Reading Lesson: Teach Your Child to Read in 20 Easy Lessons [Paperback]

I used this book with my daughter when she was three, as she would have to start school three weeks after her fourth birthday. I was worried, since some studies in the UK had said that summer babies did not do as well as the rest during the first years in school and many were behind their classmates during their entire school years. Since English is not my mother tongue,I was not sure if I could I help her with the pronunciation of some letters and blends. So I decided to try The Reading Lesson. We worked slowly with the book. As she gained more skill and confidence, we went faster. Right now we are in the Spring term and I am happy to report that my daughter is the best reader and writer of her reception class. She is two levels above the bigger kids and she has developed a genuine love for books!

This book is fantasic. I used it for my daughter just before she went to school, and she progressed very quickly in her school reading. Using the teaching methods it meant she was able to read words she had not seen before. One year on she is well ahead of her class mates at reading and we still use the book at home about once a week.
I could see this book would also help older children who are less confident with their reading, and it is great to be able to help your child. The only one thing I would mention about this book, is it is American or Canadian, so we have the word Mom rather than Mum.

ok, so i was always a bit chilled about my 5 year old being OK at school and not to have to put pressure on him to do 'too much' at home. unlike my 9 year whom i pushed to read and learn about things from a very young age, with my five year old i felt i didn't want to do the same as my eldest although really bright can be easily bored and needs constant stimulation!!!!how wrong i was that that was not a good thing!!!
when i finally ended up going to my 5 year old's first parent teacher meeting in year 1, my whole world was turned upside down at the very instant when i was told in the nicest way possible that my 5 year old was 'getting help' where needed and that not all siblings would necessarily have the same ability. i was even more appaled to find out that on avarage my 5 year would be considered one below avarage for his ability in class compared to hie piers!he was on some stage 3 in his reading whilst others where stage 5 or more> i should not be worried i was told that by the end of year 1 he would just about catch up. but that was not good enough for me. i was deeply upset and it wa a good wake-up call for me. the best part fo the brain of a child develops when they are babies and most receptive conncetions are formed by the age of 5!!!!this was actually a disaster for me!!!!
being as proud as any mother, i was appalled by the fact that he spent 5 days a week almost 250 days of the year in school yet he was not able to recognize letters or now their sounds despite being in school for 2 years (nursery to begin with!). i am told this is the norm blah blah blah....but come on!!!!guessing by sight at the age 5 is not exactly going to help him in 2 years time when he has to catch up 3 times as fast with his piers!!!!
i fully understand that some children have a quicker ability to grasp and learn things than others (so it is with my first 2) but what i certainly DO believe in is that ALL CHILDREN HAVE POTENTIAL AND ARE CAPABLE TO LEARN just as well as children who show a natural talent for it. there is no excuse why my 5 year old should not understand the concept of letter and their sounds at his age!!!!what they do in school for that amount in time is beyond me!!!!
so, i got myself into gear and began researching with utmost determination. many books you buy and many workbooks are all a bit random, filled with too much colour and too many distractions, too much comprehension about HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR YOUR CHILD TO READ AND Eextensive explantions when and how to go about it. then alot of small print alot of diagrams and arrows and doodles!!!
this book is no nonsene, right to the point, right on with it. the print is large and clear to read. it goes back to basic simple traditional..black on white writing. so colours and busy doodles to distract. it does what it sais on the cover...it ' teaches' your child to 'literally' read!!!
the moment this book arrived on my doorstep i realized this is a goldmine. i used it immediately on the very first day. this was 3 weeks ago today!!!!
my 5 year old is reading full sentenses now of simple basic and some common words. and although we haven't covered chapter 5 and 6 fully yet, he can actually read those too maybe slower but read, he can!!!!the point is though he actually understand what he is doing. it is not a guessing game anymore and he teslls me what he sees!!!and that is the letters and their sounds and ultimately blending them to make and form the words!!!
he is not guessing words from pictures anymore, he understands the concept of phonics and blending and it has given him a new found confidance that is so amazing to see. he is so proud that he can 'actually read'!!!
i am so impressed with his progress that i am now using it with my 3 year old and my 1 year old should soon follow too. my three year old has just finished chapter 2!!!!!and can read words such as cat, dog, at , sat and dot!!!!i think there is avery small percentage in his class who may be able to actually do the same!!!
this is such a good book that i wished they could do a volumet 2 and 3 with more words and really take this a step further for harder reading. i love this book. this will change my childs future for good in the most positive manner that is invaluable to his future and for the rest of his life.
i would recommmend this book to everybody. don't waste time get it straight away!!!!
i cannot wait until the end of the year when he will be reading so much better and look forward to my next meeting with his teacher!!!this book lays the first stepping stone which is the hardest!!!...the rest will follow naturally and quickly.