Teach your baby to Read: Glenn Doman’s Method
June 27, 2007 — Alenka | Posted in To Read. 20 Comments »Al right, let’s assume (or pretend if you wish) you’ve read Glenn Doman & Janet Doman, How To Teach Your Baby to Read (from now on shortened as GD) and reviewed our Summary of the book’s guidelines. Or may be you enjoyed Laurie Tiemen’s really brief summary at eHow: How to Teach Your Baby to Read (Doman’s method in a nutshell). Since you are reading this article, you are highly motivated, eager to start, though a little confused and lacking resources. That’s where I hope to help you.
So, where do I get the materials?
How do I use these files?
Can I use computer, TV or other multimedia options instead or in addition to cards?
Now, how do I start?
But how many times a day is it realistic to show these sets?
Where did you get the materials?
Can I buy some ready made materials?
How do I make my own materials?
What if I have more questions: how do I know if my baby is learning or what to do if she is losing interest, etc.?
How can I share my own materials and ideas?
Does this actually work?
What about other programs: math, encyclopedic knowledge, foreign language, music, physical exercises, etc?
What about FUN?
So, where do I get the materials?
Right here, right now! If you have more materials (in any language!), please email it to us, so that we can make them available to everyone. Your other options would be creating the materials by yourself, buying ready made cards/kits, or using multimedia options.
Step 1 – Single words
English (contains pictures; words are read by male and female speakers)
Russian PPT (6×22 words); Introductory Words In Russian PPT (8 1/2 x 11, with pictures); Russian MS Word (11×14 +) * Russian PPT with child voices reading ****
Spanish (contains pictures; words are read by male and female speakers)
Step 2 – Couplets
English (contains pictures; words are read by male and female speakers)
Russian (Noun+Adjective) **
Step 3 – Phrases
English
Russian ***
Step 4 – Sentences
Russian 1-5
Russian 6-10
English (by ChildAndMe members) or English (By Classical Mommy)
Step 5 – Books
Books: in English, Spanish, German and Russian.
* I was not showing anything on the computer to my baby until he was one. And then he was more interested in couplets, so the files available are for printing only.
** At this stage, I was using the single word printouts and lining them up into couplets at the floor. About the same time I introduced Power Point presentations with couplets and pictures – my baby really enjoyed them. In a zip file you can see the “gradations”: every file contains the same set of slides, with one word retired, and one new.
*** I didn’t separate couplets and phases stages. I was adding more and more words to my couplets until they grew into words and sentences, so you will see the phrases slowly getting bigger. About the same time, we started looking at books that turned out to be my baby’s favorite part of our reading program!
****This remarkable file comes from Презентации Для Детей. According to the properties, this file was created by Lubina, so I would like to thank her for an amazing job. I updated the font size and word placement, but you can load an original: Чтение простых слов (со звуком)
How do I use these files?
Single words: I printed out all the words on 8×14 paper, folded in half and scotch taped together the words that were too big to fit on one page. My initial set turned out waaay smaller then the size that Doman recommends, but it was cheap, easy to carry around. See “How do I make my own materials ” for more options or check out multimedia options for showing cards on the Computer, TV, DVD, etc.
Power Point presentations you can either show on the computer, or print them out. See more recommendations on how to use Power Point Presentations .
Can I buy something to save myself time and efforts?
What’s available:
- See our Teach Your Baby With Multimedia article for listing of DVDs, programs and other resources that can help you in your reading quest.
- Gentle Revolution Teach Your Baby variety of kits and options
(Thanks to Laurie Tiemens):
If your baby is less than 12 months old the print in the kit cards will be too small. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal to make the cards yourselves as long as you don’t have to cut the cards by hand. It was way better to have them customized for my daughter with the things in her particular world reflected in the words she learned.
(Thanks to Priscila Mora):
The IAHP cards are great!!! I can’t describe the thickness but it is sooooo much better than any other posterboard and soooo easy to use.
(thanks to Yonit Kasten):
I do have the kit (I should say “did” because I gave it away). Honestly, I thought it was a waste of money. Most of the words in it were not words we normally used. They were really just the words in the book that came with the kit. And they weren’t even the right size for my daughter at the time. I was actually very disappointed in it.
I had much better luck making my own words and books. They were more meaningful to my kids that way.
That being said, I got the new newborn kit for my newest babe and we have been enjoying that.
(Thanks to Joan Chen):
I agree with Yonit. I didn’t end up using the kit; I use my own home-made cards most of the time since my own words are more relevant to my daughter than the kit.
