teaching reading in the 21st century

Teaching reading in the 21^st century is all about computers or is it

The tried and tested systems for teaching reading are over 100 years old and are still popular and in use in the 21^st century. Even though the computer and the internet are modern inventions not everybody is

There are a number of very good computer phonics programs available over the internet and I do recommend Click n’ Read Phonics as it has already proven itself. 

If you want to give your kids a head start into the 21^st century you should do something your grandmother did. And that is read aloud in bed. You cant really do that with a computer. When you start your children off on the road to reading they are too young to be on a computer. So you have to look at reading systems that are older that the 21^st century. 

I prefer phonics and of the phonics programs available I like the Montessori method with its sandpaper letters. 

Here you make up the word or phonic sound in sandpaper letters and let your child trace the sandpaper letter and say the word. A very simple system but learning reading takes time so you have to keep at it. Also one of the joys of this system is it also teaches your child to write. When your child is tracing the letters she is preparing herself to start writing and you can’t do that on a computer.

For more information about phonics courses I recommend including a Montessori course see our Teach Reading page.