Phonics Review for a 3rd grader?

[NewBJ]

Can anyone recommend a phonics review resource for a 3rd grader? She is reading the Level 2 books in DITHOR but when she comes to a word she doesn't know, it's like she doesn't know how to sound it out. She just speeds through it, making something up. She doesn't enjoy reading, I believe primarily because her foundation is not solid and she does not feel confident. She gets frustrated and embarrassed when I try to help her sound words out.

Thanks in advance,
Bethany

[MelInKansas]

My daughter was the same way at that age. What I realized was I had been helping her too much when she was first learning to read. If she struggled the first couple of times to read a word I would just read it for her. It's hard to sit back and let them struggle through it! But at that point I learned I had to just wait and let her figure it out. So if you feel she knows the phonics rules pretty well, but is struggling with decoding new words, I would suggest you talk to her about that first, and then help her learn the skills she needs to figure words out. If they are longer words, show her how to break them up into smaller chunks - put your finger over part of the word, or take it one syllable at a time. Show her how to slowly and smoothly sound out the different phonemes and go from L-R across the word. It's a skill that has to be learned to be sure. My oldest daughter still isn't very good at it, but we took a couple of "tough" years for her to get through it and she is doing much better now.

I hope this helps.

[faroutback]

We have had a similar problem and this year we used Phonics Pathways. It was good simply as a review. I say that because ds moved through daily lessons with it with ease, but his assessment tests show me a different story I am afraid. I am still looking at All About Reading. Part of me thinks he just needs to be read to more. I am a little concerned as we will be heading into Preparing next year.

[Carrie]

Bethany,

Depending on how much phonics instruction your daughter had in the past, it is possible that she may need another quick pass at phonics. Or, if she is able to decode but just chooses not to do it, then it is also possible that regular reading aloud with you by her side giving the great hints that Mel suggested (and reading on her own) may be all she needs.

If you do feel that she didn't have a thorough pass through a formal phonics (or if you feel that she missed some of the formal phonics due to other issues that may be hearing or eye related), then it wouldn't hurt to put her through something like Sound Bytes which we carry just for that purpose here: http://www.heartofdakota.com/phonics.php
Note: You will have to scroll down at the link above to the bottom to see the Sound Bytes program.

The program takes 3-4 months and is a good way to firm up any needed decoding skills. You can use the program through the summer if desired, while still having her read real books. At that point you would then know that she has the needed decoding skills and just needs a bit more practice gaining fluency.

I wished I had a program like Sound Bytes for my last little guy, as he struggled with reading after going through formal phonics instruction (which I later found out was due to the tubes in his ears being plugged, so he wasn't hearing). Anyway, I put him through another entire phonics program from beginning to end at that point, when a quicker refresher course would have been a better choice.

I also would drop back the level of the books she is reading this summer to make reading more fun and easy. Sometimes when we are consistently pushing the child's level of comfort reading-wise, it steals the joy of reading. Returning to much easier books for a time can make the child feel successful and help them learn to love to read.

Blessings,
Carrie