How to get a five year old to read?

Question

Hi, my 5-year old sister can't read yet, but she must know how by next year, since she will be tested with comprehensions in school. She finds it very tiring to read word by word using phonics, but isn't that the only/proper way to read? She surely can't go memorizing so many words... Do you know of any way to get a five year old to read and be interested in reading?

Answer 1

It would be harder now since she didn't learn it earlier. You can find a way like let her memorize the alphabet then teach her to read each syllable.

Answer 2

help her by reading to her often, or get her a leapster or some tool to help her learn but make reading fun for her so she wont loose interest.

Answer 3

dont let her watch Tv, read to her often, find books she LIKES, do extra study every day of pronouncing sounds, TV is the biggest killer for books

Answer 4

The best way to get her reading on her own is by reading to her.  Find books that you know she'll love. The only way she'll be motivated to read on her own is if she thinks it's enjoyable.

NEVER force her to read for any amount of time.  If you consistently read to her for 15-20 minutes per night, you'll be surprised at how quick she picks it up.  Good Luck!

Answer 5

You need to just keep reading to her - again and again and again - let her acquire a love of books on her own.  She will start coming to you and asking how to sound out words or what is this word?  I teach preschool and only one five year old who can actually sound out words and try to read.  Kindergarten doesn't expect the children to know how to read before they get there - that's what they DO in kindergarten!

Answer 6

I wouldn't push her to read for an hour per day.  That is too much for a 5 year old.  You don't want her to hate reading.

Try letting her practice for two 15 minute increments.  Once after school and once after dinner.  And do something fun immediately after.

When I was teaching my son to read, we would take turns if he was getting frustrated with his readers.  He would read a page, then I would read one, then he would read one, etc.  I don't know why that simple change made a difference, but it did.  And he was still getting plenty of practice.

I know you probably don't want to hear this, but she may just need time.  You cannot force a baby to walk at a certain age and you can't force a child to read at a certain age.  Some children don't learn to read well until age 7 or 8, and they will catch up with or even surpass early readers if they are allowed to learn without pressure or condemnation.

Many of the kids in special ed or "slow" reading programs are perfectly normal children who just need a little time.  Try not to put too much pressure on her.  Cut out TV.  Read lots of interesting stories to her.  Find books about subjects she is interested in and read them to her.  Let her listen to books on tape.

Also, let her play games at http://www.starfall.com

I have heard that is good reading practice.

Answer 7

it wil come only by practise.

Make her to read for  one hour regularly.

apart from the regular stud books.

it will surelly help. u will see the changes in one week. try it and reply me.

Answer 8

I am a head start teacher in WI and I think she should maybe check out a head start program in your area, she may not learn to read a book but she will learn enough sight words to understand a story for someone her age. If you are doing this at home, try first to use flash cards with pictures and words as a game to play, she will learn these words and recognize them while trying to read a story and read stories with her and have her follow along while you read, read the same story for 2 weeks at a time and encourage her to say the next line at different points during the story yes, she will memorize it, but she will also be learning the words as she sees you pointing at the words. I have a class of 21 kids ages from 3 - 5 years old and out of them I have only 2 that haven't caught on to this yet but both of them just started in my class in the last month, if you are patient and willing to spend a lot of time on it your child will have some of the basic skills she needs to read in a few months, also while you are reading pick out words and use those in your flash cards. This way she can identify with the words in a story.

     As for not being interested in reading, she may need more interesting books to read, try character stories that she may like, such as Dora the Explorer, or other character stories from T.V. she may like. With Dora she would be learning to read in English and be learning a small bit of Spanish also, sometimes this interesting to children also, we try to teach our kids words in other languages here and there also if they are ready to learn that don't just put those words in though unless she gets it in English first!

Answer 9

Phonics is not the only method used when learning how to read.  While phonemic awareness and phonics are an important aspect of a balanced literacy program there is a place for whole language.  The key is balance.  

Your sister needs good role models! Do you read to her? Do your parents read to her? Does she see you and your parents reading? Does she know that reading can be fun? Introduce books that spark her interest.  Also find quality books to read with her.  Books that have text patterning, books that flow when you read them outloud, books with interesting (but not too busy) illustrations.  When you read to her be sure to ask her questions that help draw out another level of thinking.  Ask her, "Wow, what do you think is going to happen next?" or other questions that go beyond yes and no answers.  Read books that help build her vocabulary, having a strong oral vocabulary is very important when young children are learning to read.

