The Books!

Each DVD volume comes with a corresponding book that you are supposed to be reading to your child. Each page has the word in large print on a flap. You can lift the flap to reveal the picture and text. It really is a smart design to the book. Children really prefer to look at the pictures, and when given a choice of words and pictures on the same page will spend more time looking at the picture. The flap allows you to show the word, and the child can take the word in before getting to the picture.
TJ is finally coming around to actually appreciating books. TJ's Dad and I read him a Golden Book or Dr. Suess every day. So I pulled out the Starter DVD book today, we thumbed through it and looked at the pictures and reviewed some of the words. He was happy to look and turn the pages, but let me hold the book, which is a pretty big change. I think I prefer the books to the flash cards for now.

Teething Tots

TJ's getting his back molars. So I've been managing fever, stomach upset, and general grouchiness and missing out on sleep as well. He totally skipped the incisor teeth though. He's been such a late teether and in such an unusual order. I think he will enjoy being able to chew more crunchy foods though. He's always preferred "real food."

E-I-E-I-OOOOOO!!!!

Volume 2 was a delight for us. Like I said before, it introduces a lot of new words at a faster pace. There's less explanation and repetition. TJ enjoyed trying to new words out (tig=pig!). He's always loved the song "Old MacDonald" and went around saying nothing but "E-I-E-I-O!" for about a week a month or so ago. And revisiting the Itsy Bitsy Spider was fun. He can do all of the motions except the finger part, which he does try to do but with only one hand. It's too cute for words. He watched nearly the whole thing with interest, and I tried to reinforce the body part words, like chin, fingers, foot, and leg. Oh, and the best of all, bellybutton.

The body part words and action words are the good part of the program. I will be purchasing a video called Kid 20/20 which introduces the 220 Dolch sight words that early readers need to transition to fluency. We will also be doing Leapfrog Letter Factory, which is supposed to be the gold standard introduction to phonics along with Starfall.com. We are still working on Dr. Titzer's first milestone. I figure when TJ's talking catches up, and he is becoming more verbally communicative every day, it will be much easier to get an accurate assessment of whether my baby can read.

Advancing to Volume 2 of Your Baby Can Read DVDs

I think TJ is officially done with Volume 1 DVD, we will move on to the Volume 2 DVD. It has been pretty hard to direct his interest to anything but the songs and the poems in Volume 1. He has a bit of a fever (teething and stuff) this morning, so he's asleep and hasn't gotten to watch yet today, I'll try to squeeze in one viewing this afternoon before Daddy gets home!

As for reading words, he's got "No" down, others we are still working on :-)

Dr. Titzer's Philosophy for Teaching A Baby to Read

I came across this article on www.brillbaby.com. I thought it was pretty complete and wanted to share it.

According to Titzer’s own infant research, the optimum time for learning to read is the same as the optimum time for learning spoken languages and sign language. He writes, “Studies from all areas of language... show that it’s easier to learn the patterns of language early in childhood compared to later in childhood.” While some may view reading as a task too complex for young children, Titzer says, “It’s likely the brain will develop more efficiently for reading when the child learns to read early in childhood compared to later in childhood.”

Titzer notes that according to a 2002 study by Yale University, “Activating children’s neural circuitry for reading early on is key.” How early on? According to Titzer, “The window for learning language begins to close by age four.” This implies that children who learn to read after the age of four may not develop the ideal neural circuitry for reading. The age at which reading instruction begins may govern not just a child’s reading ability, but their attitude to reading as well. Says Titzer, “Children who are taught to read earlier prefer to read more than children who are taught at age five or later.”

Some critics maintain that there are only short-lived advantages to be gained from early reading. Yet, the Your Baby Can Read website cites several studies that suggest long-term benefits. “Early readers stay ahead of children who are taught later in life,” writes Titzer, and “Some research indicates that the gap between early readers and later readers actually increases over time. This is sometimes known as the Matthews Effect, where rich learners get richer and poor learners get poorer.”

Some critics believe learning to read early harms children emotionally, but according to Titzer, “Children who enter school with reading skills have higher self-esteem than children who cannot read when they enter school.” For him, the importance of learning to read early in life can hardly be overstated. “Reading is the most important skill a child learns,” he notes. “Reading increases learning skills, and it helps children succeed both in school and later in life.” The academic achievements of Titzer’s daughters – straight A students who have each skipped at least one grade in school – stand testament to this. Aleka even began her second year of university at the age of 16.