Teaching Your Kid to Read for Free

I get a lot of wonderful emails with questions about how to teach kids how to read. I am glad to be a considered an expert in the field, but...it is just as scary to me as it is for you. I am so afraid I am going to permanently damage my kids. And I hate feeling the pressure to make them to learn to read because our friend's 8 month old baby reads on a 5th grade level. So here is my advice and here is what we are currently doing...

My first piece of advice is to please stop listening to the "experts" about all the "right" ways to teach reading. Just go with your gut, follow your child, and do it.

My kids are learning to read because it is what they want to do. They are really into it. If they weren't, I would be waiting until they are ready. Our home has always been a literacy rich environment so I think that their reading interest is just a natural part of the rhythm of our home. Just like potty training, your kid isn't going to learn to read until they are really ready. It really is important, though, to read to your kids all the time.

You don't need expensive reading programs to teach your kid to read. In fact, you can find complete programs that are free on the internet. And forget about those flashcards! Your kids aren't cramming for a final exam! Here are some free alternatives for teaching your kid to read...

For our readers, we are using Animal Antics by Scholastic. I got this 20 book set at Barnes & Noble. This set is part of a series of little sets. We love these books! If you don't like the BOB books, this is a fun alternative.

If you don't want to buy readers, we like the McGuffey Readers from the late 1800-early 1900's. You can find them in GoogleBooks. You can also let your kid make their own little readers. There are also readers all over the internet that you can download.

Whenever we buy games or toys, we try to buy ones that teach the alphabet, phonics, or reading skills. Little Snail has recently had fun with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ABC Game with Sound (bought at WalMart). But, if you really want your kid to learn, then have them make their own alphabet games. She has also really benefited from watching Leapfrog's Letter Factory DVD. If you want to speed up the letter-sound connection...you might like this DVD.

If you don't want to buy the DVD, we like these videos from YouTube that teach letter sounds:

Letter Sounds by Barbara Milne (is Little Snail's favorite...please note that I am aware that some experts discourage teaching an associated word with a letter sound (a-apple, etc). Please see my above advice about ignoring expert opinion. My kid likes this video and I believe I am not harming her in any way)

Here is another video we like:

The Snails have been playing games at Reading Eggs. If you don't want to pay for a membership (we are still on the free trial), I suggest PBS' Kids Island. It is similar to Reading Eggs and is free.

There are a ton of reading programs and kits that you can buy (Rocket Phonics, Hooked on Phonics, Your Baby Can Read, etc). There are also complete reading programs that are on the internet. We really like:

Michigan's Family Fundamentals PreK-3 Program

Oregon's Big Ideas in Beginning Reading

and

Free Reading's Program

We also love this complete free curriculum: Progressive Phonics. 

We LOVE Reading is Fundamental and Starfall.

You can also find a lot of resources to make your own reading games. We like:

PBS Go Anywhere Games

The most complete list of reading activities in the world! (from the UK's Coxhoe Primary School) The online big book list is fun!

If you love worksheets, need something for workboxes, and are teaching sight words, here is a complete little program:

More Working with Words by Carls Corner

I am working on making some reading games for The Snails (Go Fish!, Word Swat, etc) and I will share those with you when they are ready.

Whatever you do, remember this:

Go with your gut. Wait until your kid is ready. Don't spend money on stuff you can get for free.