Comments on: Odd Reading Lesson

By: Liz Ditz

Liz Ditz — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 17:39:08 +0000

Hi from California! I'm glad that Stephen's doing well with 100 Easy Lessons. I agree that some of the stories are, well, odd, but the very restricted vocabulary (for success, and to reduce the "guessing" strategy) is quite a constraint. Kate wrote: "I can see how using this method would help kids learn to read even if they had dyslexia." Unfortunately, for most kids with dyslexia, the 100 Easy Lesson method isn't quite as successful because it doesn't address phonemic awareness. If you want to teach a dyslexic child to read, I recommend Barton Reading and Spelling System.. If you suspect your kid may have dyslexia, you can learn more at her other site, Bright Solutions. There are wonderful videos of Barton's presentations on dyslexia and how it affects kids globally at the Bright Solutions site.

By: Kate

Kate — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:12:05 +0000

That is a weird story, but it does use everything the kids have seen in lessons 1 to 59.

We’ve been using this book too and I like the phonics part, but they aren’t great on the creative or the grammar side of things.

I do like the script format and showing kids the direction of reading. I can see how using this method would help kids learn to read even if they had dyslexia.

That said, you have to know when to take a break from the program and do your own thing. While each lesson in the book is 20 minutes long, we only manage about 10 minutes at a time, but the other day my son asked me how to make a “puh” so that he could write pirate and we’re only on lesson 12 or 13.

By: Cottontimer

Cottontimer — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:17:06 +0000

Hi Ann, I’m afraid that I may have shared this story out of context. It is definitely a dreadful story but the DISTAR method of teaching phonics that this book is based on is a proven one. Stephen gets exposed to a variety of different teaching methods when it comes to reading and is doing better than his peers as far as I can tell. I’ll take a look at Read With Me. Thanks for the suggestion!

By: Ann Darnton

Ann Darnton — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:35:32 +0000

As someone who has spent forty years either teaching children to read or teaching students who were going to be primary teachers to teach reading, this had me frothing at the mouth. I don’t know if it’s possible to get hold of a book by Liz Waterland called ‘Read With Me’, in the US but if you can do read about how she teaches children through using REAL books written to be read and enjoyed and not artificially created to teach. We have some terrible example of the latter in the UK. I’d quote some of the worst but I’d probably be sued for the comments I’d make.

By: Cottontimer

Cottontimer — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 08:17:04 +0000

LOL Now I’ve turned you guys against this book which I think is actually pretty good at teaching phonics. The strength of this book is definitely NOT the stories but the stories do match the phonic sounds that are taught in each lesson so they make sense in that way. Of course, this isn’t the only reading that Stephen is exposed to but I like that we have one source to turn to for systematic phonics practice – DISTAR. Stephen is doing well on it and, fortunately, has no weird thoughts about man in tub rub, rub, rub. At least I think he doesn’t….

By: lisa

lisa — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:05:31 +0000

wtf? I agree with Deb – can’t figure out any phonetic, spelling or ulterior motives to justify the weirdness of that story.

Here’s a series of learning to read books that Emma loves: Cox books. No, she’s not reading, just at sounding out letters. the books all share a cast of character, are good at what they set out to do, and provide we adults with endless fodder for cracking up. (You try saying “Goose on the Loose! by Phil Roxbee Cox” and see what happens)

By: William Lehman

William Lehman — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:04:00 +0000

this man deserves to be bitten

By: Deb L

Deb L — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:28:00 +0000

That has got to be one of the stupidest stories I’ve read. It doesn’t even make sense linguistically- as in, rhyming or letter combinations etc.

I am glad you posted, because on the odd chance I might have been interested in the book, now I know to avoid the man rubbing in the tub and sharing the bed with a dog, but no biting!

By: Cottontimer

Cottontimer — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:40:56 +0000

I like more structured programs b/c of my personality. I’m always happier if I can take a class or two when starting something new and that includes teaching my own child! I’m planning to give myself a stroke later this month when I start teaching him piano.

By: Joan

Joan — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:17:49 +0000

He was probably 4. He was already ‘reading’ a lot of sight words that he knew which is probably why he was so resistant to the book. We just started going to the library and the bookstore instead and reading beginner books together. That’s how Audrey is learning. On top of her Kindergarten lessons, we read together. I run my finger under the words and she reads the ones she knows. I fill in the ones at which she hesitates and after a page or two, she’s filling in the ‘hard’ words by herself. She was really struggling at the beginning of “Green Eggs and Ham” but by the end she wasn’t needing any help at all!

Her current favorite is “Leonardo the Terrible Monster” by Mo Willems. There is a span of 2 pages where one character is giving a long rant and she always makes me read that part because she says I do it funnier but she reads the rest herself.