teaching to read - tips on lighting that spark for a reluctant reader?

[ErnestTheBavarian]

Hi, I'd be grateful for any suggestions to set ds off. I've posted also in primary, but as I'm trying to teach him myself at home, I thought I might get some good ideas here too if you don't mind?

He is 6 and due to start school in September, I'd really like him to be reading well-ish by then.

With ds1 & 2, I used the book 'Teach your child to read in 100 lessons'. Neither of them got past chapter 45. By then they were sounding words out, then suddenly took off and away they went, devouring every book they could get their hands on. They are both now still avid readers. I basically taught them how to sound out then the did the rest themselves, couldn't get enough of books or reading.

Now with ds 3 I have dragged him with metaphorical bloody knees right to the end of the book and he still is shut down and risistant to all attempts. I think he wants to stay a baby in Kindergarten all his life. Not a bad wish but a tad unrealistic. He just has no desire to try. I have bought him books, games, I have tried just writing the odd word on the etch a sketch type thingy, writing a shopping list, any little tricks or games to get him to read but he just won't.

I must be missing some cool fun trick that'll have him wanting to do it.

I have dropped it for a while now as I don't want to make reading feel like a battle or punishment, but I am very aware that September is creeping up on us, and I'd really like to have him reading English, even a bit before he has to start reading German.

Any ideas?

You're not going to like this but I'd suggest backing off. If he has no need to read then why would he do so? Conversely, when he needs to he will. Is there a computer game he wants to play where you can not always be available to read the instructions?

The vast majority of children are ready and start to read between 6 and 7. You are lucky you are in a country where they don't start children in school until that age. In the UK, many children start off by 'failing' to read at 5.

I'm going to second what has already been said, I'm afraid. He will do it when there's a need for him to do it, and like you say yourself, he wants to stay a baby right now.

My mum was determined to teach us all to read before school, and both my sister and I were indeed fluent readers by then. Then my brother came along and everything failed. My mum tried and I tried all my teaching tricks on him (I was teacher training), but he would not read. He started school completely unable to (and refusing to!)read a word, much to her dismay.

12 years later he was offered a place at Cambridge.

Hmm interesting point about him feeling the need to read. I am not an ott mum desperate for him to learn to read early. He's not a 2 year old being drilled on the alphabet by an ott neurotic mum? He's going to turn 7 shortly after he starts school. My only wish was for him to have his mother tongue consolidated before he has to learn German formally, as I don't want him to get confused. I did it in a really low key way with his 2 brothers and like I said, they just went mad for it, so I'm a bit surprised that he's so resistant.

I'm not going to not like the suggestion to back off - that's exactly what I said I've done. I just need to find a way to help him see that wading is fun and good point you've made here, useful.

Have you tried using www.starfall.com ?
Or the Doman method?
My dd learnt to read by me reading lots to her while pointing to the words. Perhaps not too exciting but it worked for us.