What is phonics even about?
Phonics is knowing that sounds and letters have a relationship. In other words, it is the link between what we say and what we can read and write. Phonics offers beginning readers the tools they need to sound out words. For example, kids learn that the letter D has the sound of /d/ as in doll. Down the road, they’ll learn how to combine letter sounds together to make words like dog.
Why is phonics important and how can I teach them to my children?
As children advance as readers, they must be able to eventually blend letter sounds, without stumbling over words. Phonics helps set a foundation for that process.
In preschool and the beginning of kindergarten, the beginner reading curriculum is usually focused on phonological awareness and learning to recognize letters (upper and lowercase) and learning the sound of each letter. This focus on sound and letter awareness sets children up for success in learning phonics skills. Usually, around halfway through kindergarten, children move on to blending simple words and begin to work toward building automaticity.
How does your child’s school teach phonics and how can the parents play a role in it?
Research suggests that the most effective phonics instruction is systematic, sequential, and explicit. Teachers give pre-schoolers plenty of practice before moving on. Your child will read short, easy books containing the letter sounds or words they’re working on. You can help them practice by providing similar books at home, such as those in the Peppa Pig Phonics Book Set.
Here are more ways you can reinforce phonics learning at home:
Work with the instructor. Inquire about ways to reinforce reading and phonics outside of the classroom and express any worries you may have.
Read aloud to your kids every day. Encourage your youngster to sound out words if they get stuck on one. However, if they are still unable to obtain it, let them know so they won’t lose hope.
- Improve understanding. What do you anticipate will happen next? What did he mean when he said that, etc. Here are some more excellent queries for story time.
- Go back to well-known books. It’s acceptable if your child wants to read old favourites again. In fact, it’s advantageous! Read aloud. Choose books on topics that excite your child (get great suggestions from our book lists), and read with gusto, using different voices for each character.
- Share joy of reading. Make sure your home is well-stocked with books and magazines to demonstrate to your youngster how much you value reading. Both phonics exercises and a lifetime love of reading will be encouraged.
- Change the first sound of a few of the words in ridiculous tunes you sing. Sing, for instance, “If you’re chappy and you chow it, chap your chands” or “Bingle bells, bingle bells, bingle all the bay.”
- Encourage kids to recognize words that start with particular letter sounds by playing games. Say something like, “I spy with my small eye a colour that starts with /r/,” for instance.