Feeling guilty of leaving the kit unused, I tried to use them when there were relevant words. It was a nightmare: I couldn’t shuffle them well (i.e. homemade cards are made of different paper stock and size from those of the kit’s), and I spent a lot of time tracking whether the cards come from the kit or the homemade stack.
I wouldn’t buy the kit if I were you. In fact, if you still decide you want to buy it, do you want to buy my hardly used kit for a cheaper price? … j/k 
How do I make my own materials?
If you would like to show all the program on the computer – just go ahead and use the files on this site or create your own Power Point presentations and how to add audio sound to PowerPoint presentations.
If you would like to go with cards, first you need to create your own word cards, and then to create your own books. Check out Laurie Tiemens’ tips on creating word cards at eHow: How to Make Word Cards to Teach Your Baby To Read.
What if I have more questions: how do I know if my baby is learning or what to do if she is losing interest, etc.?
First of all, check our Glenn Doman’s FAQ.
Second, make a search at our forum in case someone already asked that question!
Third, post a question on our forum and I am sure you’ll hear some encouraging replies pretty soon!
How can I share my own materials and ideas?
Feel free to comment below, or to use our forum or to email to us directly. Your opinion really counts and we are looking forward to hear from you!
What about other programs: math, encyclopedic knowledge, foreign language, music, physical exercises, etc?
Aren’t children amazing? They can learn as much material, as you can give them!
Doman recommends starting with reading – it is the most essential tool. Once you have you are comfortable with your reading program, you can add others, such as Math and Encyclopedic Knowledge. Our site has an extensive array of materials on all those topics, that will keep getting updated. If you have some of the materials that we don’t, please email it to us for everyone to share!
Foreign language is a little different story: if you already know some other language, you can just start speaking to your child in that language and he’ll learn it his favorite way – from you! If you are looking for additional information and resources, check our Foreign Language section
Music: How to teach your baby music section
Physical exercises:
I followed Glenn Doman’s How to make your baby physically superb. Check out our Teach Your Child To Be Physically Superb section for more information and our results.
Swimming:
We used the following book to learn to swim: Learn To Swim, Rob McKay and Cathy McKay. After three summer months of trying this method at the swimming pool, my 11 month old could swim for 6 seconds underwater, reach the ladder and climb out. Then… we had a 2 months break and he forgot everything. Finally Glenn Doman’s book on How To Teach Your Baby to Swim came out. Read the comparison of these two teaching methods and the rest of our swimming adventures (and share yours!).
What about fun?
It is FUN!!! The primary reason why we dedicate so much of our time to this program is because we have fun doing it and hope that our son will share our vision, that learning – is FUN!
But, of course, that’s not the only thing we do.
Since my baby was one, I started organizing Educational Playdates in Russian and in English.
My two nephews enjoyed a whole array of amazing and magical Birthday parties, New Year Parties, Halloween parties – check out this great princess party in NJ page. Since my own son is only growing up, I am looking forward to hear your own ideas, so please share them at our forum.
In between the parties, we come up with some fun and educational things to do, that you can check out in our Educational Ideas section and please share some things you do, so that we can try them too!
Related posts:
February 18, 2009 at 7:44 am
Could you some please give me a list of English words I can start teaching a 4 month old baby?
Thanks in advance,
Sharon
February 18, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Absolutely! In the book Glenn Doman has a few major categories of initial words to offer to the kids, with ~15 words in each. For my own son I made some PowerPoint presentations with those words (and images – English is not his first language, so he needed images to know what those words mean). You can find them here: http://www.childandme.com/howteachbabyreadenglish/#single
Once we were done with Doman’s initial word sets, I started creating presentations with more words – those files are named Objects 2, Foods 2, Possessions 2… etc.
Enjoy!
March 2, 2009 at 9:42 am
Dear Alenka,
Thank you for this wonderful site! I have a question please regarding some notes from above:
” * I was not showing anything on the computer to my baby until he was one. And then he was more interested in couplets, so the files available are for printing only.
** At this stage, I was using the single word printouts and lining them up into couplets at the floor. About the same time I introduced Power Point presentations with couplets and pictures – my baby really enjoyed them. In a zip file you can see the “gradations”: every file contains the same set of slides, with one word retired, and one new.
*** I didn’t separate couplets and phases stages. I was adding more and more words to my couplets until they grew into words and sentences, so you will see the phrases slowly getting bigger. About the same time, we started looking at books that turned out to be my baby’s favorite part of our reading program!
