Friday, July 2, 2010

what is phonics?


Phonics is a method of instruction based on sound and spelling relationship. Children, after knowing the sounds of different letters, learn how to blend them into words.

Why phonics?
  • Easy to learn
  • Gives a solid foundation
  • Makes learning of spellings easy
  • Helps children pronounce new unknown words by themselves
  • Simple to teach

5 things to remember while teaching phonics:
  1. Start at an early age. If your child can recognize his alphabet well, he is ready for phonics instruction.
  2. Keep the instructions simple and direct. Confused and complicated instructions will leave you and the child frustrated and you will not get the desired result.
  3. Keep each session just 15 mins long, not more. A child has a very short attention span and you want to make the most of it.
  4. Teach daily, and if the child has started enjoying it, may be you can have a quick revision before bed.
  5. Make it fun, only then will your child learn.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Seema,I'm Nayana, my son has just started going to playgroup.He is two and half years of age.
    Can i start teaching him at home(i.e.phonics way) or will it be confusing him...school method and my method?please share your views.

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  2. Sure Nayana! If he is ready with his ABC's , then he is ready for phonics. Now a days, most of the modern schools follow the phonics method. And even if the school follows a different system, children are easily able to link the two methods. As your son is around 2 and half years old, there are good chances that he might be reading by the time he joins LKG, (an age, where most schools in India introduce reading to children).

    All the best.

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