Learning Dynamics: A 4-Week Study Plan for Reading Success
Learning to read is a thrilling experience, both for the student and the teacher. Witnessing that first moment of understanding, when something "clicks" in a child's brain, is one of the most rewarding aspects of homeschooling. However, the journey isn't always easy. It can be filled with frustrations for everyone involved. That's where the Learning Dynamics program comes in, designed to alleviate these challenges and make the learning process simple and enjoyable.
What is Learning Dynamics?
The Learning Dynamics program is crafted to help children develop language and comprehension skills in a way that is engaging and effective. It is appropriate for all learning styles, combining visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities for a multi-sensory approach. This phonics-based program has been used in classrooms for over 15 years, catering to preschool through second-grade students. The full program comes with everything needed to teach a child to read.
Program Overview
The Learning Dynamics program is designed to be taught in short, focused sessions of just 15 minutes a day, 3 days a week. Like many phonics programs, Learning Dynamics teaches letter sounds out of order, strategically introducing letters based on their ease of pronunciation and common usage. The program starts with the letter M, as it is one of the first sounds children make. From there, it introduces vowels and consonants that work together to form simple words.
A Personalized Approach
Every child learns at their own pace. Some children may be excited readers at 3, while others may be more reluctant at 6. It's important to follow the child's lead and adjust the pace of the lessons accordingly. If a child starts getting confused or frustrated, it's okay to take a break and gently review previously learned material.
Week 1: Introduction to Letters and Sounds
During the first week, focus on introducing the first few letters and their corresponding sounds. The Learning Dynamics program starts with the letter M, so begin there. Use the flashcards and the character rewards to make the learning process fun and engaging. The larger cards have a lowercase letter with the character which match the smaller reward cards with the pronunciation and character name on the back. Incorporate the alphabet song into each lesson to help your child associate the letters with their sounds.
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Activities:
- Introduce the letter M using flashcards and the character reward.
- Sing the alphabet song, focusing on the sound of the letter M.
- Play a game where your child has to find the letter M around the house.
- Read the first few pages of the first book, which will likely contain only a word or two with the letter M.
Week 2: Blending Sounds and Building Words
In the second week, begin blending the sounds of the letters to form simple words. The Learning Dynamics program includes blend cards or special sounds cards that have the blend on the front and multiple words that contain it on the back. Use these cards to introduce your child to common blends like "ma," "me," and "mi."
Activities:
- Introduce the blend cards and practice blending the sounds of the letters.
- Play a game where your child has to create words using the letter and blend cards.
- Continue singing the alphabet song and letter-specific songs.
- Read the next few pages of the books, which will start to introduce simple words.
Week 3: Introducing More Letters and Sounds
Continue introducing new letters and sounds each week, following the order of the Learning Dynamics program. Focus on reinforcing the sounds that your child has already learned. Use the flashcards, character rewards, and songs to make the learning process fun and engaging.
Activities:
- Introduce new letters and sounds using flashcards and character rewards.
- Continue singing the alphabet song and letter-specific songs.
- Play a game where your child has to identify the letters and sounds in words that you say.
- Read the books together, encouraging your child to sound out the words.
Week 4: Review and Reinforcement
In the fourth week, focus on reviewing all of the letters and sounds that your child has learned so far. Play games and do activities that reinforce their knowledge. You can also start introducing simple sentences.
Activities:
- Review all of the letters and sounds that your child has learned.
- Play games and do activities that reinforce their knowledge.
- Start introducing simple sentences.
- Continue reading the books together, encouraging your child to sound out the words and understand the meaning of the sentences.
The Importance of Music
Music plays a vital role in the Learning Dynamics program. The songs have sweet, children's melodies. The alphabet song and the letter-specific songs help children associate letters with their sounds in a fun and memorable way. The handful of melodies are reused for multiple letters which makes it familiar and easier for the child to sing along.
Flashcards and Character Rewards
The flashcards come in 2 sizes and can be used in a variety of ways. The letter cards have the capital on one side and the lowercase on the back. The blend cards or special sounds cards have the blend on the front and multiple words that contain it on the back. The larger cards have a lowercase letter with the character which match the smaller reward cards with the pronunciation and character name on the back. These rewards can be used to motivate and encourage children as they learn. The character rewards can be used to motivate and encourage children as they learn.
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Books and Workbooks
The books (along with the lesson manual and student workbook) are approximately 7x7 inches. The first few books have only 4 pages and only a word or two on each one. After that, there are a few more pages per book and complete sentences. These books gradually increase in complexity, allowing children to build their reading skills at their own pace.
Curriculum Ease of Use
This curriculum is extremely easy to use. There is practically no set up work involved for the parent. There are a few typos throughout the lesson manual, but nothing that would hinder you from understanding the meaning. However, in lessons 34-38, the second time the letter song is played, it instructs to sing the M song (first lesson) instead of the current letter and point to the pictures on the back of the page instead of the opposing page. It's important to pay attention to these details and make sure you are following the instructions correctly.
Long-Term Goals
Learning Dynamics is a full reading program. By the end of the curriculum, a student will have learned not only letters and sounds and reading short vowel words, but also long vowels and many pesky special sounds that are found in the English language, like sh, ch, scr, soft c, and more. The program aims to equip children with the skills they need to become confident and fluent readers.
Additional Resources
One thing that I would love to see added to the kit is an alphabet sheet. We listen to the song with each lesson, but there is no visual to look at, which makes it difficult for someone just learning the letters to follow along. Consider supplementing the Learning Dynamics program with additional resources, such as an alphabet chart. This will provide a visual aid for children as they learn the letters and their sounds.
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