>  I started my children reading by phonics before they
 > ever started  school. They first learned the sounds of the letters
 > and sounded   out the words. This enabled them to read simple books
Mine too, Nancy. Jennifer read simple words before she got to 
Kindergarten...some she had picked up "by osmosis" (i.e. being read to), and 
others, she sounded out. Kristin was the same way. The school I enrolled them 
both in taught HEAVY phonics. Now, they are the best readers in the 4th and 
3rd grades in their current school. It really amazes me when the teachers 
comment on it and then ask "what did you do?"!
 >  This kind of teaching has worked for years and
Bingo. The only theory that anyone has come up with on...
 > why  anyone would  totally abandon it as a way to teach reading is
....this is some sort of "plot" to make kids dependent on the government. 
It's almost scarey. (But this is not intended to start a political war on 
this echo.)
 >   My first trip was to the library.  I certainly hope
 > I can help  her. I dont want her career to be MacDonalds or some
 > other low paying job for the lack of reading skills.
Many libraries have a section in which the literacy tutors use...high 
interest, low vocab books. There are so many good phonics programs. Good 
k!
                                 -donna
--- GEcho 1.00
---------------