Books for Learning to Read

[Suzi]

Brady is 5.5 and not real interested in learning to read. He knows his letters, he loves to have me read stories but he isn't really motivated to learn to read. He will work on the Piggie and Elephant books but I'm getting tired of them. He likes those because they use a lot of the same words over and over. He likes to do word recognition (sight reading I think its called) but not sound out words over and over. If he at least recognizes some of the words he sticks with it better. He is willing to work on it with me some now.

Anyhow, any suggestions on books with simple repetitive words we could check out at the library?

Wanted to add that he is in kindergarten and they will work on reading this year. He has been in preschool for 3 years but they worked a lot on his speech, following directions, letters, numbers, that kind of stuff.

[CarrieMF]

I'd let it go at home & just read books to him. At 5.5 he is still quite young to be reading. Let the school be the ones to push him. He'll most likely be bringing home books at his level from school.

[Rhianna'sMommy]

Dd loved the BOB books when she was first learning to read. They have simple words that are easy to sound out. They really helped boost her confidence in reading because they are short and not too overwhelming.

But personally, I wouldn't push it at home if he's not showing interest. I'd let him set his own pace for learning - he's got plenty of time to learn.

[chameleon607]

We use the BOB books and my son likes them

[foxygoober]

If he isn't interested then it'll be a fight. Wait for him to get more interested. Until then read a variety of books. Maybe he'll fall in love with more? FTR Boys tend to favor non-fiction books. The library should have easy to read non-fiction about animals, sports, careers . . .also get excited when he says or notices a word. Memorizing sight words is common in schools.

[annb]

I have used a book with my kids called Five Minute Phonics. It is really good for teaching reading in short, small doses (5 minutes!) and I've had excellent results with it.
You start off with a phonics chart that has letters and some pictures (like a goat with G) and you just point to each letter and say it's sound. You do this chart for a while, you don't have to quiz them or anything, but they can say it with you or on their own if they want to. Then you move up to an advanced chart that has more of the atypcial vowel sounds (like a in was and the different sounds y can make) and a few of the blends like ch and th. It really starts with the basics of sounding something out (like how cat does not necessarily sound like KKK...aaaaaa.....TTTT.... until you are used to hearing it like that, and you can play little games to help them learn the difference between how a word sound when you sound it out and when you put the sounds together. And then it starts with little lessons where there are a few words at the top of the page that you say for them, and then it gradually goes from reading a few phrases up to sentences that tell a story.
Anyway, it's SUPER easy with really good results. Both my kids were ASKING to do the lessons each day. And it's inexpensive. I mean, some reading programs cost hundreds of dollars. I think this book costs around $12. (and our library had it so maybe yours does too)
Once you make it through the book then they are ready for a variety of easy readers.

[delphinium]

Originally Posted by CarrieMF I'd let it go at home & just read books to him. At 5.5 he is still quite young to be reading. Let the school be the ones to push him. He'll most likely be bringing home books at his level from school.

Yeah, he is quite young to worry about reading. Read to him and model reading for him by reading your own books and he will learn reading before you realize it. The best thing you can do is not force it and let the love of reading happen.

I am an elementary teacher with a specialty in reading and my 7 year old still does not want to read on her own. I read to her a few books a day. Also, I ask her to help me read. She only began to read last year, in first grade. So, 5.5 is still too young to worry about having him read books on his own. Let it be. Let the love of books develop and the reading will come later.

[Suzi]

Originally Posted by delphinium Yeah, he is quite young to worry about reading. Read to him and model reading for him by reading your own books and he will learn reading before you realize it. The best thing you can do is not force it and let the love of reading happen. I am an elementary teacher with a specialty in reading and my 7 year old still does not want to read on her own. I read to her a few books a day. Also, I ask her to help me read. She only began to read last year, in first grade. So, 5.5 is still too young to worry about having him read books on his own. Let it be. Let the love of books develop and the reading will come later.

Thanks for the ideas and the support that it is ok that he doesn't read already. It seems like everyone (IRL and on boards) talks about how their kids can already read and what not. I started to feel like I wasn't working with him enough at home. I think we will keep checking out one reader book at the library each week but I won't push the reading thing too much

[ktmelody]

We use starfall.com It makes my kids want to learn. The stories are great and it gives them time to play around with words. We let them play online for 20 min.

We also go to the library 2 times a week, let them pick the books they want, and check them out on their own. It has really taught them to love books.

HTH!

[MCR]

Originally Posted by ktmelody We use starfall.com It makes my kids want to learn. The stories are great and it gives them time to play around with words. We let them play online for 20 min. We also go to the library 2 times a week, let them pick the books they want, and check them out on their own. It has really taught them to love books. HTH!

I second Starfall, Dd loves it, she's 5.5 and is finally reading mostly on her own, not taught or pushed by us but done on her own at her pace.