AUTHOR'S NOTE
So Simple At-Home is a program developed by a veteran first-grade teacher, Patty So, M.S.
From Patty So:
As a parent of 2 sons and a teacher for over 20 years, I found that I needed to use the "open doors" that all children have to teach essential sight words to youngsters. No matter a child's background, all children have certain skills in common: all children can move, sing, and make noise! Sight words comprise at least 50 to 70% of all reading material. When children enter, or are in, the primary grades, their ability to "own" these sight words and read them with accuracy and fluency gives children a big "I CAN!"
I have spent my career working with limited English and print-deprived learners, and I have learned many things from these children, as well as my own growing sons. While print was existent everywhere in our home, my youngest son had NO interest in reading! He entered kindergarten knowing 6 letters and 2 sounds, and wrote his name "4H". (Now, as a teacher, that was a bit embarrassing, however, I knew he had the ability and the resources at home; he just didn't have interest yet.) At this point, I began developing the So Simple Sightwords program. Using movement and music, I found that my reluctant readers (including my son!) were happy to learn essential sight words with ease, and with little to no anxiety. Once these words were "owned" by the children, they were excited to find these words in books they looked at, and books I read to them. In turn, they began using their "owned" words and spelling them correctly in their writing. Reading and writing scores increased in my classroom, as well as in other schools using the program.
At present, the school version of the So Simple Sightwords program is in use in schools throughout the United States. Classrooms use the program to assist in gaining word ownership, increasing reading and writing fluency.
So Simple Sightwords At-Home is designed to allow you to help your child learn while home life goes on! Learning should not be an isolated activity; everything we do with our children teaches verbal skills and social skills. So Simple Sightwords At-Home offers some new and different ideas to incorporate learning activities with things that go on at home on a daily basis.
Enjoy your child, enjoy the growth you see, and enjoy the word ownership and fun your child has while learning essential sight words!
As a veteran teacher and mom, I can tell you there is nothing better than to know a child has the attitude of "I CAN!"