1st - 2nd grade reading?

Lisa - posted on 05/25/2010

We are using My Father's World and just finishing up first grade. My older two children were taught to read using Abeka and when my 1st grader was struggling this year I pulled out the Handbook for Reading from Abeka - an indispensable tool! We also have the matching flashcards so we would use those for extra review. We also picked up some Sight Words workbooks from the bookstore as I didn't think we were touching on those enough. After lots of prayer and practice, she is finishing up first grade as a much-improved reader! Our library organizes easy reader books by levels and she has read almost every level 1 book! She takes 5 or so to bed with her each night and in the morning excitedly retells them to me. So my advice is to be patient and make practicing fun. I truly believe reading is something that "just clicks" and then they get it. Play games with flashcards, make some fun file folder games...

Karen - posted on 05/25/2010

The truth is... the best way to improve in reading (after you know all the sounds) is simply to read!! whatever they want to read!! My oldest was struggling with K-1st readers, but then picked up his normal Bible (ESV) and just read it with little difficulty. It is amazing! So, when we started MFW 1st, he didn't complain because it was different than he used before, and it was so much Bible!

It is great that he is doing better... just keep reading!! :-) I think that you will like the MFW curriculum. We do, anyway!

Heather - posted on 05/24/2010

Thanks Karen! My boy loves Bible stories!!! That's the easiest way for me to get him to make an effort at reading! We are planning on using MFW, but my husband doesn't want him using the 1st grade material because he will be in 2nd grade... my other son will be using the MFWK... We are working through a kids Bible now, it's helping a ton!

Karen - posted on 05/23/2010

My oldest son struggled with reading. We did MFW 1st grade when my daughter was in first and he was in 2nd. They did it together... He did well, especially since the reader is Bible stories, which he loves!

Anna - posted on 05/09/2010

I have helped remedy reading skills by going through A Beka's Handbook for Reading (very easy to get used). It has all the building blocks to phoneticly sound out practicly anything. I tell each of my children that when they finish it they will have all the tools they need to read their Bible (KJV). I think the A Beka phonics and readers give children a hunger for reading. My daughter that had a rough start (reading by sight words) and my reluctant reader (son) all sneak off to read whenever they can, now. It might not be on the regular "school schedule" of when they are "suposed" to be good at it, because I don't push them hard, but I think the right teaching tools are what they need. (You don't build a house without the right tools.) Its sticking with it, giving them the pieces of new words, and not letting mis-pronuciations slip by that help them build their skills.

Heather - posted on 05/04/2010

We are making great progress!!! I have been reading with him each day from a childrens Bible, and his reading skills have already advanced so far!!! It's amazing. Praise God!

Cindy - posted on 04/29/2010

I took my son to the doctor and they found an auditory progressing disability and they gave me suggestions on how to work with him, instead of treating it like a disability. Hooked on Phonics is great as well as phonics tiles.

Heather - posted on 04/26/2010

Thanks Cheryl! I am still looking around for something. Right now we are reading a kids Bible together. He really wants to be able to read the Bible on his own, so I have found that is the most encouraging to him! I do want to get something with a workbook... I really think that would help.

Cheryl - posted on 04/26/2010

A friend of mine used Pathway Readers and workbooks to catch her son up. He liked them because the stories used the same kids all the time, through each book so he was familiar with the characters. And she liked the workbooks because it made sure he was understanding what he was reading.

I like the Christian Liberty Press' 4 readers they recommend for the K level. They are very nice, based on families going to church and helping each other, etc. There is also a workbook if you wanted to use it.

Heather - posted on 04/24/2010

Thanks Erin! It's so funny that you mentioned math, because my son is GREAT at math! He blows people away with his math skills, unless it's story problems that he has to read himself... because he can't read them... but if you read them to him, he gets it right away!

Gene & Erin - posted on 04/23/2010

Easy books will boost his self confidence. We have two boys finishing up 2nd grade. One is a great reader the other is getting there. Maturity is also an issue. We also had eye exams to rule that out.

The one who doesn't read as well is great at math and the one who reads well has to work harder at math and science. Strenghs and weaknesses . . .

And some kids just don't "get it" until later (like age 9).

Hang in there, Mom!