Backdraft #10: Learning to Read

Drafted on February 13, 2006

With the passing of each month, I have realized that my son will not learn how to read in kindergarten (half-day) unless I teach him. As sweet as the teacher is, and great as the school is, with only 2 teaching hours a day (figure in snack and recess and transition times, and not even disruptions) and 17 students, Joel's teacher cannot provide what he needs – focused one on one time.

I am fortunate to be surrounded by the greatest home schooling mothers in the world. My friend, Katie, gave me a book called Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons a little over a year ago. I misplaced it. It took me too long to give up on my search and buy a new one. However, I did it and Joel has worked his way through to Lesson 17.

This book is FABULOUS! I had a handed-down phonics program. We tried it, and it was great. However, it was overwhelming to me to break out the video and the game pieces and the posters and, I never became consistent with it. I have found success in this book because it is just that – one book! I needed few mountains to overcome in order to help Joel. Each lesson takes only 15 to 20 minutes. We have even done a couple of lessons in one day because he is so jazzed about learning new things and the success he has had.

Joel loves this book. He can hardly wait until the next lesson. He can't wait to learn a new sound or see how many new words he'll get to work through. He is giddy with excitement. I let him dig through it recently and it was almost like Christmas morning – “Oooh, I get this letter and then that one and then that ONE!!!”

Yep, this is definitely a book I give very high marks.