At what age should I begin to teach my child how to read with a phonics program? At what age or grade level can I start teaching my child with the Right Track Reading Lessons program?
Although there are individual differences, most children are ready for and benefit from direct systematic phonics instruction starting at the kindergarten level, around age 5. The research shows that direct systematic phonics instruction had significant and substantial effect in kindergarten and first grade and systematic phonics programs should be implemented at these age and grade levels.
You can begin the Right Track Reading Lessons program with most 5 years olds. The step-by-step format directly teaches all necessary skills in a systematic manner. Just begin the lessons and adapt the speed of progress to meet your individual child. Children will progress at different rates. Often younger children will progress slower because they need a little more time to learn the basics of letter formation. It is not a race. The lessons do not have to be completed in one session. However be sure to complete each lesson before moving on the next. The goal is to effectively teach your child to read, not to finish the program of study in a specific time period.
Right Track Reading Lessons starts with some pre-reading phonemic awareness and initial alphabetic awareness activities that can begin at the preschool level. The bulk of the program is the direct systematic instruction of the complete phonetic code and all necessary subskills for proficient reading. This direct systematic phonics instruction should begin at the kindergarten level (around 5 years old). The lessons start with the simple basic sounds and emphasize blending, tracking and phonemic awareness skills. The systematic presentation allows the child time to learn, master and practice skills. As the child’s skills develop additional sounds and complexities are added. Writing words/spelling is a part of the program. The later lessons include skills in reading multisyllable words that benefit many 2nd and 3rd graders. I usually do not teach the multisyllable section (lesson 91-102) to 5 & 6 year olds and instead wait to do these sections at 2nd grade and higher levels. A helpful section on spelling is included at the end.
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Additional information, articles and resources on teaching students to read proficiently is located on the Free Reading Information page of the Right Track Reading website.
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This information was written by Miscese Gagen a mother with a passion for teaching children to read proficiently by using effective methods. She is also a successful reading tutor and author of the reading instructional programs Right Track Reading Lessons and Back on the Right Track Reading Lessons. The purpose of this information is to empower parents and teachers with information on teaching children how to read. We CAN improve reading proficiency, one student at a time! More information is located at www.righttrackreading.com ~ Copyright 2005-2007 Miscese R. Gagen