Spelling & Sight Words

Play along with him. If he doesn't like books, what about poems and rhyming games and songs? He may also like puns. If he has an interest in a topic, build from there. "Look, DS, this book is about frogs. Frogs are amphibians!" Keep using "big words" with him. My DD went through a phase where she would ask what x word meant and she'd tuck that info away. We didn't stop using larger words, just explained when she didn't get the context.

We also like magazines like High 5 and Ranger Rick Jr. I get them when Mamapedia has a coupon offer.

Word play is great at this age. Keep it up.

Yes, it's great! Play along with him! If he won't read by himself, the best way to introduce more vocabulary to him is to read to him. And then read to him some more. And some more.

Read to him a lot. It's critical. I have noticed a major dearth of vocabulary in kids these days and in my opinion it's one of the biggest reasons many of them aren't doing well in school. They don't understand what they are reading, so they give up.

Also, use higher-level vocabulary when you talk to him, and that way he will acquire it naturally.

By the way, don't make reading a chore, but emphasize phonics when you try to teach him. (But at 3, you don't need to "teach" him phonics, just read and have fun with the language.) It's great that he's doing this, but overall I don't believe in "sight reading" as the way to teach a kid to read.

Have fun!

Put some post-it notes on everything. The tv, the window, the oven, the door, the chair - you get it - and encourage him to spell out the words.

Good for him! Yes, age-appropriate and definitely play along! My mom taught my older sister and I how to read when we were 3 using a rebus book that she got from a neighbor. The beginning of the book was all in pictures and there was a code on the back cover of the book decoding what each picture or symbol meant. On each page, another symbol or two was dropped and a word was introduced instead. By the end of the book, it was all in words and we were reading (there were probably around 100 words, similar to what would be considered sight words for Kindergarten now). Now is a great time to explore reading and spelling!

Let him lead the language play and participate with enthusiasm. Some things that we used to do when we were small (and that I did with my own kids) is play games at the dinner table like "I'm thinking of a word that rhymes with silk that's on the table right now" and of course we'd all be yelling "milk! milk rhymes with silk!" Or "hmmmm...I wonder how to spell cup? Can anyone guess?" and then "what rhymes with cup? How would we spell that?"

There are some fun real games that use words that he would probably like too, like Zingo. It's bingo but way more fun. The cards and chips have pictures and words on them so pre-readers can play but they are associating the words with pictures. Another idea would be to get something like scrabble or bananagrams that has letter tiles and play with him using words he know or just let him make words with the tiles.

Another fun thing (he sounds like he has a funny bone) would be to let him use the tiles to create non-sense words that you sound out together. Being able to decode non-sense words is actually an important skill in learning how to read but the kids don't know that, they just like making up ridiculous fake words and having you pronounce them.

Definitely play along. Being able to hear rhymes and make rhymes is a very important part of learning how to read. Even if they are nonsense words that is OK.

Even if he seems to not be listening read to him. Kids at that age are little sponges and most of what they learn are things they hear. Find books that have simple text and rhyming text that you can read. When my son was 3 he wouldn't really sit for me to read to him but there were a select few books that he loved. Look for Jan Thomas books, Go Away Big Green Monster, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Eric Carle books, and others with similar text. Reading to him will also increase his vocabulary. Kids who read an hour a day (which can be little bits of time throughout the day) hear over 4 million words in a year.

Talking with your son is another way to teach vocabulary. Describe everything you are doing. If you use "big" words talk about what they mean.

There is an iPad app called Endless Alphabet that is a fun app that teaches vocabulary and letter sounds. My 4 year old plays it for short periods of time and he has learned some great words.

Play away!!! Sounds like he is having fun and rhyming is a very important component in reading and spelling later.

Just build vocabulary through talking. Some t.v. shows are vary good at this as well. I remember so impressed that Thomas the Tank Engine used the word "ominously" in an episode. They also used some other great ones as well.

BTW- very cool that he recognizes that the letters build a word as well!

Good for him! It's totally age appropriate. I agree with putting post-its or labels on everything. This is pretty common practice at a lot of daycares, and it will keep him happy with his "reading" and spelling. My daughter was always thrilled to point out words that she could "read" at ages 2 and 3.

As far as introducing more vocabulary, just incorporate it into your regular conversation with him. My 4yr old loves "trying out" new words and phrases that she hears us use. We talk to her about all sorts of things during various activities. For example: last night at dinner, we were talking about what we were eating, what nutrients we get from those things (protein, potassium, calcium), and how that helps our bodies (building muscle, strengthening bones, etc). We're a talkative family anyway, so we have a lot of conversations throughout the day. :)

He is having fun.
It is a game to him.
Which is also him learning.
Which is what he is learning from Daycare.
Ask them, what they are teaching the kids now.

What he is doing, without him knowing the formality of it... is learning word families and sounds. In essence, it is rhyming. And via repetition, a kid indirectly learns, about words/spelling/letter sounds/phonics, etc.

Its totally fine.

Now, "vocabulary" is not the same as reading or spelling.
Some kids for example, will know a word (vocabulary word), but not even know how to spell it, but they know what it means. And visa versa.
Reading, then comprehension, comes in age stages. Developmentally.
ie: a Kindergartener will not be "reading" in the same speed or fluency or comprehension as a 3rd grader. For example.
In the earlier years, Preschool/Kinder/1st Grade, they learn by phonics and sight reading. And learning, about letter sounds. Phonemes, etc.

Your son is having fun with it.
Go with it.
Its totally fine.
And he's making it into an amusing "game" for himself.
And he is learning!

The rhyming games are great. Play along with those for sure. Encourage the reading and spelling whenever he wants it, but don't push it when he's not initiating.

If he doesn't like to read books, you can boost his vocabulary simply by talking to him all about the things you do and see while you're out and about. The more descriptive you can be, the better. With all the Halloween stuff around, it's a great time to talk about everything you see. You don't need fancy words. Just conversation. Encourage him to describe what he sees.

I would cover the letter T on hot and see if he can remember was belongs there.

Keep going with him.