I was given a free copy of The Reading Lesson and I was paid for my time. However, paid for my time does not mean paid off. ALL opinions are my own and for sure I will always tell you what is on my mind. Your experience may vary. When I do accept a review, it’s because I am excited to tell you about it. Read my full disclosure here.
Teaching all of my boys to read is one of the most memorable and rewarding parts about homeschooling. However, it was also one of the most intimidating aspects of homeschooling.
Through my experience in teaching my sons to read, I learned a lot about how to teach reading.
20 Easy Peazy Steps for Teaching Homeschooled Kids Reading
So I was stoked when I got The Reading Lesson to review because I believe you can teach your homeschooled child how to read in 20 easy lessons.
It’s all the extra fluff added to a reading program that makes teaching reading complicated. When a reading program is direct, consistent and simple it has far reaching effects.
What makes this process so mysterious for educators that have not embarked on the reading journey yet or that may be struggling in the middle of it is that fluff things like reading comprehension, teaching letter names and busy work are folded into a reading program.
What? You mean you don’t have to teach the letter names to teach reading. More on that in a minute.
What happens is that a new reading teacher thinks that reading has to be so much more complex than simply teaching a sound, showing how to blend each sound and then repeating the word.
However, that is just the beauty of a simple reading curriculum like The Reading Lesson.
Look at some of these features that you’ll love.
■Focus is on the sounds, not learning the ABCs.
■A picture is associated with sounds, which makes it’s easier to associate sounds with a word image.
■Words are part of each lessons.
Why is this important? Immediately, your child understands the value of reading because he is rewarded instantly for his efforts.
We don’t learn to read to learn sounds, which make no sense. We learn to read for pleasure and to find out what we want to know and that means learning words.
Reading comprehension is naturally folded into learning to read instead of being taught as a separate subject that makes no sense to a bright child.
■Teacher assisted program.
Why do I list this as a key benefit? Because teaching reading is an interactive process and one where your child needs you to model reading attack skills.
In today’s world, many programs tout independent learning as if it’s the ultimate goal of our education. Independent learning is a valuable skill, but it is the parent who provides a rich learning environment.
■There is NO fluff.
The author’s words are more gracious than I would be especially after teaching my sons through various levels of reading. She says, “Most learning is hard. The common hype that learning has to be fun is just that – hype. All real learning requires concentrated effort.”
This very insightful comment goes back to what I said earlier that there is no need to learn the ABCs before you teach your child to read.
Big Difference Between Teaching A Child to Read and Comprehension Skills
Sure, your child eventually needs to know the names of the letters, but it’s the sound the letter stands for that advances them to reading earlier.
Too, all the overly abundant activities focusing on letter names of the week is fun and builds fine motor activities, but they are not needed for a child to associate a letter with a sound.
This kind of work can be fluff and very annoying to a first time teacher who thinks these activities are necessary to teach beginning reading.
Once I realized that my sons didn’t need to know the letter names, it had me rethinking my letter of the week activities, which is a really slow way to teach reading.
If your goal is letter recognition that is one thing. If your goal is to teach reading right away, there is no need to go that slow.
With my second son, I focused on letter activities, but taught reading much quicker realizing that I could teach him several consonants and a vowel at one time.
Too, I learned all those activities that we think needs to be associated with reading could have a negative effect on a lifelong reader.
Teach Your Homeschooled Child How to Read in 20 Easy Lessons
Worksheet activities, book reports and extracurricular activities can morph into busywork that chokes out straight reading time for pleasure. Look at my post What Makes Reading Painful for Homeschooled Kids.
I so appreciate that The Reading Lesson doesn’t add to the learning to read myth that coloring and worksheets are needed in order to learn how to read.
■ Interactive content through the CD.
Something else I learned that was valuable to encouraging a budding reader was allowing them to have more time to explore letter sounds.
With your guidance while your child uses the CD, letter sounds are reinforced.
Included with The Reading Lessonis a CD with simple but visually appealing letter cards to help your child remember the sound along with simple games.
The Reading Lesson is a great example of how simple teaching reading should be.
It not only has several pages of instruction to help you, the reading teacher, but it gives page after page of teaching tip to help you make the most of your time with your new reader.
I think you’ll love the simplicity of this program.
Product Name: The Reading Lesson
Company Name: Mountcastle Company
Grades: For ages 4 to 8 and struggling readers too.
Price: The Reading Lesson Book, CD, Plush Toy (plus bonus gift) $49.00
Format: Both a physical book and e-book are offered.
Hugs and love ya,
All product information is correct and accurate as of the date of this review.
