Hi Ellbell, if you're still visiting your thread!
I'm quite new too - well, not so much in time any more but in posting. Don't seem to be able to get online much.
I would recommend anyone try to trawl through the thread nasa highlighted - I spoke quite a bit on there about the most effective methos of etaching reading - something most teachers seem blissfully unaware of, thanks to Government initiatives and incomplete research.
It is a major read, agreed - but hey, if you manage it, you will learn more in one thread than most teachers know after x years of training and y years of teaching! It's shocking, really, that teachers should be so misinformed about such a basic thing to teach. I was so cross when I found out all about it - through my own reading adn research - and so now try hard to help inform other people.
Basically, there is enjoying books and there is learning to read. The first one can occur on its own - the second certianly leads to the first.
Children should not be learning to read from the pictures - it is not the pictures that will help you understand the alphabetic code - the letters will.
Children should not be learning lists of words before being given a book - they should be taught how to read any words, ot just particular books.
What I read here is what is such common practice in so many schools. Thankfully, most children manage quite well regardless, one way of another. But it could be so much more straightforward for them right from the start - and for those that will always struggle...well, there is no need.
Do try and visit the thread!!