Over the summer as I was planning out homeschool year I read two great reviews of The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading. Both were from bloggers that I love and respect greatly. One from The Pioneer Woman, who needs no other introduction and the other was from LoraLynn of Vitafamiliae.
I did a little more research of this phonics teaching guide and decided to go with it and I am so happy with that decision.
The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading has simple, guided, short, repetitive lessons that my girls have really responded to. Each lesson only takes about 10 minutes and includes good reviews of the previous lessons.
EA and MC have learned rhymes for learning the short vowel sounds. We are currently singing a cute version of “Old McDonald Had a Farm” with the short vowel sounds. “Old Mc Donald had a farm…A, E, I, O, U”
For the consonants there is a “Consonant Rhyme” where a new line is added with each lesson as they learn a new consonant sound.
I have been pleased as I hear them incorporating what they are learning into their conversations, in play, and in their life. That is a goal of education…to make it a part of our life.
This weekend on our marriage retreat we stayed in a small bungalow that the girls dubbed a “barn”. It had an upstairs and downstairs level. The girls slept downstairs and Will, Keith, and I slept upstairs. The girls were thrilled to have their own bathroom next to their room….believe me this family will be happy when we have more then one bathroom in our home again!
Anyway, I woke up early, 5 am early, on Saturday morning to EA crying. When I got downstairs to check on her she was sitting on the potty. She looked at me and said, “I had an accident. A is for Accident.” Not even I was cogniscent enough to tell anyone what A stood for!
On Saturday afternoon we were drove off the resort to find some snacks before going back to the bungalow. EA and MC kept themselves from falling asleep on this short drive by saying the “Consonant Rhyme” that they learned in phonics. And when we got back and it was nap time, I told EA to say it in her head to help her fall asleep….kind of like counting sheep in a way, only better!
We are just on the letter “S” now but I can tell that they are really learning so well. They look forward to learning a new letter sound each day!
Here is the entire “Consonant Rhyme” written out….(we repeat it up to our current letter about six times in each lesson)
B stands for /b/ in /b/, /b/, bat
C stands for /k/ in /k/, /k/, cat
D stands for /d/ in /d/, /d/, dog
F stands for /f/ in /f/, /f/, fog
G stands for /g/ in /g/, /g/, gum
H stands for /h/ in /h/, /h/, hum
J stands for /j/ in /j/, /j/, jeep
K stands for /k/ in /k/, /k/, keep
L stand sfor /l/ in /l/, /l/, lap
M stands for /m/ in /m/, /m/, map
N stands for /n/ in /n/, /n/, net
P stands for /p/ in /p/, /p/, pet
Qu stands for /kw/ in /kw/, /kw/, quack
R stands for /r/ in /r/, /r/, rack
S stands for /s/ in /s/, /s/, sip
T stands for /t/ in /t/, /t/, tip
V stands for /v/ in /v/, /v/, vet
W stands for /w/ in /w/, /w/, wet
X at the end of words like box
Stands for /ks/ like in tax and fox.
Y stands for /y/ in /y/, /y/, yip
Z stands for /z/ in /z/, /z/, zip.
I am planning to get them on video saying the “Consonant Rhyme” when we get to Z and have learned it all…they love it and are so cute saying it!
There aren’t any fun, colorful, pictures in this guide. It’s just simple black and white instruction. This is the part I wasn’t sure about. But in the end, I think it has been a good thing because the focus has been on learning the sounds and the intruction without the distraction of pictures.
The simple method of teaching in this book and repetitiveness are just two things that I really love about this guide. It is truly an “ordinary” parent’s guide. I can’t wait to see all the progress they are going to make this year as they learn to read.
Note: This post is being linked to Things I Love Thursday at The Diaper Diaries and Thirsty Thursday at FiveJ’s. Visit those sites for more things to love and education related posts!
chaplainandrews says
My sweet memory from yesterday occurred when I asked MC “What did you learn in school today?” and she smiled real big and almost shouted “The letter R!”
.-= chaplainandrews´s last blog ..ArmyChaplaincy.com =-.
Denise says
I will have to look for that. My 4 yr old REALLY wants to learn to read.
.-= Denise´s last blog ..Things I LOVE Thursday….My Secret Circle Review =-.
Shanna says
Thanks for this review. I was considering ordering this, and now I really think I will. It is so exciting watching little ones learn to read!
Lora Lynn @ Vitafamiliae says
Am always amused when I persuade anyone to do anything!
Now that I’m a bit farther along, I still like the book, but I’ve learned some thing. First, the twins may not pick it up at the same rate. Currently, one twin is about 20 lessons behind the other. I had to let that go. Also, not having pictures is GREAT. Mine tend to fake their way through real books by guessing and looking at the pictures. Finally, I get discouraged when I look at how many lessons are in front of us, but I can already see that in maybe a few months, one twin will be able to quit the book altogether as he begins to take off reading other things. So don’t feel frustrated when you see the number of lessons.
I love the chanting stage. That was super fun. I used to put mine on the trampoline and have them jump while they chanted.
.-= Lora Lynn @ Vitafamiliae´s last blog ..Beltway Hillbillies On The Move, Continued =-.
Joy @ Five J's says
I’ve never heard of that phonics curriculum. It sounds very interesting. I guess it’s too bad I don’t have any more kids to teach how to read! 🙂
.-= Joy @ Five J’s´s last blog ..My Case Against Learning States and Capitals =-.
Angelita says
This is a helpful guide.Right timing for my 4y/o girl, she’s acting like she understand what we are reading in the church, and she said by 5, she can read it.
Pat says
I am a true believer in phonics because I think it is giving children the keys to reading. Even in my high school sped class, we worked on phonics skills that they may have forgotten or not learned. I’m glad your children are enjoying it!
.-= Pat´s last blog ..Back to Port Canaveral =-.