I homeschool and am just starting to teach my 3rd child how to read. This was my experience with the first 2: We started maybe age 3. I tell them the sounds of the letters rather than the names of the letters. We play I spy, saying, find me the thing (out of maybe 3 items in front of them) that begins with… (make the sound). When I read simple books to them or we look at a word, I will show them how each letter sounds to make the word. And I kind of force it, even when the word is odd or not totally phonetic. The kids went through stages where they’d first understand that words are made of symbols that represent sounds, then remember the sounds of the letters, then kind of painstakingly sound letters out to read the word (for quite a while), then very suddenly just start reading all words, even large ones, fluently like adults. My first son got to this stage very early, right before turning 4. My second was maybe 5. I’m curious if the 3rd is the same. I think they’re all predisposed to be good readers, so I’m not sure it would be the same with everyone. It was fascinating to watch!
Another comment, related to your desire to start a school. If you have not seen it, make sure to find and watch a copy of the movie "A Touch of Greatness." If every teacher brought the level of passion and innovative ideas into teaching that is the subject of this movie, we would have a very different world.
I have taught many children's Sunday School lessons. Most are in the 3rd to 5th grade (US 8-11 years). It has always been my practice to have them read directly from whatever bible translation they have or a good modern translation. They struggle; they get frustrated- almost to the point of tears. Then, when the whole class is good and miserable about reading out of the bible, I point out that all writing has a grade level attached to it. For instance, the newspaper is grade 8. I then point out that the bible checks out at college level, so it is perfectly ok for it to be difficult for them. I also praise them for how well they did with such advanced reading. Interestingly, from that point forward, their ability to read the bible universally improves, including pronunciation of the exotic place names and character names.
I homeschool and am just starting to teach my 3rd child how to read. This was my experience with the first 2: We started maybe age 3. I tell them the sounds of the letters rather than the names of the letters. We play I spy, saying, find me the thing (out of maybe 3 items in front of them) that begins with… (make the sound). When I read simple books to them or we look at a word, I will show them how each letter sounds to make the word. And I kind of force it, even when the word is odd or not totally phonetic. The kids went through stages where they’d first understand that words are made of symbols that represent sounds, then remember the sounds of the letters, then kind of painstakingly sound letters out to read the word (for quite a while), then very suddenly just start reading all words, even large ones, fluently like adults. My first son got to this stage very early, right before turning 4. My second was maybe 5. I’m curious if the 3rd is the same. I think they’re all predisposed to be good readers, so I’m not sure it would be the same with everyone. It was fascinating to watch!
Another comment, related to your desire to start a school. If you have not seen it, make sure to find and watch a copy of the movie "A Touch of Greatness." If every teacher brought the level of passion and innovative ideas into teaching that is the subject of this movie, we would have a very different world.
This is off topic, but related.
I have taught many children's Sunday School lessons. Most are in the 3rd to 5th grade (US 8-11 years). It has always been my practice to have them read directly from whatever bible translation they have or a good modern translation. They struggle; they get frustrated- almost to the point of tears. Then, when the whole class is good and miserable about reading out of the bible, I point out that all writing has a grade level attached to it. For instance, the newspaper is grade 8. I then point out that the bible checks out at college level, so it is perfectly ok for it to be difficult for them. I also praise them for how well they did with such advanced reading. Interestingly, from that point forward, their ability to read the bible universally improves, including pronunciation of the exotic place names and character names.
Perception is king.