and do the line below, start with another A.. and put dots at regular intervals so they know where to space them at. next line would be small a, small a, dahsed small a... next line just once small a with dots at intervals to help them know where to space. (if that makes sense) I filled the whole book up with that. and let them go for it. If they are interested they'll have a go with it.

Another thing i found great, was to make up a page with capital letters on one side, well spaced, large bold font, and make another page with small letters on it, and you can usually fit numbers on there too below it.   i put them back to back and laminted it so that once the girs were older they used it alot when they weren't quite sure on a certain letter (they tend to learn some easier than others)   the only thing i say is Make sure that the font you choose is correctly formed letters, nothing fancy... ie, this font, uses the a in that squiggly way instead of a round circle with a stick - which is what schools teach... so make sure if you make one that it models how you want them to learn to form the letter.

just take it little by little and let his interest fuel it.

sometimes we would just have a fun spot hunt... ie i'd be like. Ok, have an idea, let's find things that start with a. we'd go round thinking of words and things and see what around the house we could turn up with. then just practise drawing that letter, and draw pictures around it of the things we'd found. make it interesting.

Ayja has always been like "well if Paris can do it, then i can do it too!" which made it tricky at first when paris started school as Ayja's finemotor skills weren't quite at the stage where she could form letters well and she'd get shirty quite quickly.. but she has moved on now and we found a word chart in paris's sharingbook from school when she first started, with basic words on it... it's a word caterpillar - (ie a caterpillar made of circles and each circle has a different word in it)

she has tha ton paper just hanging on her wardrobe handles and we got some cardboard (old cereal boxes) and made basic word cards to match and each week i change which ones she has, they have a hole in the corner and i have put them on a large ring so she can flip em easily they are just left on a shelf in the lounge by their books.. The first word is always her name, and we put in ones like mum and dad and baby, and a few like I and a, and basic stuff, then added to that. she tends to grab the thing off her wardrobe and come to us with it when she's discovered that she can remember a new word... so she obviously sees it in her room and goes and practices them without us knowing.

She is ahead of where Paris was at this age.. I posted a vid about a year ago on my facebook page with her reading a book with 2 sentences per page... she hasn't moved too much further from this but the words she can recognise are harder and we are working on sounding things out. they pick up and run with it fairly well if you give them the tools.

Paris has skipped forward really nicely and nw at 6 and a half her teacher is getting books from the year 5 nd 6 classes for her to bring home for reading, she told us she reads at a 9 yr old level.

So yeah, not intended as a brag, just to give a few fun ideas.... has worked out really nicely for us, but as others have said.. when we did school visits the teacher was surpised that paris knew a few words and could form letters and some words etc... she said many that she gets can't, and have trouble holding a pencil the correct way... from what i can gather seeing those same kids who started off with the basics, that have moved up in classes with her, they all pick it up in their own time anyway.

(ok, so i wrote a novel again, you know me. lol)

Edited by mum2paris]]> Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:14:29 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=1007113&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#1007113 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=999479&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#999479 Author: Glow
Subject: 32589
Posted: 18 April 2010 at 12:12pm

We started out by learning phonics songs eg : Ants on appple a a a, bat & ball b b b, ink on ikny i i i etc. I also laminated the alphabet in both lower & upper case letters on each side to practise writing. When they have completed it you can easily wipe it off for future use, I did this with his name
]]> Sun, 18 Apr 2010 12:12:58 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=999479&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#999479 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=986985&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#986985 Author: Rachael21
Subject: 32589
Posted: 03 April 2010 at 2:47pm

Thanks everyone, I think I'll start with his name. He pretends to write and tells me what he has written but he isn't terribly interested in reading although we do read a lot together so I'll see how I go. I really like the idea of teaching sounds rather than letters Freckle I might that one a go too ]]> Sat, 03 Apr 2010 14:47:39 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=986985&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#986985 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985827&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985827 Author: EmDee
Subject: 32589
Posted: 01 April 2010 at 1:17pm

We've always read to the kids so Ollie took an interest in reading and writing around 2.5ish. He loves Thomas the tank engine and that is how he started recognising letters and reading names (we'd have to spell out the name of the book). I was quite astounded to pull into a petrol station and hear him say, 'that says Diesel', until I remembered it is the name of a Thomas character!

