How Corn Flakes Can Help Your Child to Read
We had an amazing moment today while I was making dinner. My 4 year old daughter named the letters on the Corn Flakes box and read the word “flakes” as “f-l-a-k-e-s” (short a & short e). After I explained that the “e” is silent and tells the “a” to say its name, she read the word correctly! Then she covered the “f” and asked me what it says. I told her to try it out for herself, and she read “lakes”. Then she proceeded to cover other letters and read those words, too. I was stunned and called my hubby and my dad. This is a moment that I have been anxiously waiting for. I just knew that she was ready to start reading! Here is a sampling of what I have done to get us to this point:
- For a couple of months now I have been demonstrating how to sound out words by saying the sounds of each letter and then “pushing” the sounds together.
- I point out sight words (the, is, what) when I read aloud.
- I have her read the letters in alphabet books.
- I have shown her how you can use onsets and rimes to make new words and to figure out unknown words.
- I’ve written words in the same word family (-at) with sidewalk chalk and bathtub crayons.
- I explain that we know that “a-t” says “at”.
- Now add the “b” to “at”. The word is “bat”.
- Take off the “b” and add a “c”. Now you have “cat”.
I am so excited for her. She was so proud of her accomplishment. This is what homeschooling is all about!
3 Responses to “How Corn Flakes Can Help Your Child to Read”
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[...] so I kept my eyes closed and told her that I would get up soon. She even tried to impress me by reading a word on one of her books. She then proceeded to show me how she could find smaller words within [...]
That is so sweet! My son loves looking at all the boxes [of whatever he's eating] while he eats. My husband had just bought him a new box of cereal. So when he sat down the next morning and saw there was a cross word puzzle on it, he got all excited and asked for a pen. Honestly, I didn’t think anything of it, got him a pen and cleaned the kitchen while he ate his breakfast.
Once he was done, he handed the box to me while he put his bowl in the sink and said, “Look, Mom I found all these words..” as he proceeded to say the words to me. I was so impressed! They were big words! Well big as in his grade level. I was just so blessed, I squealed with excitement. Yes, I sqeauled! He laughed and we hugged.
It was just truly precious and I am so grateful for moments like that! I always make sure I thank Jesus for them as they happen. *sniffle*
What a blessing! I always read the cereal boxes when I was a kid. I am glad that the cereal companies have gotten word of this and put some fun activities for kids on the boxes.