Has anyone use the Pathway Readers/workbooks? I'm look for a different way to approach reading for my 5yo ds. I have tried "Teach you child to read in 100 easy lessons" a year ago and have recently started using it again, but it is boring us to death. It also starts moving too quickly. I have added other activites such as flashcards and games with the flash cards, but he is turned off by it all. I also tried Learning Language Arts Through Literature Blue Book, but he got tired of coloring. He did like making the activites, but they didn't seem to be doing anything for him as far as helping him to learn the information. He like the little readers, but was memorizing the stories and not actually learning the words. If I took away the picture or presented he with single words or new sentences he couldn't read the words. Getting him to do any reading type activity is quickly getting to be a struggle. He likes math. We are using Singapore Math Earlybird. I asked him today which he likes better math or reading and he said math because it is easier and useful. I also asked him if he likes working in a workbook or using flashcards, numberboard, letter blocks (ie: manipulatives). He said that he likes the workbooks better (math or letters). He likes writing stuff down on a page. I'm beginning to think that he isn't the major hands on learner that I thought he was, despite the fact that he is an active, athletic child. I am looking at the Pathway Readers because there seems to be a mix of workbook work, activity work, and leveled reading. The few reviews that I have seen really like the program. The other advantage is that it is inexpensive (unfortunately that is a necessity right now). Does any one have any comments about Pathway Readers or any other method to teach my 5yo ds? Thanks Mariann
sorry, I should have proof read my post before posting it. Not enough nap time today and toooooo many kids in the house. Sorry Mariann
Reading Have you tried getting various beginner books from the library? There are literally hundreds to choose from. I hope you have a library close you can utilize. We do not use a formal reading program but check out an extensive amount of books and videos (they even have phonics videos and hooked on phonics, possibly your library does, too) from the library. There is so much variety from fiction to non-fiction, funny stories to science to history and the list goes on. It doesn't cost anything and my kids love it and are learning so much and learning to read at the same time. If you can log in from home into your library system, put any subject (even the keyword, phonics) you want to read about in the keyword search and look for the beginner books. Then you can place them on hold and just pick them up, it saves alot of time. 100 Easy Lessons was also very boring to my kids. If you can find fun books from the library, I found the kids really want to learn to read. Sorry, I don't have any experience with Pathway Readers. Hope this suggestion helps you. Michelle S
Mariann, Your post gives a lot of good information. Your son sounds like he isn't ready to read with ease yet. Five is early for most to read with fluency or ease. Relax a little and try a different approach. If he likes the phonics workbook, use it. (There are lots of inexpensive ones, MCPlaid us under $10.) This will reinforce his letter sounds. I would read to him. My son didn't want anything to do with LLATL or any other reading program (Dd loved it, both can't stand flash cards.) I played some phonics games with him. Like Bingo, and letter blends. And I read to him everyday. Last February he brought me a book and said..."I want to learn to read now Mom." It took two weeks of one on one with those little "Bob Books." Now that he is able, he is happy to work through a more complete reading program. He was almost 7. Now he is reading so much, and he loves it. All my worry for naught. Good luck, Tammy
Thanks Tammy. I need the reassurance. Maybe I'll just back off and try more of a relaxed approach. Also if I do that it would be easier for my 4yo dd to join in. Now that I think about it, most of his knowledge of math comes from his own exploring and asking questions. I've gently lead him with the math, while the reading has been more of a force feeding. I find in his handwriting that when I make him do handwriting worksheets he fusses and doesn't do a very good job, but he will want to write a "story" and ask me to write down words for him to copy to his "story" his writing improves and he quickly learns how to make new letters without fussing. Sounds like my overenthusiasum (sp?) and need for stucture is getting in his way??? (You know it helps to talk things out with someone, because this is the first time that I've questioned MY approach as the problem, not just thinking that I haven't found his learning style or found what clicks for him as far as a curriculum goes). Thanks for the wake up call. I think part of my anxiety is because it is the end of his K year and because of the many family issues this year school has been in a on again/off again cycle. Also my husband cornered me about a month ago and voiced his concern that maybe it would be better to send the kids to school. (He's very much for hsing, but I think he has his anxieties too and no solid knowledge to help ease them) Thank for everything Mariann