Also we redeemed Flybuys points and got him a leap frog electronic writing pad thingy (sorry can't remember the proper name) it talked about the letter and had a magna-doodle type place where he could write the letters. Anyway he loved it and helped him learn about letters.]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:17:01 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985827&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985827 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985759&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985759 Author: kebakat
Subject: 32589
Posted: 01 April 2010 at 11:54am

We have taught Daniel the alphabet and he can recognise some words, we have done this really causually through some cool dr suess books that the in laws keep buying us for him.

The in laws are really gonna encourage us to get daniel reading and writing since FIL has a phd in something to do with reading.

The post it notes game sounds really cool, gotta remember that one for when Daniel is a little older]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:54:19 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985759&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985759 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985742&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985742 Author: ButterflyMum
Subject: 32589
Posted: 01 April 2010 at 11:41am

lol that's ok i gussed that was prob the case. I was thinking you must be teacher or something. ]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:41:49 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985742&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985742 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985647&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985647 Author: freckle
Subject: 32589
Posted: 01 April 2010 at 10:16am

I'm sorry Butterflymum... it so wasn't my intention!! I have only had one at a time to focus on teaching which makes it a lot easier I'd say... and my work involves building literacy skills and I've done a lot of postgrad study in that area as well so I guess that's why I'm just a little passionate about it

Edited by freckle]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:16:22 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985647&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985647 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985517&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985517 Author: ButterflyMum
Subject: 32589
Posted: 01 April 2010 at 8:06am

freckle wrote: I think teaching your child to read early gives them an awesome start to schooling so good on ya! I introduced reading (through whole word and letter/sound awareness) to my daughter at 3 and she was reading basic books very quickly. At that age it is so easy for them to learn so it's a great time to introduce it... My DD1 is now 13 and is still well above in english. The main thing is she has always enjoyed reading and writing as they came easy to her which I believe is a result of them being introduced at a young age... I have started letter/sound associations with my 2 year old (in a very casual way) and she is picking it up very quickly... I taught my daughter with letter blocks. Not the alphabet though, each block represents a sound (i.e. 'sh', 'ch', 'ow', 'ar' - so using phonics). Initially to learn the letter/sound associations we did stuff like scrapbooks with pages starting with each sound, eye spy using sounds not letters, thinking of words that start with a certain sound, sorting objects that start with the same sound. Obviously with all these activities we had written letters for the sound we were focusing on. Then when she mastered initial sounds we worked on listening for the end sounds in words. Then we used the blocks to sound out words for pictures or objects... I taught the vowel sound as we went along.... All this stuff was home made We did do some whole word stuff as well - like the basic sight words books and flash card kinda stuff... Good luck!

wops after reading that I feel like a stink parent.lol
wow that is so fantastic what a great idea.]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:06:22 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985517&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985517 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985512&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985512 Author: ButterflyMum
Subject: 32589
Posted: 01 April 2010 at 8:04am

Bizzy wrote: RachandJack wrote: Oh really? I have noticed other kids his age are already reading a bit so I assumed I should attempt to teach him something lol I think starting with his name is a great idea, thanks. i might just be a stink bum parent though. my boy is five in july and he cant write his name or read.

