First reading lessons

In an earlier post, I mentioned that I was always on the lookout for signs that my boys were ready for reading lessons. When they began to recognize dramatic sounds like “S” and plosive sounds like “T,” “B,” and “P,” I knew it was time to start phonics lessons.

Step 1: Recognize the Sounds

The initial lessons focused solely on sounds, not reading. I spent all day helping them match sounds to letters. We practiced sounds like “Ah,” “Buh,” “Cuh,” and “Duh.” Periodically, I would ask, “Boys, what is the sound of ‘A’?” or “Boys, look at the c-c-cat! What letter makes the sound ‘Cuh’?” I avoided confusing them with the different sounds a letter can make, focusing instead on committing the primary sounds to memory. We spent weeks on this foundational step.

Step 2: Join the Sounds to Make Simple Words

Once they could reliably match sounds to letters, we began forming simple words. Using wooden alphabet toys, we played a game of creating sounds with letters, starting with words like “cat,” “ball,” “dog,” and “egg.” For fun, we also threw random letters together to pronounce nonsensical words like “Yeplajugjaa” and “Peqpqpbjnia.” Though entertaining, this game was short-lived as it quickly became chaotic.

Step 3: Introduce Multi-Syllable Words

Next, I introduced multi-syllable words like “helicopter,” “chicken,” and “hamburger.” Dinosaur names such as “Tyrannosaurus” and “Pterodactyl” were particularly fun. I believe no word is too difficult for children; they simply need to become familiar with it.

Step 4: Guide the Child to Read Words in Books

Each night, we read a book before bed. Initially, they passively listened. Now, they help pronounce simple words. Sometimes, I ask, “Michael, what’s this word?” I also make intentional mistakes to see their reactions, pointing to a word like “whale” and saying “pail” instead. They eagerly correct me. Over time, they began reading more words, then sentences, and eventually pages. While they often struggled and made repeated mistakes, I reminded myself that their brains are still developing and that these errors are part of the learning process. Patience is crucial during this stage.

Step 5: Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labor

Around the age of five, my boys began picking up books and reading them aloud independently. The first book they read cover to cover was “The Gruffalo.” Watching them achieve this milestone was incredibly satisfying. However, this is just the beginning. My current goal is to instill a habit of reading in them. While they can read, they still prefer me to read to them, likely because reading is more tiring for them. I aim to spark their curiosity, encouraging them to turn to books for answers. In future posts, I will share how I curate their reading materials and build their library.