****This remarkable file comes from Презентации Для Детей. According to the properties, this file was created by Lubina, so I would like to thank her for an amazing job. I updated the font size and word placement, but you can load an original: Чтение простых слов (со звуком) ”
* * *
Are these files translated into English? I am attempting to put together an Excel spreadsheet with my lessons planned out by each step in order to make creating the cards/.ppt/Little Reader software categories & playlists easier . . I have benefitted tremendously from this site and the .ppt arranged by each Step . . and it sounds like the “zip files” mentioned above are exactly what I am looking for . . if they are not translated, how easy would it be to do so in order to give newer Doman Mom’s/Dad’s a visual example of the actual steps as described in the notes above, please?
Thanks a million for this site!
ANMB
March 2, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Dear Alenka,
After reading the following description, “How Do I Start Showing Flashcards”:
The 3 sessions a day of showing the same set of words should be SEPARATED by at least 30 minutes.
Now, when you start here is what I recommend:
Day 1: Show Word 1 three times a day.
Day 2: Show Words 1 and 2 three times a day.
Day 3: Show Words 1, 2, and 3 three times a day.
Day 4: Show Words 1, 2, 3, and 4 three times a day.
Day 5: Show Words 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 three times a day.
Day 6: Retire Word 1. Show Words 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 three times a day.
Day 7: Retire Word 2. Show Words 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 three times a day.
Day 8: Reitire Word 3. Show Words 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 three times a day.
At this point each word that you retire you have shown 15 times.
from > http://www.childandme.com/How-do-I-start-Showing-Flash-Cards/
* * *
I wanted to know if I could do this instead:
Day 1: Show Set 1 of 5 cards, three times a day.
Day 2: Show Set 1 and add Set 2, show each set three times a day.
Day 3: Show Sets 1 & 2; and add Set 3; show each set three times a day.
Day 4: Show Sets 1, 2, & 3; and add Set 4; show each set three times a day.
Day 5: Show Sets 1, 2, 3, & 4; and add Set 5; showing each set three times a day.
Day 6: Retire Set 1. Show Sets 2, 3, 4, & 5; and add Set 6; showing each set three times a day.
Day 7: Retire Set 2. Show Sets 3, 4, 5, & 6; and add Set 7; showing each set three times a day.
Each word is still seen 15 times – yet, it seems easier than retiring a word from each set and introducing a new word into each set.
What do you think?
Frustrated.
ANMB
March 2, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Those comments that you mention definitely show how little sleep I usually get – I can barely read them myself!
Well, those comments apply just to my Russian files. All the English and Spanish files were created much later – I had more experience, so they are organized much better, illustrated with pictures, more consistent. I’ll reorganize them once we get to showing words with my new baby.
English files can be loaded right here: Teach your baby to read – English
Spanish presentations are available here: Teach your baby to read – Spanish
March 3, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Dear Alenka,
Thank you for the response here and for the “How do I start showing flash cards?
I am still a little confused. Please bear with me becuase I am a visual learner.
In the notes above on the page:
Step 5 – Books
Books: in English, Spanish and Russian.
* I was not showing anything on the computer to my baby until he was one. And then he was more interested in couplets, so the files available are for printing only.
** At this stage, I was using the single word printouts and lining them up into couplets at the floor. About the same time I introduced Power Point presentations with couplets and pictures – my baby really enjoyed them. In a zip file you can see the “gradations”: every file contains the same set of slides, with one word retired, and one new.
*** I didn’t separate couplets and phases stages. I was adding more and more words to my couplets until they grew into words and sentences, so you will see the phrases slowly getting bigger. About the same time, we started looking at books that turned out to be my baby’s favorite part of our reading program!
****This remarkable file comes from Презентации Для Детей. According to the properties, this file was created by Lubina, so I would like to thank her for an amazing job. I updated the font size and word placement, but you can load an original: Чтение простых слов (со звуком)
I want to see the zip files referenced here: “In a zip file you can see the “gradations”: every file contains the same set of slides, with one word retired, and one new.”
It will help me to see it even if I cannot read it – the format is what I am looking for to use as a template, please. Also, how did you name each file? By the name of the day? Date? How did you keep up with which files were old from current from new?
Thank you.
ANMB :{
March 3, 2009 at 8:38 pm
No Problem! Here is a link to zip file with some of the sequencing of English words that I was recently showing to my son: download sample collection of files.
I hope that answers your question on naming, reordering, etc.