Does she like to retell stories? It's fun to act out favorite stories or books.  You can use puppets and props.

Does she know how books work? Front, back, title page, spine, title, author, illustrator...

Does she have an understanding of print concepts?

Where do you begin reading on this page?

Does she know that print works left to right?

When reading to her, have her predict or tell what is happening in the story by using the illustrations.

Most importantly... MAKE IT FUN AND INTERESTING!

Your a great sister for being concerned!

Answer 10

Reading is a developmental thing.  All children learn to do things or gain certain skills neccessary to complete tasks at different rates.  They all develop in the same order, but not all children learn all the same things by a specific time and date.  Unfortunately our school system in America relies that children are ready for specific milestones before they get to certain grade levels.  It is not good to force a child to read, but the best way for children to learn or become interested in reading is to find books on topics that they are interested in.  If your sister likes animals, find some books at the library that talk about animals.  Then also read to her, and be a reader yourself.  If your sister hears you read to her she will learn and catch on to the process of reading.  If your sister sees you reading, it will encourage her to do the same.  

Help her to also make connections in phonics.  The more she reads, the faster it will be for her.  Her already being able to read with phonics (even if it's only word, by word), is a great step in the right direction.  There are many theories on how children should learn to read.  Sight words, phonics, etc.  Phonics is the best way only in terms of long term reading.  As a child grows up, words get more and more difficult, and if they have never seen that word before, they will need to "Sound it out" - hence the importance of phonics.  But certainly a blend of the two wouldn't be bad. :)

Answer 11

Have you tried Hooked on Phonics, that is what helped my son to read, it just takes a little patience in the beginning to sit with them to help play the audio clips. My son loves to read and he started at around 4 1/2 yrs old. Now he is 6 and reading at a grade 3 level

It is a bit pricey but worth it here is the link

http://hooked-on-phonics.com/

Answer 12

Memorization may actually be better for some kids. Don't force her to go 'by the book' because people learn differently. I know of a 6 year old who reads better when upside down than right-side up (the book, not the kid). Eventually, she'll straighten herself out. And while she does need phonics for words she hasn't seen before, recognizing familiar words is a good way to learn other words. But yeah, keep her away from tv and find her books she LIKES. Even if they're a little challenging, at least she'll be interested. If she can't stand the 1-sentence-a-page stories, don't bore her. Why not take her to the library and pick out books together. And you can read together, switching off every page or so. Then you can spend time together and it builds a good family support system for when she gets older. Good luck!

Answer 13

Spelling and writing are the best way, I believe. Once she has to spell orally, and then in writing, she will no longer be able to rely on memory

Answer 14

First, most five year olds are not reading yet. Just because she will be tested next year doesn't mean she has to know know. Read to her, a lot, point out the sounds in familiar words, make sure she hears the sounds and give her lots of simple books. Nobody learns to read by just sounding out words. For one thing, English is not a completely phonetic language. Help her find familiar words on signs and labels.

Answer 15

try making it interesting to her, by letting her pick out the books that she wants to read and make up little ways for her to remember what the words are and make sure you use consistency with her to help her be a good reader and learner.

Answer 16

i gotta agree with e c expert. most 5 year olds are not reading. this is not unusual. i do however commend that you want your sister to be ahead but she will learn at her own pace. the worst thing you can do is rush her. continue to encourage her big sis and ask your parents to assist the both of you in this endeavor.

Answer 17

read to her A LOT, and then get her involved and have her start reading some of the words along with you and she will transition to reading on her own. Make going to the library to find new books to read a fun experience and start with very easy short books that interest her, just keep reading.

Answer 18

Ask at the school if you can help with the reading. Some teachers are delighted to let parents help out.

Read to her every day.

Ask her to bring you the book that she wants you to read to her.

When you have read a couple of pages, ask her what word she wants to learn. It could be Cinderella. Show her the word, tell her what it is and ask her to show you where it is and what it is. Congratualte her and ask her to find it again. Give her a small lolly or even a sultana.

Then ask her to put a line under every Cinderella she can find and again reward her and tell her that she is reading.

You can ask her if she hears the "l' in Cinderella and what sound does it end with.

Show her the sounds if you like and ask her to find some more.

Nouns are easier to associate a mental picture with so start with them unless she wants something different.

Do not worry about her reading as she is very young and she will pick up the negative vibes from you. Only give out encouragement and joy at what she is learning. You do not want to have to spend time later on, eliminating negatives attitudes towards reading.

Have fun with her.

Let her learn any word she wants and let her "read" any book she wants.