I really wanted to have Alan reading a writting before school all he could do in the end was read his name.   He has been at school 8 week's and is already reading a level 3 and writting so to be honest its not all that big of a deal cause they pick it up really quick when they start school. I have been told most teacher would rather you just focus on the sounds of the alphabet rather then teaching them to write cause if you teach them wrong or differnt to the teacher it can make it harder. and know their name tho only thing we were told we should of done was offer him more opptinuties to hold pen's etc like drawing and colouring in.   Anyway bizzy defintly not a stink bum Mum I think you rock.]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:04:01 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985512&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985512 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985485&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985485 Author: freckle
Subject: 32589
Posted: 01 April 2010 at 7:23am

I think teaching your child to read early gives them an awesome start to schooling so good on ya! I introduced reading (through whole word and letter/sound awareness) to my daughter at 3 and she was reading basic books very quickly. At that age it is so easy for them to learn so it's a great time to introduce it... My DD1 is now 13 and is still well above in english. The main thing is she has always enjoyed reading and writing as they came easy to her which I believe is a result of them being introduced at a young age... I have started letter/sound associations with my 2 year old (in a very casual way) and she is picking it up very quickly...

I taught my daughter with letter blocks. Not the alphabet though, each block represents a sound (i.e. 'sh', 'ch', 'ow', 'ar' - so using phonics). Initially to learn the letter/sound associations we did stuff like scrapbooks with pages starting with each sound, eye spy using sounds not letters, thinking of words that start with a certain sound, sorting objects that start with the same sound. Obviously with all these activities we had written letters for the sound we were focusing on. Then when she mastered initial sounds we worked on listening for the end sounds in words. Then we used the blocks to sound out words for pictures or objects... I taught the vowel sound as we went along.... All this stuff was home made

We did do some whole word stuff as well - like the basic sight words books and flash card kinda stuff...


Good luck!

]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:23:26 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985485&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985485 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985413&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985413 Author: Bizzy
Subject: 32589
Posted: 31 March 2010 at 10:34pm

RachandJack wrote: Oh really? I have noticed other kids his age are already reading a bit so I assumed I should attempt to teach him something lol I think starting with his name is a great idea, thanks.

i might just be a stink bum parent though. my boy is five in july and he cant write his name or read.]]> Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:34:56 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985413&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985413 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985249&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985249 Author: Daizy
Subject: 32589
Posted: 31 March 2010 at 8:11pm

Keira has suddenly shown a real interest in reading and writing.
The other day we had fun with post it notes. We picked a sound/letter (she chose 'ch') and then we would write as many words as she could think of around the house using that sound (chair, chimney, cheese etc.) She then had to work out which post it went where. It was really good because she was able to go back and read each word through out the week.
I have been meaning to do another letter but this week we have got to busy doing house renos :(]]> Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:11:51 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985249&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985249 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985241&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985241 Author: Jay_R
Subject: 32589
Posted: 31 March 2010 at 8:01pm

I started with some flash cards, and we just kind of move up to harder stuff as and when he wants to. You could try making an alphabet chart for his room, and for each letter put a photo or picture of something or someone important in his life - like letter M would have a picture of you - mummy, letter C would have a picture of Caprece etc etc.]]> Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:01:59 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985241&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985241 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985165&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985165 Author: Rachael21
Subject: 32589
Posted: 31 March 2010 at 6:00pm

Oh really? I have noticed other kids his age are already reading a bit so I assumed I should attempt to teach him something lol I think starting with his name is a great idea, thanks. ]]> Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=985165&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#985165 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=984866&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#984866 Author: Bizzy
Subject: 32589
Posted: 31 March 2010 at 1:50pm

if hes not interested you may be in for some tough times... me personally i would start with their name as that is something that would interest him.

i have never tried to teach my kids to read but they are read to every night and it just seems to have come naturally to them to want to try and read. ]]> Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:50:14 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=984866&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#984866 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=984395&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#984395 Author: Rachael21
Subject: 32589
Posted: 30 March 2010 at 10:00pm

I have decided to start attempting to teach Jack to read and write but do not know where to start! Like should I just start with A and work my way through the letters or is there an order to teaching the letters?

Can anyone recommend some good (and cheap) books to start with or systems to help me.

TIA ]]> Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:00:29 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32589&PID=984395&title=teaching-your-child-to-read-and-write#984395