Advice needed please re learning to read

[TheMagicMumber]

DD is 3.8, and fairly bright. She can write her name, count, can read individual letters, sound out and read/guess some short words.

If we were in the UK she would start reception in September, when I presume she would start to learn to read.

She's at school (start earlier here) but it's sort of a pre-school. She goes into Kingergarten at 5 then year 1 at 6. They don't start learning to read or write until then (year 1).

I would be happy with this approach if we were sure to be staying here until she were at least 7, but we just don't know. I know of people who have put their kids back into the UK education system not knowing how to read and write, and it has had horrific results on their self-esteem and feelings towards school.

So, should we be teaching her to read at home? If so, how? I am a teacher, but secondary, so no idea really about phonics etc. Any ideas for resources? If not, what to do with her if we go back into British system?

Thank you.

[TheMagicMumber]

bump. I might repost in living overseas.

[maizieD]

I am a teacher, but secondary, so no idea really about phonics etc.

Have a look at //www.phonicsinternational.com for excellent and exhaustive information about phonics.

I don't see why you shouldn't teach your child to read English; there are others on here who have done it in the same sort of situation.

[TheMagicMumber]

Thanks, will take a look at that website. She's in an English-speaking school, just not British system, IYSWIM?

Thank you

[learnandsay]

If you teach your child to sound out/phonics there's a faint possibility that you might not need to teach her all that much English reading. I taught my daughter how to read in English and she just picked up German books and read them without any help at all.

[Tiggles]

If she is interested in letters there would be no harm in teaching her to read now, or equally in waiting until 'reception' age if she isn't.
DS1 and 3 taught themselves to read after I taught them the basic phonic sounds, and they realised they could blend them together to make words, before they started school. With DS2 it all just clicked the half term before he started in reception (but if he had been born a month earlier that would have been nearly at the end of his reception year).
With all of them once the blending clicked, which coincided with them developing a love of letters, they picked up reading very quickly.
The alphablocks on cbeebies are good for learning the basic phonics. DS2 got on particularly well with Floppy's phonics books to learn to read his first words. There may be some books at the right level on Oxford Owl?

[maizieD]

Does your dd understand the German she's reading, LandS? Is she bi-lingual?

[learnandsay]

Yes she is and yes she does.

[mamababa]

DS is in reception and the school use the Biff, Chip and Kipper books as part of the teaching, someone bought him a set if them for home and he really likes them. Can't see any harm if your DC shows interest. If no interest then do t force but it sounds like your dc is keen?

[ClayDavis]

Can't add anything more to what others have said re: reading but wanted to reassure you slightly about moving back to UK. I know there are cases where it does go wrong, but a family member of mine moved back to UK a few weeks after starting first grade. In terms of reading she was about where your DD is now and went straight into Year 2. She is now about to graduate from an RG university with her self esteem and love of school/learning completely in tact.