Early this year, I started my mini-experiment. Teaching my son how to read and spell simple words. His first sight word was "the." Now, we don't have any problems with the word, he can easily recognize and read it when he sees it on magazines and newspapers.
For a time, I got distracted and lost my enthusiasm -- an attack of "tamaditis", thinking he will learn to read in the big school. Good thing I got to my senses and continued my mini-experiment. Like how I started, I am in no hurry. I will only introduce a new word until such time that I can sense that he has mastered and can already transfer his learning.
Liam is making good progress.
He does need prompting every now and then but in general, he does it all by himself, 80% of the time.
Right now his sight words are as follows:
the, in, on, of, be, with, you and your.
He can easily read and spell all of it except for "with." He needs assistance when he is asked to spell that word, but he has no problems reading it.
I'm happy with my son's progress. Now, when I read books to him and I encounter some of his sight words, I point it to him and let him be the one to read it. During non-school days, I make my own activity sheets and let him do the exercises to test if he is learning. One of these days, I will take his video spelling the words and will post it as well.
I'm glad I decided to resume this project.
I'm just a bit worried that I might not be able to do it with Sam, since I am anticipating that by the time she is Liam's age now, I'll be back to work. Well, I guess I better make an effort too!
