Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Siegfried Engelmann, Phyllis Haddox, Elaine Bruner
Simon & Schuster, New York, 1986
Reviewed by: Angela Bourassa
What it is:
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons is an early reading program, the homeschool adaptation of the Science Research Associates' DISTAR reading program of the 1970s, and touts that you can teach your child to read in “only 20 minutes a day” using the DISTAR decoding method presented in the book. According to the introduction, the hundred-day program is appropriate for use with preschool children or children who have been to public school, who have not yet learned to read.
How it works:
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons uses a systematic approach to decoding letter sounds. Each lesson is highly scripted, and follows a predictable path of tasks, including sounding out the letter, drawing sounds out slowly before saying them fast, rhyming and writing. Letter sounds are practiced by following an arrow printed under the letter with the finger, pausing to sound out the letter. Once a sound is introduced, it is used in a variety of ways during the lesson.
What I like:
There are several things I like about this program.
--It is scripted. This is not something I generally care for, but in this case, it keeps me on the point.
--The rhythm of the lessons and daily repetition becomes comfortable and routine.
--The instructions are detailed and clear, both those designed for the parents' understanding of the program and those within each lesson.
--It teaches decoding, rather than whole word recognition.
--It practices blending letter sounds in a smooth transition when voicing a word.
--The program uses pronunciation marks (long marks, etc.) so there is no question about the sound intended.
--The learner is reading actual words and short sentences very early in the lessons – great positive reiforcement.
--It truly does take about 20 minutes per day.
What I think could use improvement:
--The binding. In my application, with two children simultaneously, it is used during our “circle time” and can be difficult to maneuver or keep the children focused on the current page. A spiral binding would be helpful here.
--There are no “accessories”. Again, this may only pertain to my multiple student situation, but it would be greatly helpful to have a flip-chart type of accessory, so the boys could each follow along on their own page when practicing letter sounds.
--The sound writing. I like their methodology for print letter formation, but wish there was an alternate selection for script lettering.
Summary:
We have seen rapid and lasting skill development in our four-year-olds using this program. They both readily pick out sounds they know out of context, in other print material and signage, and enjoy the daily lessons. I highly recommend this program for parents teaching beginning reading, as part of a larger literacy program.
Featured Item
REGISTER FOR CLASSES AT THE DORCHESTER CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Now that students are back to school, the Dorchester Center for the Arts (DCA) invites the community to participate in upcoming classes and programs. New this session is a tap dancing class for adults and beginner ceramic classes
(PHOTO: Willy Schlossbach, Instructor, is one of the many artists leading classes at DCA this fall.)
Painting
Oil Painting for Beginners and Intermediates, Taught by Tom Ryan
Learn to paint with oils in this class that is great for beginners or students continuing to perfect their skills. Beginners learn the fundamentals of still life painting including color, composition, form, and materials while intermediate students hone existing skills and explore more complex challenges. More advanced students will complete finished, professional quality work. Supply list available. All sessions: Monday mornings, six weeks, 9 a.m. – noon. The fall session begins September 20.
Discovering the “Know How” of Oil Painting, Mary Ekroos, Instructor
Learn the “know how” of creating a painting from your own photos. Students will be shown: how to compose a painting using basic elements in their subjects; how to use light and color; the importance of linear and atmospheric perspectives and how to understand what they see. Basic principles of drawing will be reviewed. The class is oriented toward marine and landscape oil painting and is open to students at all levels of painting experience. A supply list is available. The class will meet for four weeks beginning Monday, October 4. -- cont --
Intermediate Landscape Oil Painting - Expressing Your Own Style, Taught by Willy Schlossbach
This class will teach intermediate and the more advanced oil students painting techniques in landscape and cityscape painting. Students will learn to interpret photographs and ideas into paintings that express themselves and make their paintings distinctively their own. Supply list is available. Thursday afternoons, six weeks; 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. The session begins September 23.
Watercolor
Watercolor for Beginners and Beyond, Taught by Jeanne Ewell
This class introduces basic techniques of watercolor and builds to the more complex. Emphasis will focus on the basics of controlling the medium, color mixing, brush handling, and composition. Demonstrations are part of the class. Beginning and continuing students will receive individual attention while painting a variety of subject matter. Supply list available. The class will meet for six weeks on Thursday mornings from 10 a.m. – noon, beginning September 23.
















