Learning To Read Software

Learning to read can be an overwhelming task for some children (and parents watching!), while for others it comes quite naturally. Whether your child is one who learns almost magically, or one who plods along until they are ten does not determine their future success in life. Kids learn to read at different rates, at different ages, and in different ways. I learned a long time ago to stop looking at six as the 'magical' age when children should read.

If your kids are in the public school system, or just residing on this planet, they will be 'expected' to begin learning to read somewhere between kindergarten and first grade. While I do not advocate using this as the concrete yardstick whereby you measure your child's intelligence, it is nice to know that there are computer programs that can help. If you are wondering if your child is really ready, here are a few signs to watch for:

• Does your child pay attention to words and letters?
• Does your child have the ability, or desire to sit still while you read for more than a few minutes?
• Has your child started asking questions regarding words he/she notices in books you read?
• Does your child recognize the letters of the alphabet? Knowing their names is NOT crucial to the process, however.
• Does your child WANT to learn to read?

Learning letter sounds, and how to blend them properly are the two more important phonetic skills. This involves making one sound blend smoothly into the next. In order to do this, you must teach your child the pure sounds of the letters. For example, the letter 'M' makes the sound 'mmmmm,' not 'muh.' This is not always easy to remember, and takes practice. Most software programs ignore the process of blending altogether, because it is difficult to teach on the computer

Three programs that have tried to tackle blending are:

 

• My Personal Tutor
• Jump Start Reading for First Grade
• Complete Learn to Read System

There are some programs that teach letters, letter sounds, rhyming etc. Others concentrate on sight words. Many schools have ditched both the strictly phonetic approach and the strictly whole language approach. They have settled somewhere in the middle, and utilize both tools. Phonics has made a great resurgence in popularity, however.

Phonetic programs:

 

• Let's Go Read: An Island Adventure- One of the three best programs out there!
• Reader Rabbit's Reading Ages 4-6- The other 'best program' which contains Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey and Developmental Library 1.
• Complete Learn to Read System (the new version of Interactive Reading Journey)
• Dr. Seuss's ABC's
• Davidson Learning Center Series: Phonics-the old Kid Phonics program.

Let's Go Read, and Complete Learn to Read System would be my top two choices for reading programs.

Programs which approach reading from both angles:

• Reading Blaster 6-9
• Ready to Read and Write 2
• Ready to Read with Pooh
• Disney's Reading Quest with Aladdin
• Davidson Learning Center Series: Reading
• Bailey's Book House
• Green Eggs and Ham
• Jump Start Reading for 1st Graders

You will also find programs which are more 'exposure based.' These include the Living Books series titles Just Grandma and Me, Cat in the Hat etc. These books read stories to your children, as well as incorporating easy activities. The Living Book Series is an excellent way to begin your child on the road to reading if you are not sure they are really ready for 'learning the words.'

The two skills which computer programs seem to handle best, are letter sounds and sight words. None of the programs do a spectacular job teaching blending skills. I would recommend you utilize the above mentioned programs in conjunction with work away from the computer. They are great reinforcement tools, but none will 'teach your child to read.'

Other things you can do as a parent:

• Start noticing words and pointing them out
• Use the computer WITH your child
• Label things around your house with word tags
• Make lists (shopping, chores etc.) which your child can see every day

The number one thing you can do to help your child read is to read to them constantly, and let them see you enjoying books. If you are already doing this, adding computer programs is a terrific idea. If you are not doing this, however, my suggestion would be to start there.