Has anyone tried the Hooked on Phonics series? I am thinking of getting it for Zae. She is in Kindergarten, and something just isn't clicking. She will look at a letter and sometimes get the sound right, but other times she will make the sound she thinks it should be (like in relation to the picture, or something) Even when we sound out a word together, the word she come up with when she 'puts it together' doesn't always correlate with what we had just sounded out. For example, this morning we were sounding out the word: bear. B-ea-r. I helped her sound out each part, and then I said 'put it together'. She said: 'Swing'. Because in the picture, the bear was sitting on a little boys lap who was swinging.
Also, the books she brings home do mostly repetitive word, so you can 'see' and somewhat memorize what a word looks like. Well, the bear book we read had about 8 pages. Each page said, 'My bear can ______'. Each time we would go to a new page, she would try to say something else for the repeated words. Like 'me' or 'we' for 'my'. In some ways it seemed like she 'disconnected' from the whole thing, like only part of her was paying attention. She would repeat what I said, or repeat the sound. And then either say the word wrong (like b-e-a-r = swing) or she wouldn't 'remember' even 7 pages later that the first 3 words were always: 'My bear can...'
I am not sure how things are going at her school, and I don't even know where a child should be in reading...6 months after starting Kindergarten (she also took preschool, and I often felt the same way when I tried working with her, and I didn't feel there was any progress.) So, am I just expecting too much? Am I not doing enough? Are the teachers not doing enough? I know there is a lot more I could work on with her, and I DO want to find a positive and fun way to help her.
I mentioned the school. I am not sure her teachers background, how long she has been a teacher, etc. Well, a week or so she had a baby, so she isn't even at the school right now. I don't know if her current teacher is even a certified teacher. I am actually considering changing schools next year, because their current school goes through teachers like hot cakes. Jakob's teacher last year was fired about 6 weeks before school ended. About 3 weeks ago the 5th grade teacher was fired. Something must have happened to the 3rd grade teacher, because Jakob's 1st grade teacher (whom I DO like) is teaching him this year, in 3rd grade.
But here is the dilemma. I am friends with the owner of the school. She is a very nice person. Her grandson is my son's best friend. He comes to our scout group, and everything. I do not want to create any rifts there. I just want to assure that my children are getting the best education possible. Yes, I need to do much better on my end, working with them, and creating a positive environment at home, for learning. (I guess I can't fire myself, so I just better step up to the plate, and 'git R dun')
4 comments:
My little Rilyn is in first grade and she can read most of the sight words (google sight words and you should get a pretty lengthy list, (IE) the, it, there, my, see, brown, green, etc..) And after a slow start, she is actually reading very well now (but still goes slowly).
The sight words she will have to primarily memorize. Go through those with her *every* day. And yes, I would go to a school supply store and get a couple of workbooks on reading/how to teach it.
Hooked on Phonics is a great program, but very $$$. But it might be worth it. Because reading is the MOST important subject at that age. Maybe check ebay?
And yes, you need to go into the school and talk to them. Your cute little Zae is slipping through the cracks (probably due to having a substitue).
Read with her every day. There are some great little sight word books you can get through the book orders. It is like $15 for 30 books or something like that.
And if I were you, I would put your kids in for the Lottery to go to Franklin. It is an EXCELLENT school. There is no way they would let your little Zae slip through the cracks there. And they bus the kids too.
Sending you and Zae (((HUGS))) - it's got to be so frustrating!
Thanks for the post. :) We aren't very far from. I have considered having the kiddos go there. Jakob went when he was in Kindergarten. I thought he was doing well, and that he was ready to move on to 1st grade (he is one of the younger ones in his class, with his birthday being in September.) Well, they wanted to keep him back, and put him in Kindergarten, again. That is when I researched and found a number of our ward members that went to the charter school they currently attend. Jakob went in as a 1st grader (he is now in 3rd grade) and he does very well.
Ironically many of the families that attended the charter, have now started to go to Franklin.
Also, with Franklin they are SO academic oriented! The children don't do plays or dance or even very much art. I want something 'well rounded'.
I have a friend that is a 2nd grade teacher, and another friend that also used to teach 2nd grade. I may ask them the best way to 'evaluate' where my children are at...and weigh my decisions from there.
EDU PRIZE EDU PRIZE EDU PRIZE!!!!!! Stephanie, you know how I feel about this, but I am going to attempt to indoctrinate others who may read your blog--Franklin is NOT that fantastic! I have taught there, and I sent my children there--Edu Prize does a much better job of teaching TO THE CHILD and they have higher test scores! THey have very high standards but are able to offer fabulous experiences for creativity and exploration as well. Check it out--do the tour! And, I will call you about reading with Zae, but my basic philosophy is--read to them LOTS, them them "think" they are reading to you, and they WILL GET IT. It's like a little magic light that goes off one day. Oh, and a few phonograms thrown in can't hurt either, but you can do that on your own--I think I have some cards you can borrow. I will still call you though.
I agree with Carolyn. Franklin is a good school but it is not perfect. Sometimes the politics of the whole thing get in the way. And hooked on phonics is a great program but not everyone learns from it. I was given the program years ago and it did not help like I thought it would. I have since donated it to
DI. Yes, my kids go to Franklin but a lot of that is because their friends do too and they don't want to leave them but after 10+ years, I see some problems there, but I like it better than any of the neighborhood schools. And yes, I can't make up my mind despite myself!!!
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