I’ve got to admit, that I am currently updating files for my son in idiosyncratic way: I create a presentation that you can see on the site, print it out (once we are done watching it on the computer, we continue occasionally read those presentations as “books” – unnecessary step according to Doman, but my son actually forgets things quickly and I don’t feel like I am waisting too much time perfecting those presentations in the first place) and then create other files where I modify/reshuffle things on a daily basis.
Just today I thought I should ask my husband to write an application that would take care of everything for me, track changes for each child, etc… but the time is always an issue. At least I hope to reuse those files later with the new baby.
March 3, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Dear Alenka,
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Because I am a visual learner, it helps me to see examples.
I think once I go through each step from words to books at least once – then I will have a better grasp on how to create these. I want to make sure that I am thorough and carefully selecting the right words so that I don’t have incomplete sentences. And whatever I use in English, my husband will translate into Arabic and create the sound clips for me. It is a lot of work! and it is time consuming.
I am amazed that you do all that you do! And you are expecting as well?, insha’Allah, masha’Allah (God willing and May God protect you). WOW!
I will get this – I am just struggling a little bit and will figure it out. Your site is excellent and is sooo helpful!
Thanks again!
Sincerely,
ANMB
March 4, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I am very happy it was helpful and thank you very much for your kind words!
When we were just starting, everything seemed so frustrating and confusing… It’s partially the reason for posting all this information at ChildAndMe: I found lots of wonderful information, lots of tips from other parents, so I hope to pass this help further…
Thanks for your blessings: I’ve just had a little wonderful baby boy and I am now getting used to balancing two developmental programs! I am just learning to compromise and to stay a lot more organized, to be able to find time for most of the things that I’d love to do.
September 14, 2009 at 12:20 am
My kids and nieces and nephews have used DVDs & Flash Cards from Galloping Minds. They’re entertaining and keep kids occupied. They absolutely love the Alphabet and Phonics DVD and Flash Cards.
http://www.gallopingminds.com
October 14, 2009 at 7:56 am
Hi Alenka,
I am mum of 2 kids. 1st 40months old & 2nd 14months. Recently got Glenn domans books and was inspired by it. I want to try Math & Read at the same time with both kids, what do you suggest? As math is recommend uptill 30months. So should I start only read- with the 1st child (40mnths old) & math+read for 2nd (14months old) or i just start with only read for both of them?
And if I start math & read at the same time then how many sessions do you suggest?
Thanks in advance. Your site is really helpful.
October 14, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Most of the kids lose the ability to see quantity after the age of three. It is emphasized on pages 175 and 176 in the chapter about when to begin teaching dots. Near the bottom of page, an analysis of the question of age relation begins: “The ability to recognize real value or quantity is definitely strongest between the ages of birth and thirty months. The dot cards are really a baby’s domain. This does not mean that a child older than thirty months does not have any chance of learning the quantity cards, but it does mean that the chances of his doing so are much less.”
So it doesn’t mean that your 40 month old can’t learn the dots, so you can try the program for both of your kids and let their interest guide you!
I’d start with reading first no matter what. Whether math would work or not, is still questionable. Reading is the staple of all the knowledge, so I think the earlier you start, the better. Once you incorporated showing reading sets into your daily routine, then you can add math.
The book has many suggestions on the amount of sessions per day. I could never do it – but I’ve seen parents who could do even more! Your kids are the only ones who can tell you: if they are interested, if they want more, if you can prepare enough materials quickly enough, if you have sufficient space in your daily schedule to have fun and consistent sessions – do as many as you can! There are some wonderful guidelines on how to start, written by Laurie, homeschooling mom to 10 kiddos: How do I start showing flash cards?. Enjoy!
November 13, 2009 at 3:40 am
This is a wonderful site.
enough!
Thanks for all the hard work!
I dont have words to praise you
January 18, 2010 at 5:09 pm
We are selling two practically new Glenn Doman sets (teach your child to read and teach your child math).
Write if interested amybpt@bellsouth.net
February 3, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Does anyone have suggestions where I could get blank flashcards to make my own? What have y’all used?
February 5, 2010 at 1:02 pm
I used what they call here in the UK ‘card.’ It’s a little bit stiffer than paper, and the same size as regular paper. I just cut them to the right size and it was really inexpensive.
April 5, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Hi Alenka,
your web-site is a great resource!
Just recently I have found two small parts of educational CD in Russian. It has just come out.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SuperKaty1986
I really like its quality, and my son is admiring it. He really likes to watch this and asks me to put it for him at least once a day!
