Learning to read and write
Phonics
Phonics is a method of teaching children to read using sounds. It is recommended to begin teaching your child around the age of five or six. Teaching English reading using phonics requires children to learn the connections between letter patterns and the sounds they represent.
The main advantage using phonics over just teaching your children the alphabet is that once your child as learned the main sounds that make up a word your child can read many different words. The sounds your child learns can then be blended together to form words.
For example get your child to pronounce the following word sounds a-t and o-t.
When they are comfortable with forming the sound the following words will be easy for them to pronounce, c-a-t, s-a-t, m-a-t, n-o-t, h-o-t and p-o-t.
Learning books that incorporate sound are one of the best methods for teaching phonics as each word must be demonstrated over and over to achieve the highest level outcome.
The language experience approach
The language experience approach is a method you may like to use. Your child will use their own words. For example you have a pet dog. Ask your child to draw a picture of the dog in the garden. You can then add the words (My dog in the garden) underneath the picture.
Collect all the drawings you child draws and continue to add text to the drawings to describe the picture. Eventually you can ask your child to add their own description.
Finally make the drawings you have collected into a book that your child can refer to again and again.
Look and Say
Look and say is often considered to be the most natural method used to teach children to read and write. Children learn to recognize whole words or sentences rather than the individual sounds that make up the words. You ask your child to look at a picture; you then say the word or words and then ask your child to repeat them. Flashcards with individual words written on them or picture books are often the favourite media to use.
Make your own flashcards or better still combine this method with the language experience approach and ask your child to help you make the flashcards. Draw a picture then write a short sentence underneath to explain the drawing. Ask your child to take a card then point to each individual word as you repeat the short sentence over and over.
Make separate picture cards that can be used together to construct sentences.
Context Support Method
When your child is just learning to read it is important to allow them to contribute in choosing books. Let them use books with subject matters that really interest them.
Books have been specially written to support this method of learning. You will find a longer sentence on one side of the page while the other side has a single word or maybe two to three words for your student to read. You will read the longer sentence while your child reads the simpler version.
Points worth noting:
- Try to read every day with your child even 5 minutes a day can make a big difference
- Ask your child to read labels in the supermarket
- Let your child browse for their own book
- Praise your child’s abilities. Always tell them how pleased you are with their reading.
- Don't tell your child you are worried about his/her reading progress. This will only make matters worse and knock the confidence of your child
- Ask other people to read with your child, older siblings and grandparents
- Be patient and don't push your child to hard
- Use books that are targeted at your child’s age group
- If you find books beyond your budget many charity shops sell children’s books at a fraction of the RRP.
Remember that children are individuals and your child might prefer one method above another or a combination of methods might achieve the best results.