Elijah did some computer lessons today. He scored perfect 100%s on all of the math lessons, but did 43-50% on all of the phonics lessons. Would you suggest he go back over the phonics until he does better, or let him move on to other letters and come back to it all later? I knew he would have a little trouble, but nothing like this. I'm lousy with teaching reading/phonics beyond sounding out the words as I read to him. That's why I was keen to use this program to help me. Anyhow... what would you suggest?
I would review until he knows it better. Phonics works like building blocks. If the blocks on the bottom are cracked, the rest will not stand. Does that make sense? Look for mastery before moving on. Have you checked out www.starfall.com ? GREAT FREE site!
I would go over it and move on at the same time if possible. I absolutely agree with pp that phonics works like building blocks BUT I know for my own kids, they have to get new stuff. Not old stuff in a new way but new stuff. They just really feel like it's important to keep moving forward. It's just how they work. (Well, not all of them, just my son who is learning to read.) I don't know what kind of a program you are using but what I do is they learn three or four new letters per week. If they are really struggling with something we review that the 2nd week and introduce maybe one letter but keep reviewing the others. So if it's possible to do it that way using your program that's a good way to go. If not, definitely review it until he gets it.
I hadn't heard of starfall before! Thanks. I think that will really help. The program we are using works with groups of letters. The first lessons were on m, r, h, s, d, t, and short a. He did lesson one two more times tonight (on his own) and scored 43% both times (which is what he scored the first time, as well). I definitely need to try a different approach..lol.
What phonics program are you using and how old is he? I've taught phonics from the time dd was learning letters at 2 1/2. Instead of just teaching the letter, I would say "A, a, a, a, apple" "A, a, a, a ape" and so on for each letter. Maybe put emphasis on one letter a day. I personally wouldn't add anything new if he's struggling. He may just get more frustrated. You can make letter cards using those letters and have him make words. Help him at first till he has a better understanding of beginning and ending sounds. What exactly is he supposed to be doing in the program that he's struggling with? Maybe need to take a different approach.
I second the starfall.com site. It was really great at helping my 4 and 5 year old learn their letter sounds. I'm curious as to whether you watch your son while he takes his quizzes. We supplement our Bob Jones K5 curriculum with time4learning.com. I sat with my daughter while she took one of the quizzes--- it was 3 questions. She missed one and, of course, got a failing score. If I hadn't been sitting and watching, I'd have thought she didn't know anything. And, at that, the question she missed was worded in a confusing way, so I wasn't shocked she missed it. I'm just wondering if your son truly didn't know the material or if there just weren't many questions or the questions themselves weren't presented clearly. I've really, really liked how Bob Jones does their phonics. Our first 4 letters were i, t, s, and n. They also threw in a sight word to help form sentences quickly. Within the first week of phonics, my kids could read short sentences like "It is here" or "I sit here." Anyway, check out the starfall site--- my kids LOVED it, especially my daughter.
I'm thinking I might have to break down and buy a phonics curriculum. We are using Time 4 Learning. We have headphones, so I can't hear what he hears. I sat and really paid attention today to what he was doing in math and I think it's more a focus issue. As in, he's not focusing on what he's doing. For example, he's been able to count to 100 with no troubles for over a month. But today, when asked what number comes after 47, 48, 49, he answered 30. He did it so quickly that I doubt it was even finished reading the directions to him, you know? He did the same thing on science. He would just click any old answer before it had read it to him. I don't understand because he's always been soooo good with online games. He's rarely needed help and always listens to the directions.
Do you have speakers for your computer? I'd take off your son's headphones & use speakers instead. Then have him sit on his hands to listen to the question. He tells you the answer, and you say "is that your final answer?" Then when he's sure, he can use the keyboard/mouse to answer the question.
We don't have speakers. I know that eventually I need to get some, but with DH's recent unplanned job change (and subsequent major paycut) we're only spending pennies that we absolutely have to. I think I'll ask for a set of speakers for his birthday (in a couple of weeks).
Starfall IS great...even just to go over the sounds. Another thing, I just remembered, is LeapFrog's Letter Factory video. I goes over the sound/upper and lower case letters in order. It's great b/c it has a catchy tune and they can learn the sound when they sing the song. My middle child learned his whole alphabet that way! Also, when you can, get speakers - I think you can get them fairly cheaply (like $10) at walmart. OR if you have a freecycle in your area, you could post a wanted for that (or craigslist too). They are GREAT.
Ok.. now I feel silly. I realized my problem. I hadn't double checked how time4learning had classified him. They had all of his lessons set to 1st grade. I switched the math and language arts over to K and we'll see how he does. Though, since he was getting 100%s in Math, that makes me very happy...lol. I'll let him double up on K math lessons as long as he's breezing through just to make sure he doesn't miss anything. That's kind of what I'm doing when I work with him, too. We fly through all the basic math concepts so we can hurry and get to things that will challenge him.
Our dd was in ps till October of last year. The teacher told me it was like she never learned any phonics concepts during 1st grade (she was in 2nd then), to the point we had issues with ps and pulled her out. I started her out to the beginning and used Abeka handbook for reading. We really hit the phonics hard because it's a skill they need to become readers which when I pulled her she was barely on a 1st grade reading level. Long story short, she has grasp the concept of phonics with me teaching her letters and sounds. She can read now, teaching phonics was hard but even harder when you are blessed with a speech impairment, like me. It was hard work and lots of frustration on both sides when she didn't understand a blend (r's are hard to understand when I pronounce them). I had to get dh husband involved at times. As for the speakers I have a pair that I have been trying to get rid of, if you lived her. Oh well it's the thought the counts:lol:
