I prefer not to push the children to read quickily, but give them the neccessary foundation by teaching them the phonograms, starting them with spelling, they then spell their ways to writing, and reading is just the overflow of their spelling ability. You may check out this: http://joymontessori.org/2007/06/27/what-are-phonograms/

Hi Leah, thanks for the link and I will check it out soon. Like you, I too, prefer not to push reading. As my child is young, I’m spending time (soon that luxury will be gone) to see how she is developing. And because I’m not a flashcard person and believe in observing how my child learn and then ‘smuggling’ skills to her, I’m still observing now but I’m somehow enjoying how her own reading ability is developing. Spelling comes first, do you mean? I have to go think about that but it is an interesting way of looking at it. Thanks for your insights.

Take care.

Like you, I’m not very grounded in phonics – guess it’s because we were not taught in school. However, having witnessed for myself how a child can read almost anything (although sometimes without understanding), I know now how phonics can help a person self-read. Because of this, I have been trying out a lot of phonics program and I want to use one that I think will not only teach reading but spelling and creativity, all in one. I will share more on this later when I have tried out my method.

Thanks for sharing, Mel!

It’s the same in school, when teachers teach different techniques, be it reading, caluclating, remembering, etc and let the children adopt the method that works best for them. It is when we close the doors to different approaches and insist that children learn a certain way that really kill the joy and understanding to learning.

Thanks for highlighting the difference in which we learn. It is a very good point to remember.

As for your sore point about getting bored in school, it actually hasn’t occured to me! I’m an educator and I’m constantly thinking about how children can be given different tasks to realise their full potential or to elevate their learning based on what they already know. Just don’t teach ‘textbooks’ to Cairo, let her learn what is around her.

Great to hear your thoughhts and ideas!

After that, her reading ability improved tremendously, she can make up and break down words even she may not understand some of the meanings that are too deep. But yes, combination of both is fantastic.

He is in a carpentry program. He helped build his first house this past year. He does math all the time there, but it all makes sense since it is applicable to the skill. Give him the same math in a book/seat setting and he gets lost. This used to frustrate me, who is very detail directed. Now I understand the need to allow him to be whom God created him to be and how he was created to learn. He was the same with reading. Whole picture… He reads very well just didn’t get there by the same route I did.