Hi Mariann Yes i agree its hard for 5yo to do workbooks! You can teach phonics and reading in a much more hands on (without writing) activity. First, some other nice, colorful readers are by Modern Curriculum Press...They have cvc or phonics based readers. For example *The fat cat sat on the mat*. They have nice pictures, are short and sight words at the end for review.They are also *graded*. In otherwords, they start off with simple short vowels and work their way through to hard blends,digraphs and dipthongs. Also the Bob Books through Level C are great! I'm almost sure that Level C is like the start of 2nd grade. So begin with the first set and work your way through. I also like Modern Curriculum Press phonics..You can use the book as a guide and instead of doing worksheets to enforce the phonics your teaching, use letter tiles. I bought a spelling game at Walmart called Spell Time. It was a very good choice. First its cheap compared to buying something from a teacher supply store. Its a spelling game that comes with multiple colorful lowercase tiles. We use the tiles to create our words and short sentences.(you will need a cheap magnetic set of uppercase letters,which I figured most of us have anyway). In his spare time, he can play with the game. The game comes with cards that have slotted holes in different configurations. So for example for the word car, ONLY the letters that spell car will fit. In the *C* hole only the letter C will fit, in the *a* hole, ONLY the letter a wil fit,etc. Make sense???? Also, use index cards. I write down sight words on the cards and my sons would arrange them in order to form a sentence. Then I ask them why did you pick this word first (because it starts with an uppercase letter and we begin sentences with uppercase letters) and what punctuation do we put at the end. Start off with only *periods* and *question marks*. Write out simple sentences and help him read them. Then decide *is this a telling sentence* or *an asking sentence*. Then let him put the index card that has a *period* or *question mark* at the end of the sentence. Get him to do interactive things, like clap, stomp, snort, jump, fly,sit down, slither, snap, hop or anything else that fits when you want him to listen to a sound or blend in a word. For example, *clap if you hear the long o in these words. Snort like a pig if you hear the short i sound /i/. Same way with the letter tiles. Say a word and have a choice of like 5 letters and let him point to the letter C that makes the /k/ sound. I have huge foam dice that have letters and blends on them for making words and sentences. I also took an egg carton for dozen and half (18) and wrote numbers in the bottom. I used small plastic eggs and wrote with a permanent marker on the egg, and my 4 yo matched up the plastic egg to the number on the carton. I did this with letters one time and blends. YOu can write lowercase letters on the egg and uppercase letters in the carton. Keep doing things to help him get control over his motor skills. Let me know if you need a list of ideas for that Remember Mariann most boys do well at math and lag behind their counterpart, girls, when it comes to reading. Boys are different and I have had to do all of the above and more for my 3 boys! But I PROMISE you, stick with something consistent, with lots of praise and it will pay off! Ok, Blah, Blah, Blah........longwinded Tina here again! I start rambling and can't quit when it comes to ideas for this age! Blessings Tina
I agree with the others; there's no reason for a formal reading program yet. Just be sure to READ, READ, READ to him EVERY DAY. Try to find books with lots of rhyme and repetition. Christelow's "Five Little Monkey" books are great, or "Jump Frog Jump", "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?", "Caps for Sale", Anita Lobel's "The Rose in my Garden", "Better Not Get Wet, Jesse Bear", or any of the repetitve books by Shirley Neitzel. Also, schedule a "silent reading" time where he is to be sitting and "reading" books on his own. My 4YO will do this up to a half-hour, but some children will only go for five minutes, and that's OK. (Though I must admit I don't do it with him daily. My older ones still do it daily, though!) I would guess to try about 15 minutes at first. The goal is to get your son to WANT to read. With a lot of repetition, he will find out that he can "read" them on his own, and will start recognizing some words. Point out other reading he does daily...the STOP sign, perhaps PEPSI or the name of grocery stores. Make a big deal of it...WOW!!! You can read what that sign says!!! Someone suggested to me once that I actually make a "book" with pictures of some of those signs on them. I also take a grocery list shopping, and my youngest will help cross off the words on the list. "OK, here's the peanut butter. Peanut butter starts with "p". Can you find the word with the "p" and mark it off?" or "What's next on my list? Oh, that says milk with the "m". Here it is! And look! There's the "m" and the word "milk" just like on my paper!"
reading Mariann, Some one recomended a story books called "Now I'm reading" By Nora Gaydos. I haven't used them yet but I am planning on using them soon. they are highly recommended by Parents and kids seem to love them.they come in series with easy words for kids to read and focus on phonics ex.animal antics covers short vowel sound for level 1 readers and Amazing animals highlight long vowels sound for level 2 readers plus you don't have to buy them you should find them easily at your local library best of luck Randa
Early Reading There's always starfall.com where you can order a set of 15 little books VERY CHEAPLY. There's a workbook, but it's sooooo easy and simply reinforces the sounds learned in each of the books. At their website, they also have interactive games for each of the books which also reinforces the new sound learned. I highly recommend it, although you may want to wait a while to use it. Kathe
Tana Hoban has several books with photos of signs in them... bet your son can read just about all of them.
