Tutor a 5 year old to read?

Question

My friend’s child is in kindergarten, but the school only offers half-day programs.

She is concerned about his reading, and work with him at home, but would like additional help.
He has sight words, and can say each sound, but not put them together. (ruh-…-ah-…-t) for “rat.”
He gets books sent home to read, but cannot read the books yet.

What are some ways to help him?

Answer 1

Instructions
STEP 1: Read! Set aside time every day to read with your child whether your child is 5 years old or 15. Read to your child and have your child read to you. Read the same favorite book over again. Point out repeated phrases or words that rhyme and have the same letter patterns. Listen to books on tape. Have books available for your child at all times.

STEP 2: Point out words when you are out and about. Make up car games such as asking your child to find the word "stop" as many times as possible. Look for words starting with "br" or "sh" while shopping in the grocery store. Find a word and think of as many words or made-up words that rhyme with it. Read billboards, bumper stickers - anything with printed words is fair game for reading.

STEP 3: Show your child the relationships between words. Make lists of words that have the same beginning, ending or vowel combinations. When you child is spelling or reading and has difficulty with a word, refer to the list. Say things like, "That word looks a lot like 'bat.' Try putting a 'c' where the 'b' is;" or, "How do you spell 'duck'? What sound does 'truck' start with?"

STEP 4: Teach letter sounds. Make the sound that is associated with a letter. Play guessing games where you make the sound and your child names the letter or letter combinations. For example, "rrrr" = r; "guh" = g. Say simple words, such as "big," and have your child guess the vowel sound in or the beginning or ending of the word. When your child has a problem reading or spelling a word, help your child sound it out or remind your child to sound out the word. Say things like, "What sound starts the word? OK, write that letter;" or, "What letter starts the word? What sound does that letter make?"

STEP 5: Look for small words inside bigger words. The word "fantastic" has two small words, "fan" and "tic" in it. Ask your child to find small words, pronounce them and then add the other letter sounds to make the big word.

Tips & Warnings
Teach your child the letters of the alphabet, in both capital and lower cases, as soon as your child can talk and manipulate letter toys.
Buy letter stamps or stickers, markers or paints, and letter sponges to add variation to your reading practice and to make it fun.
Making practice into a game will be more fun for your child and will help your child retain the lesson more easily.
Know when to give your child a break. Your child knows reading is difficult, and spending every minute practicing will frustrate and upset your child.

Answer 2

Where I am from, Preschool and Kindergarden are only offered an half day schedules as well. My son has gone through the system in this manner and who can expect a 5 year old to read. You need to focus on the pictures and have the child associate the pictures with the names. With that being said, I am not going to go into any other details about a 5 year old being able to read, because I don't know of any but my son is now in grade 3 and he reads very well. He is also a great student when it come to spelling. Your friends child is not stupid or incompetant in any way or level. Children will also learn at their own level.
Keep reading to the child, and associating the pictures with the words will go a long way. You just tell her to be patient and it will all fall into place. No worries.
It doesn't hurt though to try and encourage the issue so if she wants to then go for Phonics as they have boks and games that make learning fun. There are books that can be purchased through book order forms such as "I can spell 3 letter words!" or even " Spelling with 4 letters" and so on. Just be sure that learning is fun and not to get upset at the child as this will only cause frustration and may turn the child off to learning.

Answer 3

Read to him all the time, and point to the words as you say them.

Give him an environment that will encourage literacy development- clipboards, all types of writing materials, pencil sharpeners, a dry erase board and markers, fancy stationary and envelopes, trips to the library, etc..

Keep a daily journal for him (or encourage the teacher to do this), where the child tells you about his day and you write it down. This is a great time for him to see that the words mean something important, and they can be used to remember things. Afterwards, read it back to him. Eventually he might ask to write.

Don't use flashcards or worksheets. These dont work. Theres a book out called "Einstein never used flashcards"

Children this age are preoperational thinkers. This means that they cant do logical processes yet, which means he really has no clue that ruh ah t and rat are connected in any way. He's just not ready for reading yet.

In fact, most children are not ready for reading until they are about 7 years old, when their brains are developed enough to do those logical processes. That is why originally formal schooling would start at that age. But these days, development is being completely ignored because our schools are run by politicians and lawyers, instead of professionals in our field (ECE). Ridiculous. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Answer 4

I had encyclopedias at the time, but now I would just put up the alphabet on the wall (like in school). When my son asked how to spell something (write) at age 3 I would ask him to sound it out. C A R = K or C, it's a C and sing the alphabet and when you get to C that's what it looks like to write it. And so on
OOPS, I guess that is more writing than reading, but you can't learn 1 without the other can you?

Answer 5

First, the previous poster means well. But education classes and real world experiences are very different. She isn't wrong, but the reality is - Kindergartners can and do learn to read. And the truth is - they are expected to (fortunately or not- depending on your P.O.V.) But, do keep in mind, that every child DOES learn at a different pace, so don't stress about it and keep it fun.

So...
1. I swear by "Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons." It maps out exactly what to say & do, you can do each lesson in 15-20 min., and IT WORKS. My son is having to be moved to another classroom for reading because he outreads everyone else in his K class. It starts basic and builds. The first group of lessons is about putting sounds together.

http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Child-Read-Lessons/dp/0671631985

2. Buy a pocket chart and create a word wall (or just use sticky notes on a wall). Go to a teacher store and get a poster of 100 high frequency words. Choose 3 of the easiest, keep them up until they are mastered, then add 1-2 until mastered.

3. Check out www.starfall.com

4. and finally - I LOVE the LeapFrog movies: Letter Factory, Talking Words, Talking Words 2, and Storybook Factory. I've gotten mine at Target or Costco.


Good Luck

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

I have a little brother who is like that! U have to member he is only 5 YEARS OLD give him some time he will get it! But try going over the alphabet with a lot and have him say words over and over he'll get it!!! Good luck to your friend!:):):):):):):):!!

Answer 8

My kids loved "Bob Books" and learned to read from them. They learnt the basics of phonics from kintergarten. My 1st grade daughter is sitting with me as I type this and she insists that I mention "They are fun!".

Answer 9

Try making a game out of it. Write out every letter on different pieces of paper, spread them out, and ask him to find a letter. Then ask him to spell words he knows, sounding them out as he goes.

Answer 10

come up with a motion for CVC one sylable words. say the three sounds say it faster and make the motion faster...

practice sounds of all of the letter often. say words with begining and middle sounds to listen for. try starfall and a set of headphones

use sticky notes to show one letter change to change just one sound of a word to make it a new word. practice the word family.

have him sound out made up words as often as possible to test him and so he isnt just memorizing it. zat nan dap