Phonics for Older Students
Jul 5, 2007
Author:Keith Jones
There are many older students who should be reading but can't. The reasons why are various but regardless of their past I believe that most can read with a little remedial help. One of the challenges we have in helping them is the problem of embarrassment. Many would rather hide the fact that they can't read than face up to it. This is understandable on the surface but has been and can be overcome. Homeschool is the perfect setting to alleviate all embarrassment. For one thing, no one needs to know that they are receiving remedial help but the tutor or the mom or dad.
But I have good news! There is a no nonsense curriculum that can be used for old and young alike. Alpha-Phonics does not use pictures and has step by step instructions for each lesson. Depending on the student's situaton you can begin at the lesson best suited for his or her needs. You can create your own sentences based on the learned words of that day. Progress can be fast or slow but there will be daily success that will boost the student's confidence.
In case you feel you are not up to the challenge to teach your kid, let me encourage you with this: It's not hard, you can do it. It will only take 10 or 15 minutes a day for a month or two and the rewards will be huge. I have only a high school diploma and I taught all 4 of my children to read. I started with no education on how to tutor, but that did not matter, all my kids are very good readers. There is a book that I am currently reading entitled: How to Tutor by Samuel L. Blumenfeld. It is a very good read and will help alot if you are not feeling too brave.
The bottom line is this: we want our children to be self confident and successful. And if reading is the single most important skill needed to acoomplish it, then you should take the plunge and get started.

Share