Re: phonics vs sight words
Since this is an opinion question I'll feel free to cite a forum post as my info source.
http://www.mothering.com/community/...about-the-importance-of-studying-grammarWhat does diagraming sentences have to do with kindergarten or emerging readers? �Not much, but it might have to do with your homeschooling decisions. �If your first goal is to teach your little 'UN to read, then read. �Read and run your finger under the words. �Point out repetitive large sized words, such as a characters name. �Have dc read that word everytime you come across it. �This is tracking. �Eyes are muscles. �And it builds habits and confidence. �Also point out matching. Look for the words on this page that matches this word "the". �This is scanning. �These build up speed and endurance. �This is why some people read to their kids every day.
But go read that link and the arguments for diagramming sentences. �The same argument can be used for teaching phonics. �Reading teaches reading. �Phonics teaches rules and how to deconstruct the language arts in a way I guess will come in handy later on in school.
Dolche sight words. �If you hothouse those 60 words like they told you to a kid could decode half of the print in the newspaper or chapter book. �Memorize all few hundred Dolce sight words and a kid could decode 80% of all printed material. �It's a shortcut for moving through the learning to read stage to get to the reading to learn stage. �
I think it helps to think, "what's the point of education beyond just what we're doing right now". What is the whole math, language art, history experience from start to finish? �That's where you get the debate, "school should teach you how to follow steps to learn something."
Vs. "forcing them to follow steps to learn something only teaches them to follow steps". �Both arguments are kinda flat views of a 3-d world.
Readingeggs.com costs, but it rocks!!!
