Phonics teaching is a teaching method that teaches the relationship between sounds and the letters we use to represent them. Phonics is a long-established teaching method that allows children to decode words. The Singapore phonics for kids lessons typically begin by teaching children how to represent sounds through specific letters. Children then learn that letter combinations are grouped together to form more complex sound groups to form words. Phonic skills are important for children to read fluently. Children who master the phonetic system learn to recognize individual sounds and to merge them to read words. Many children with learning difficulties have difficulty with their phonetic abilities.
Advantages of the Phonics classes
Some reading research suggests that phonetic education is an effective strategy for reading disorders and can be used in conjunction with word recognition strategies. Students with dyslexia will gain more of reading skills if they receive a solid education in phonics. As with many types of academic interventions, phonetics is most effective when used as early as possible in a child’s educational career. Direct instruction in phonics using multisensory strategies has also shown promise in eliminating learning disabilities while reading. This type of education is usually most effective when done individually or in small groups in a systematic and intensive program.
Guidelines for the instruction
Phonics teaching teaches that there are 44 sounds that come from the 26 letters of the English language. The goal of the Phonician class is to teach these sound and symbolic relationships so that children can read and write words. It is recommended to follow this instruction:
- Be systematic, focus on a few regular patterns of sound and spelling, and make progress on more complex, irregular sounds and spellings.
- Should contain a lot of practice and practice (but that can and should be made more pleasant than strenuous).
- Should include immediate feedback from teachers when students need corrections to prevent them from learning mistakes.
- Should include a regular evaluation to ensure that the children progress.
- Should contain words at the level of development of the student.
- Should use multisensory methods and materials.
- Use words that students use in everyday interactions and classroom work, and then move on to unknown or complex material when the child is ready.
- Should include a regular review of the previously learned material so that the children retain their skills.
There are many things you can do at home to help children develop phonetic skills:
- Play a game with your child, alternating between words that begin with the same sound. It is helpful to start with consonants. (Sitting, singing, stupidity) Spend time with every single letter.
- Create flashcards with words that start with the same sounds. Learn how to use Flashcards.
- Create your own multisensory materials and have your child write the words you came up with that start with the same sounds.
- Practice nursery rhymes to raise your child’s awareness of how words can sound the same. Bookworms are also helpful in teaching and strengthening this skill. As you point out the rhyming words, read to your child. Let your child write the rhyming words with multisensory materials.
- After your child has become familiar with incipient consonants, you practice words with long vowels. Again, you should spend some time with individual vowels. Have a “long week” in which you and your child watch long A-words in books and in conversation.
- Work on long and short vocal flash cards.
- Work on consonant-vowel-consonant-cards.
As always, keep your practice at home funny and enjoyable. Keep in mind that reading is difficult for a child with learning difficulties, and the more you can do to make it fun, the better. If you find that your child is having trouble with some of your activities, it may not be ready, and you might want to return to something that has been well-learned to boost your self-confidence. Share any concerns you have with your teacher. Ask your child’s teacher if she has specific suggestions on how to work with your child. Your child will learn more effectively if what you do at home matches what they do at school.
