Everything Parents Need to Know About the Doman Learning Reading Program
Did you know that two out of three fourth graders in the United States do not read at grade level? It's incredible—and troubling—that the wealthiest nation in history still fails to teach most children how to read at grade level. This stark reality underscores the importance of starting early with reading education. By teaching children to read at a young age, we can prevent them from falling into the group of kids who struggle with reading throughout their entire school experience.
With the Doman Method, we focus on teaching children how to read before they even start school, using sight words, not phonics. This method of teaching reading relies on the visual word form area of the brain, which is specifically developed and organized to recognize words. By using this inherent ability, we can effectively teach two, three, four, and five-year-olds to read before they enter the classroom, ensuring they don't become part of that concerning statistic. Read on to learn more about how to start using the Doman Method to teach your child to read.
PS: Since Father’s Day is around the corner, read until the end to get a free Doman reading download with images!
Why the Doman Method is More Effective Than Phonics
For over 60 years, the Doman Method has proven its effectiveness in teaching young children to read using big red sight words. We use large red print because it's easier for young children to see. Often, when children are taught to read with books, the print size is too small, making it hard for them to read. In contrast, large sight words are much more effective.
Example of small print in a children's book.
Example of large, easy-to-read Doman reading materials.
We use sight words because the human brain is designed to read by recognizing whole words. The visual word form area in our brains is adept at processing these complete words. When we teach words with repetition and joy, children learn to read them easily. Below I detail why phonics isn’t as effective as the Doman Method.
Three Reasons Why Phonics Doesn't Work
Phonics is Boring: Children are naturally more interested in words than individual letters. Teaching letters in isolation can be tedious, which is why they are often paired with related words (e.g., A is for Apple, B is for Ball) to make them more engaging.
Phonics Requires Speaking: Phonics requires children to sound out each letter to read a word. With the sight word approach of the Doman Method, children can learn to read words even before they can speak. I’ll talk about testing children later in this blog.
Most Languages Aren't Phonetic: English, for example, contains many inconsistencies. The letters "gh" in "firefighter" don't correspond to their sounds, making phonics less effective. A sight word approach, like the Doman Method, circumvents these issues.
Starting the Doman Reading Program
How to Teach a Set of Words
When we teach reading with the Doman Method, instead of teaching phonetically, we teach a category of words in groups of 5, we call these a set. For example, a set of fruit reading words might be ‘apple’, ‘banana’, ‘pear’, ‘orange’, and ‘kiwi’. To successfully teach a set of words to your child, do the following:
Introduce the Category: Say to your child, "Let's see these words of fruit."
Show Words Quickly: Show the five words quickly, taking about one second per card.
Celebrate: Finish with a celebration, like a high five, fist bump, or a big hug.
Check out our free download at the end of this blog to teach your first set today!
Tips to Bring Excitement to the Doman Reading Program
As I mentioned previously, joy is one of the most important aspects of Doman reading. Making reading fun will not only make your child excited about learning but will be something they will carry through the rest of their lives. Here are some tips to make the program fun!
Give Choices: Let your child choose the category of words they want to see.
Show Words Quickly: Remind your child how quickly you’ll show the words. Say, "I'm going to show the words real fast. Are you ready? Let's see them."
End with Joy: Finish each session with a hug, high five, or fist bump to bring joy to your child's reading program.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
One of the biggest mistakes parents can make is forcing a child to look at a word too long. Forcing a child to stare at a word can drive them crazy and cause them to lose interest. Instead, show the cards quickly—one second each—then take a break and finish with a celebration.
Testing Your Child
A common question parents ask is when they can start testing their child with the reading program. It’s crucial that for the first month, you don't ask your child any questions or expect any responses. This initial period is about making sure your child enjoys the program. Some children may not like being tested, and making the program fun is essential for later success. When you do start asking questions, always give your child choices. For example, hold up two cards and say, "Honey, can you show me where the word 'doctor' is?" Avoid asking your child to read aloud, as many children are self-conscious about speaking aloud.
Long-Term Benefits of the Doman Method Reading Program
Learning to read at a young age prevents children from being part of the two-thirds of American eighth graders who cannot read at age level. Reading proficiency is crucial for academic and professional success. Most importantly, a proficient reader can educate themselves, a vital skill in our rapidly changing world. Reading empowers children to be flexible, adaptable, and lifelong learners.
By starting early with the Doman Method, you’re giving your child a head start in reading and a solid foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Steps to Start the Doman Reading Program
Sign Up:
Begin with the Doman Learning course, Reading Before School, and watch all the necessary videos.
Print Word Cards:
Print out your first 150-word cards to kickstart your reading program.
Teach Categories:
Start by teaching your first category of words to your child.
Download our free resource below for Father’s Day to get started on your child's reading journey today!
Reading Before School
