teaching two to read

[mamaduke]

I'm looking at using The Reading Lesson w/CD to teach my twins5 to read this fall. I'm wondering if I should go over the phonics lesson individually (alone) with each so as to lessen memory repeating from the first reader, or if it's OK to combine them in the lesson and just have them take turns being first. Maybe they would help each other that way. I'm not even sure they will be on the same level. I strongly suspect one will take off, possibly leaving the other behind. I could start them together and just see how it goes.

Any tips when teaching two to read?
Thank you!

[pjdobro]

I didn't use TRL so I'm unfamiliar with its format, but we did most of the early work of learning to read individually. It just worked out that way with my two because my daughter was a natural reader and was interested sooner. She was asking about the words and sounding things out early. So we were informally doing things with her often. It was a standard routine with us to go over letters , sounds, and blending with her while we were waiting places like restaurants or doctor's offices. We did this a little my son, but he wasn't really that interested. When kindergarten rolled around and we started formal phonics lessons, my dd could pretty much already read simple words so the phonics was a review for her. We did the formal lessons together which was a workbook style in the program I used, but the individual reading the letter sounds and words, we did separately. Many times I would use the reading time with one as our special time together while the other one was working on something else like handwriting. I think you could try it together and see how it goes but be prepared to split them up if you feel that it isn't working. Reading is such an individual thing and some children take to it more readily that others. So you may find it necessary to do this at different speeds for each child.

[my3sons]

I have not taught 2 of my own dc to read at the same time, but having had to teach small groups of dc to read within a ps setting, I cannot tell you how often I longed to be able to teach dc to read just one at a time! I agree with Patty that I would do it 1 child at a time. This will let each child develop at her own pace without comparing herself to how the other one is developing. There will be years they can read together down the road, but for phonics and for the ERS, I think it would be best to do them separately. Have fun starting down the reading road with your little sweeties - it is exciting to be at that point!

In Christ,
Julie