Hi,
The best things you can do at this point (Especially for your 4 year old) is have lots of FUN FUN FUN with it! Play exciting games like “word runner” and mail ( you can even put words in an evelope and have your child check the mail! Hi-lite any and all words you’ve shown your child in the books. This works well for both my girls… Also, I don’t put my finger under the words as I read to them, but you/or your child can point out the hi-lited ones. I also like to keep words in the back of a book, I’ll read an entire book, then show the words if they wanted. Never continue anything if your child STARTS to
get (even slightly) bored. Make them beg for the reading and games! Trust me…people want what they can not have!
Don’t have distractions, keep the place quiet or go to a quiet spot. Politely ask that others do this too. I make it a rule that no kids are allowed to be distracting while teaching. If you are starting to get heated before or even during a reading session, make a quick exit with the cards and relax! Just apologize when you return with “I’m sorry,Mommy wasn’t feeling so well.” I like to BREATHE! What works for me is: Inhale for 4 counts, Hold for 1 count, Exhale for 12 counts, and Hold again for 1 count.(Write it on the back of your hand then if you Do ever need it You’ve got it!)
4/1/12/1
Relax the shoulders, back and neck on the exhale (12) for max. effect.
Sounds cheasy, but it does the trick.
If I wake up a grump I’ll sit on
the pot for a minute and just breathe. I aways feel much better!
For reinforsing the sentences…it is harder. This just takes time and patience.You can do this best by making individual word cards and creating several short and simple sentences out of say…10 or 15 words that have already been taught as single words. Make them silly and even absurd! Example:
Emily has a nose.
Emily licked her nose.
Her nose tastes funny.
Emily has a toungue.
Emily licked Mommy’s nose.
Put it away quickly once he/she BEGINS to lose interest!!!
Also for teaching sentences, make a book with simple sentences and have your older child teach your younger one. Don’t worry if it’s not right. Just offer help if they want it. If you make teaching fun for your older child they will have this gift to teach their own children when they are parents and also be learning to read all at the same time. Try to go through the same sentences 3x’s a day for at least 3 days. Also try typing it up in large print on the computer. Or playing “word runner” even with sentences! It just might take a little longer to get the correct card, but oh well. Kids love to run and this is so perfect for teaching! Don’t worry if they choose the wrong cards. It takes time. Shoot, sometimes my girls won’t even get a single card correct in a set on certain days. No one’s perfect. Mine always beg to play reading games, even if they’ve been spanked by me or had a crummy day or worse a minor injury. So, just focus on what they are getting, gently tell them the cards they are not and learning will be lots of fun, not a chore.
Have fun and Praise them like it’s a celebration, because it is!
I’m starting to get sore from typing, but I think that should just about cover it.
Hope this helps some!
Let me know how it goes!
Sincerely,
Autumn
