Introduction:

I purchased the book “Teaching Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons” back in 2021, along with Alpha Phonics. However, I found that I prefer Alpha Phonics more.. I devoted a lot of energy to crafting Alpha Phonics, especially after discovering the Don Potter Reading Clinic. You can read about my experience with Alpha Phonics in my previous post here.

So, the book authored by Siegfried Engelmann, Phyllis Haddox, and Elaine Bruner sat untouched on my bookshelf. However, my youngest daughter has somehow convinced me to use the 100 lessons with her. It seems she really loves the book! Maybe she’s drawn to its outward appearance, unlike Alpha Phonics, the 100 Lessons curriculum includes pictures, as children are often drawn to visuals. But, pictures might be a distraction for some children with ADHD & autism. However, it’s helpful for parents as it provides clues for teaching.

We lean towards integrating hands-on activities, games, and visual aids as they resonate well with my children. Despite the numerous benefits of Alpha-Phonics, such as its lack of prep work, concise lessons, and proven effectiveness, incorporating supplementary resources is a wise choice.

I incorporated pictures with Alpha Phonics, too, so perhaps she enjoys the graphics. I’m just going with the flow and following her lead, as she seems to like it.

Essentially, I’m just starting to use the book, and I’m curious to see how it goes.

I’m always on the lookout for the best tools to help my kids learn essential life skills. Reading is at the top of that list because it opens up so many doors. But teaching reading isn’t always a breeze, especially when each child has their own way of learning. My youngest is absolutely thrilled about the “Teaching Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons” program.

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons is a popular and proven program that uses the DISTAR method, which is based on the principles of direct instruction and phonics. It is designed to teach children aged 4 to 6 how to read, write, and spell in 100 lessons, each lasting about 20 minutes. The program uses a special alphabet that helps children learn the sounds of letters and blends more easily. It also incorporates stories, exercises, and games to make learning fun and engaging.

So, my younger daughter has chosen this program for herself. She’s really into colorful and interactive materials. She loves the stories and pictures, and she’s enjoying the activities and rewards.

Structure and Formatting:

Let me share some of the invaluable resources and materials I’ve found recently to supplement this program. You can find them on this webpage: Videos & Supplementary Material – Start Reading

Videos:

  • Introduction: Why Use this Program? A History of Success: Co-author, Dr. Phyllis Haddox introduces the program and its research and history.
  • General Training: Sound-Symbol Relationships: Dr. Haddox reviews all the sound-symbols and how to pronounce them correctly.
  • General Training: Blending Sounds: Dr. Haddox demonstrates and teaches how to blend sounds without stopping or taking a breath.
  • General Training: Reading the Script and Bringing the Exercises to Life: Dr. Haddox shows how to follow the book’s script and personalize it with enthusiasm, positive corrections, and praise.
  • Demonstration with Child: Lesson 1: Dr. Haddox teaches Lesson 1 to a 3-year old child, showing how to engage the child and make learning fun.
  • Specific Training: Lesson 1: Dr. Haddox trains a parent how to teach all six exercises in Lesson 1, following the book’s script and personalizing it.
  • Demonstration: Lesson 13 Word Reading: Dr. Haddox teaches a young child the Word Reading task in Lesson 13, showing her pacing, positive corrections, and praise.
  • Demonstration: Lesson 13 Story Reading with Comprehension: Dr. Haddox teaches a young child the Story Reading and Comprehension exercises from Lesson 13, showing the positive interactions and the child’s smiles.
  • Demonstration: Lesson 20 Word Reading with Quick Sounds: Dr. Haddox teaches a 4-year old girl how to blend the sounds in a word that begins with “c”, a quick or stop sound, in Lesson 20.

Supplementary Materials:

  • Detailed Notes: These notes provide additional information and tips for each lesson, such as how to introduce new sounds, how to correct errors, how to use praise, and how to extend the learning.
  • Writing Worksheets: These worksheets provide extra practice for writing the letters and words taught in each lesson, using the special alphabet and the regular alphabet.
  • Reading Worksheets: These worksheets provide extra practice for reading the words and sentences taught in each lesson, using the special alphabet and the regular alphabet.
  • Story Worksheets: These worksheets provide extra practice for reading and comprehending the stories taught in each lesson, using the special alphabet and the regular alphabet. They also include questions and activities to check understanding and enhance learning.

These resources and materials, along with many others, I found them to be very helpful in supporting our learning journey with my younger daughter, it’s too early to tell about the effectiveness of this program but I am willing to do it with my younger daughter. إن شاء الله

Conclusion:

In conclusion, I’m excited to embark on this journey with “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons,” alongside our continued use of Alpha Phonics and The Good & The Beautiful. While it’s too early to assess their combined effectiveness fully, I’m already intrigued by their approaches and my daughter’s enthusiasm for both. I look forward to exploring these programs further and witnessing their impact on her reading journey. If you’re considering simple and structured methods to teach your child to read, I encourage you to join me in exploring these programs. Let’s dive in together, embracing the possibilities and joys of learning alongside our children.