I've talked a lot about the materials that we use for our reading and writing, but I've never broken it down into what we actually do. Since reading and writing is our main focus right now (we're learning and memorizing all the building blocks we are going to need for later learning in this grammar stage, according to the classical model of schooling) I thought I should show you all exactly how we do it!
First, we are learning the phonograms and spelling words in
The Writing Road to Reading. We have currently learned
the first 45 phonograms and the first 32 spelling words. Each week we add four new words. I write the phonograms and words on 3x5 cards and put them into our
Memorization Box (that we also use for Bible verses). So each day, I pull out the cards that are behind that day in the box and ask Trevor to write those words (or phonograms) from memory in his writing notebook. This is a great activity for him, because it makes him sound out each sound in the word and then think of what letter or combination of letters makes that sound. This is very challenging, but it is great to see him work through each word and he is getting better and better by the day!
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| A page from Trevor's writing notebook where he writes the words I speak to him from the cards in our memorization box. You can see we were having a little trouble with the letter 'y' that day =) |
Next, we turn to the back half of his writing notebook where I have written all the spelling words that he has (officially) learned so far. I write them with the notations recommended in
The Writing Road to Reading
. Trevor starts from the beginning of the list and reads through each word. This only takes a minute because he practices these words each day. It is also easier to read these words because the notations help him remember if there is a specific rule needed for the word or which sound a particular letter makes (if it's a letter that can make multiple sounds).
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| One of the pages of words that I have written in Trevor's writing notebook that he reads through each day. Notice the notations that help him learn and remember why the words are pronounced they way they are. |
After that we go to the
McGuffey Primer
. I just use the free public domain version and print out the page we are using each day. You can use McGuffey primers and readers to teach phonics or sight-words, or however you want, but we use it purely as a reader. We have made it through 10 lessons so far (we just stared this part recently) and to my surprise, Trevor has had no problem sounding out the words. When I first looked at it, I thought that it would quickly surpass Trevor's abilities, but instead his abilities have just increased along with it! After he reads it, I ask him a question or two for comprehension. Comprehension usually isn't a 3 year old boy's strong suit, but I figure at least it will be teaching him that he
should be paying attention to what he reads =)
After he reads from the primer, he does copywork from the lesson. I have created an e-book full of copywork to go along with the primer (one page of copywork for each lesson in the primer), so I print out the copywork page on the back of the lesson I printed out. If you use McGuffey's Primer or are just looking for some good copywork for early writers, check it out
here! Trevor simply copies usually about 2 short sentences and that's it! We talk about anything interesting like punctuation or capitalization or whatever. It's such a simple act, but it really does wonders for handwriting and is a great way to passively teach grammar.
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| A page from my copywork e-book that corresponded with the McGuffey's Primer lesson he read that day. |
To sum it up:
- Written Review - write from memory the day's words in the memory box
- Oral Review - read the list of current and previously learned spelling words
- McGuffey Primer - read the lesson, ask questions for comprehension
- Copywork - complete a copywork page for the McGuffey's Primer lesson
So that's it =) Like I said, reading and writing is the most important thing for us right now, so we try to work on this every day. It really doesn't take much time (except when Trevor loses focus and wants to talk about something random in between each letter he writes on his copywork =) I am thoroughly impressed at how well Trevor is reading and writing for a 3 year old and think that these few simple steps each day is totally worth it!
What have you found works best for you for teaching your children to read?
Happy Reading and Writing!
. Each chapter is a story about the Miller family that illustrates a particular Proverb. So far I really like the book. The stories are thought provoking, but short and simple. They are a bit over Trevor's ability to thoroughly understand, but he asks questions as I read and it brings up many good things to talk about.
I recently received 
