FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This is a summary provided by a home schooling website: Four reading methods teaching children

Here is an excerpt:

phonics       look & say       language experience approach       context support method

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Four main methods used to teach children how to read are explained below. This is a guide only and if you wish to teach your child to read you must work out which methods suit you and your child. You may like to try each one for a few weeks and record the results or you can combine two or more methods together like the 'phonics' and the 'look and say' method. Whichever way you choose be patient, consistent and above all creative. Creativity is very important to keep any child's interest and enthusiasm at all times. Dyslexia is also touched on with a number of helpful links. Opposition may also be experienced from relatives, friends or local school teachers, if you feel that teaching your own child is the right thing, stick to your conviction and you will reap the rewards in due course. Good Luck!

Method 1:

• The phonics method is probably the best known and widely used method to teach reading and writing in the English language.  It relies on children being taught the alphabet first. They learn the names of the letters and the sounds they make. Once they have learnt the letter sounds they will begin to blend two letters together to make simple words then three letters, then four and so forth.

a-t       i-t     o-n     i-f       b-e     m-e       n-o     w-e     i-n       h-e

c-a-t      s-a-t    m-a-t     f-a-t     p-a-t      r-a-t     c-a-r        g-o-d      m-e-n    

f-l-a-t        p-l-a-t       t-h-a-t         s-p-i-t        g-r-i-t         s-l-i-t

• For children to learn the phonics method they need phonically written books using regular words that are interesting to young children. Each word must be sounded out by the child in order to achieve the highest level outcome.

The cat sat on the mat.

The hen is in a pen.

Suggested books to read are:

• Learning the sounds and their blends may be disinteresting for young children so you should keep it short and entertaining. Often children are so busy concentrating on sounding the words and blending the sounds that they don't learn the meaning of the word, making it boring for them. Ensure you explain the meaning or expound on the words to keep your child's interest and enthusiasm for learning.
• You can introduce one letter a day or one letter a week but the one letter a day method works quite well and it does not become boring for your child. Whereas one letter a week tends to drag out and the child often loses the plot halfway through. This in turn gives you as a parent a sense of failure and you will become bogged down. Don't be disheartened if your child needs two or three days or even a week to master one letter, they will improve and before long you will find there is no stopping their young brain. Children are natural learners and are more than willing to please you thus doing well in their learning experience. Using the phonics method, most children will learn to read basic words and sentences within three to six months.

Below you will find a handy alphabet table using each letter sound.

Using symbols on top of the following letters will simplify the letter sounds.

Method 2:

• The 'look and say' method. Children learn to recognize whole words or sentences rather than individual sounds. Your child will look at a word which you sound and in turn will repeat the sound (the word). Flashcards with individual words written on them are used for this method often accompanied with a related picture.
• If you don't use a picture with the word your child will probably make a wild guess as to what it says trying to remember what sound you made previously. This is not a good method if you don't include pictures.
• It is also recommended with this method to use whole short sentences rather than individual words. Write a short sentence representing the picture displayed. Say the sentence and ask your child to repeat it while pointing and looking at each individual word as he/she repeats what you said.
• By making word cards you can create different sentences again and again. You can use each word card first to learn individual words and then laying the word cards together to form a sentence. You may need to make several word cards using the same word;  e.g. the  -  and   in order to form proper sentences.

the     is     rat      mat      the      on   

the   rat  is  on  the  mat

Method 3:

·        The language experience approach is the third method you may like to use. This particular method actually uses your child's own words to help him/her read. Your child may draw a picture of Dad in the car. In that case you would write underneath the drawing; Dad is in the car.

·        You continue to collect drawings your child makes and write a short sentence underneath each drawing. A picture of a playground would read; We went to the park or playground. A picture of the child's cat could read; The cat sat on the mat. A picture of you walking the dog could read; Mum walks the dog to the park.

·        When you've collected enough pictures you make them into a book for your child to read again and again. Write underneath the drawing a description your child gives for the drawing. This way your child will remember much better what is written.

·        First you will write every word and sentence. Slowly your child will begin to trace over the words you have written and finally the child will write the words and sentences all by him/herself.

·        Some parents use this method as a first approach to reading in order to help their child understand that what they've drawn and what the parent has written is a form of communication between the child and parent.

LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE APPROACH LINKS

http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/ela/e_literacy/language.html   The language experience approach supports children's concept development and vocabulary growth while offering many opportunities for meaningful reading and writing activities

Method 4:

·        When your child is just learning to read it is important to choose books that really interest them. If your son likes cars choose a book with pictures and simple words about cars. This will keep his interest and he will enjoy his time learning with you. If your daughter likes dolls, obtain a book with doll pictures and simple words. Again it will encourage your child's enthusiasm because she is actually looking at something she can relate to and likes.

·        Some books are especially 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 child to read. You will read the longer sentence while your child reads the simpler version.

·        You may like to try this method of long and short text or maybe combine it with one of the other methods above.

FURTHER INTERESTING READING LINKS

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/isbe/isbecon.htm   Exemplary Reading Programs in Illinois Public Schools. This study examined 10 schools whose students were consistently high achievers in reading/language arts. Every classroom, every teacher, every program was unique in some respects, yet there were a number of common features of instruction across study sites that teachers and administrators felt played an important role in the success of their reading/ language arts programs.

http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr029.shtml  The debate still rages among educators, parents, and experts. Whole language? Or phonics? Which approach to teaching reading works best? Is the pendulum swinging?