Learning to read (Reading with phonics sounds)

So what is phonics, and why is it so important?

Phonics means using letter sounds to help you read words. It is using the sounds made by individual letters and groups of letters to read words.

Phonics teaches children to read by identifying and pronouncing sounds rather than letters through a structured approach, they are taught how to:

• recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes;
• identify the sounds that different combinations of letters make – such as ‘ie’, ‘sh’ or ‘oo’; and
• blend those sounds together from left to right to make a word.

Children can then use this knowledge to ‘decode’ new words that they see or hear. This is the first important step in learning to read. 

The cornerstone of learning to read effectively is learning the letter sounds and acquiring the innate ability to automatically decode and recognise words. However, for a young child or a beginner reader, this is not such a simple process. This is something that requires repeated exposure and practice such that the word decoding process becomes an instant, automatic process. Somebody who is a fluent reader does not put much thought into how much neural effort is required to read and comprehend, especially for new learners.

What will your child be learning, and how can you help?

This section below will offer advice and guide on what children typically learn in preschool, with some ideas for helping them if they get stuck.

 BASELINE: Keep it easy and fun!

Remember the aim of phonics is to get your child reading as quickly and easily as possible, so that they are free to read whatever they like! It’s meant to be fun – and no one wants reading to turn into a chore. So, whatever stage of their school life your child is at, don’t forget:

• Keep phonics sessions short and focused. Aim to stop before your child gets bored! Ten minutes is often long enough.

• Pick a time when your child’s not too tired, and find a quiet place where they won’t be distracted by screens (or by noisy brothers or sisters!).

• Even when your child is becoming a good independent reader, keep on reading to them! Stories and high-quality non-fiction are important – and so is the cuddly quiet time you spend together sharing them!

• If you’re ever concerned about your child’s reading, talk to their teacher. Tell the teacher what you’ve noticed and ask for their advice. This is often very reassuring and it can be a great source of new ideas for supporting your child

FUN FACT

Did you know our language has 26 letters but there are 42 sounds to learn?!

I shall be sharing fun activities to teach phonics on my next post.