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Please give me peace of mind. Ds is just starting lesson 2 of The Reading Lesson and he can sound out the words because he know all the letter sounds but he doesn't understand blending the sounds together to make a word. For example he can sound out M-A-D but he doesn't get that he is reading the word "mad". Is this normal since we are just beginning or is there something I can do to help him understand.

TOTALLY 100% normal! Blending takes awhile, so just keep encouraging him. He'll get it! Oh, and there is more fun ahead... I remember a good many lessons that went like this, sounding out "M - A - D"... "DAD"! He began blending, but then he'd just remember the last letter (in this case "D") and shout out a word that started with that letter. It's amazing I have any hair left - I felt like pulling it out. But, then, one day (and I mean one day pretty far down the road), it just clicked. My dc are now excellent readers, but I have one more toddler coming up I'll need to teach phonics, and when I do, I'm counting on you to remind me of this process, o.k.?
In Christ,
Julie

P.S. Ideas to help him understand (though I don't think he'll need them):
On a white markerboard write the word one sound at a time with black marker (i.e. you write "M", he says the sound; you write "A", he says it; write "D", he says it. The swoop your marker under the word and say it blended fast for him "MAD". The kids begin to understand there's a slow part to reading (the sounding out part), and a fast part (the blending part). I just did this for them for awhile, until one day, they shouted it out fast on their own.

Same deal with a rubberband. Stretch it out as you slowly say the sounds, and snap it in as you say it blended.

One last tip, have them emphasize the first sound by saying it the loudest. This will remind them to focus on starting the blend with the proper sound.

But again, no worries!!! It's his second lesson. Just act like he's doing awesome, he'll feel capable and confident about it, and eventually, he'll be blending well on his own!

He is doing that already. He will sound out T-O-M and then say MOP. So do I just let him go on to the next word do I stop him and have him say the right word?

rni'smommy wrote:He is doing that already. He will sound out T-O-M and then say MOP. So do I just let him go on to the next word do I stop him and have him say the right word?

I'd stop him and have him say the right word. Point to the first letter and emphasize that sound. He doesn't have to feel like he got it wrong, just cheerfully sound it out yourself modeling it for him, pointing at each letter as you say its sounds, and then slide your finger under the word blending it slowly and then say it blended quickly. Last, have him do the same with it before moving on and give a little HOORAY shout if he gets it then!

In Christ,
Julie