Of all the skills I’ve ever learned in my life, reading is the most important. Anything you could ever want to know has been written down somewhere, you just have to find it. Reading for pleasure is a source of endless enjoyment. I can’t imagine a world without written language. I wouldn’t want to!
I’m not actually concerned that kids will not learn to read. It may take some kids longer than others, but I honestly believe that given enough time and freedom to develop at their own pace, all kids will eventually discover how much potential there is behind learning to decode written language.
In my experience, there doesn’t need to be a lot of formal training in order for kids to learn their letters. Street signs are literally the best educational tool available. However, if you’re looking for some more structured ideas for practicing letters and letter sounds, here are some ideas that can be done in a relaxed, fun way.
I’m not a huge fan of “sight words.” I think the ideal way to teach sight words is just to read with your child and when one appears that can’t be read phonetically, like “the”, just explain, “That’s a tough one buddy. You’re just going to need to try and remember that t-h-e spells the.” No flashcards, no quizzes. However, modern schools have decided that this isn’t an acceptable way to learn them. If your child IS going to be quizzed on whether or not they know sight words, here are some ideas that will hopefully make the process slightly less tedious.
If you ask me, this is where the fun really begins. Here you’ll find ideas for kids who are starting to read that will help them feel successful, gain confidence, and have fun.
When kids are learning to start to express their words on paper, what they need more than anything else is encouragement and a non-critical audience. Here are some resources for kids that are just starting to write.
Below is a complete list of all the reading & writing posts on this site:
Related Links
Learning Activities for Kids
Best Books for Preschool
Best Books for Kindergarten
Michelle has a PhD in Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor's Degree from the California Institute of Technology. 
*You’re – “Your just going to need to try and remember that t-h-e spells the.” No flashcards, no quizzes….”
‘Just an error you may not have caught. Thanks for your resources!
All fixed! Thank you for proofreading. :) Please let me know if you notice any other typos.