I asked the person who put it on youtube and here’s what she had answered: “вся информация по этому продукту должна быть в скором времени на сайте umnitsa.ru это будет комплект из 5 дисков, но пока его еще нет в продаже, идет работа по завершению если интересуетесь развивалками для ребенка, наберите в гугле “лаборатория антона маниченко”"
Alenka, what do you think about this product? I appreciate your opinion on that and also wanted to share this link with you since you collect all the info on programs for children.
Thanks!
April 6, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Thank you for sharing the link! That’s the first time that I see a DVD with words for kids in Russian. I guess a Russian answer would more appropriate here.
А что вы сами по этому поводу думаете? Мне очень интересно узнать и ваше мнение.
Очень милое видео. Спасибо за вопрос, но хочу ещё раз подчеркнуть, что моё мнение – глубоко личное и субъективное. На английском языке мне пока больше всего понравились диски Your Baby Can Read and Signing Times. Это русское видео мне больше напомнило Monkey See Monkey Do: хорошо показанные качественные картинки слов, песенки, слова пишутся на экране, отличные кадры с детками. В Your Baby Can Read мне очень нравятся обучающие нотки: “Слон. Это слон африканский, а это азиатский! Африканский слон – больше азиатского слона!” “Тигр. Тигр принадлежит к семейству кошачих!” Благодаря таким маленьким отступлениям видео с удовольствием смотрит не только мой малыш, а и его четырёхлетний брат тоже, в то время как Monkey See была для него скучноватой уже года в два.
Мне также очень нравится в Your Baby Can Read, что все слова песенки возникают на экране (т.е. все слова для этой песни заранее показали по отдельности, а потом собрали в песню, что для таких песен, как “Голова и плечи, ножки и пятки” на английском – очень легко, но я не знаю, насколько это применимо к русскому с его спряжениями и склонениями).
Мне показалось, что повторений слишком много: детки хотят смотреть такие видео часто и мне кажется лучше показать деткам много разных слов, а когда одни и те-же словосочетания повторяются то малышам может надоесть: “апельсиновый сок” и “сок апельсиновый; “есть банан” и “банан есть”. Некоторые словосочетания из-за переставлений звучат несколько не порусски… С другой стороны, мне понравилась структура, которая показывает вначале слово, потом слово в словосочетании, потом в песенке. Интересная идея со словами с другими окончаниями, но Доман как раз предостерегал, что в одном наборе лучше избегать слов начинающихся с одной буквы – детки путаются с ними. Я вижу этот эффект по сей день: мой ребёнок, встречая слово “очки” пытается его заменить на знакомое зрительно слово “очень”. Или собственное имя: он по сей день читает его в именительном падеже, независимо от формы. К примеру, “Антошка”, “Антошу”, “Антошенька” – он зрительно не различает. Это частично та причина, по которой я начала добавлять ему презентации со слогами и играть с фонетической кассой звуков. Для нас система зрительных слов сработала не до конца: многие слова он узнаёт, он с удовольствием запоминает главных героев истории и узнаёт их зрительно, вместо того, чтобы читать по слогам, он многие слова догадывается зрительно (не всегда правильно), но читает всё-же фонетически, со всеми сопутствующими мучениями.
Я продолжаю верить, что малышам видео вредно и совсем не нужно. При этом продолжаю своему младшему показывать иногда в машине – чтобы не плакал во время наших постоянных переездов.
В остальном, видео выглядело очень симпатично и я рада, что подобные разнообразные способы обучения начали появляться! У нас множество друзей, которые с крошечного возраста ставят своим малышам и Карлсона, и Дядю Фёдора, и диснеевские мультики и Капитана Врунгеля – всё это и мои любимые мультики тоже, но мне кажется малышам от них толку очень мало. Если уже что-то ставят, лучше что-то более подходящее по возрасту, как это видео.
July 2, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Wow!!! Thank you so much for all the materials you have shared! I’ve been trying to put a program together for my baby, and since I am trying to do it all, I am a little overwhelmed. I am trying to do Russian, English, Spanish, and French programs, as well as a Hebrew foreign language program. And of course everything else that Doman teaches. And I have also followed the EC method with my baby from birth, and she has been fully potty trained from 18 months. I would love to meet with you if an opportunity ever arises, since I live in Brooklyn, NY.
Anyway, your site is absolutely amazing! Thank you very very much
July 16, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Jenya, that sounds fascinating!!! How do you do all of that? Do you actually know all of those languages? Adding French to our program is my dream… and Hebrew!… How much I wish I knew Hebrew!!!