All About Teaching and Learning Phonics

[DC Mummy]

I agree with phankao and buds.


My boy is 3 year old (37 months) and we have exposed reading materials since young. With early exposure on reading, it has cultivated his interest and stimulate his mind in reading stories. Now, my son wants us to read to him everyday (approx. 30 or even longer). On top of that, he has been trained to be focus and able to sit through sessions in his preschool (both chinese and english teachers feedback to me).

At this stage, my son knows letter A-Z (upper and lower case) but not on phonics words blending, thus still not able to read by himself. However, he is able to comprehend the story well when we read to him (visual on story pictures + listening to story wordings). How do we know? Read to him and ask story related questions to counter check if he understands or points correctly.

Every child has different learning style, whether visual or auditory, he will benefit from early reading habit. To us, its never too early to start…

[tamarind]

phankao:

tamarind:

[b]Before the age of 3, most kids will not sit still to listen to mommy read to them. It is not much use for mommy to keep reading books to them, because they don't understand what mommy is reading anyway. If mommy just keep reading on and on, and don't even allow kids to touch the books, then kids may end up thinking that books are so boring.

This is quite a generalisation, isn't it??? My now 16yo loved me reading to her from very young (yeah, baby), and my now 19mo loved sitting attentively having me read book after book after book from the time he was newborn.

Not a generalisation, just my personal observation, based on my boy. Before 3 years old, he cannot sit still to listen to me. I know many other kids like him. In my blog, I gave many suggestions of books that could grab his attention :

http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2009/09/wonderful-books-for-kids-from-birth-to.html

I have also heard one parent that she read the same book 50 times to her child, and he still cannot read the book.

Every child is different, and every child learns in different ways. If a child can learn simply by listening to mommy, then by all means read to him/her.

In my case, my boy cannot learn just by listening to me reading him. His mind will be thinking about a hundred different things, not related to the book. He learns best by reading out loud every word from the page. His progress is amazing by learning to read this way. He is able to read Roald Dahl books after only 1 year plus.

I have just sharing the most effective methods of learning to read with other parents. I definitely agree that parents should read to their kids since birth. But if parents find that no matter how many books they read to the child, he/she is still not reading well by 3 years old, then I would advise them to try other methods.

Also, for a full time working mommy like me, I really don't have the time to read so many books to my kids. So it is important that my kids learn to read as soon as possible. Now they read many books out loud to me instead

Asking the child to read out loud from the book, also stimulates his thinking, and allows him to practice his speech. My boy was not speaking well at 3 years old, now at 5 years 6 months old, he is speaking beautifully, and he talks a lot. Now he reads about 500 to 1000 words to me everyday.

That is why I do not believe that reading to a child is the best way to teach him to read. The best way is for him to read out loud, and to get books with interesting pop-ups that will interest him.

[tamarind]

buds:

I did not ask for my girls to point when i read or when they read. Since i do that when i read to them, they sorta just automatically picked up the habit as well.

I also did not ask my boy to point. I tried but he refused. So I have always been pointing the words to him, and asking him to read out loud. I was doing this until one day, he pushed my finger away.

However, before he was 3 years old, he would not even look at the word when I pointed to him. His eyes were looking else where. He was not able to focus. The best way to capture his attention, was to use the interesting pop-up books, and books that allow him to push or pull something.

My advise is meant for parents with kids like my boy. I totally understand the frustration. My methods are suitable for kids who cannot sit still and cannot focus like my boy.

You and phankao are fortunate to have kids who can pay attention at a very young age.

[tamarind]

DC Mummy,

I do not mean that parents should not read to their kids at all.

What I mean is that reading to the kids is not sufficient. Parents should use interesting books with lots of activities that can attract their attention. And also ask the kid to read out loud as soon as he is old enough.

I would advise you to start asking your boy to read out loud. He will learn to read a lot faster

[autumnbronze]

buds:

Reading with animated voices and actions also excite
children into listening to stories no matter how boring the book might be.

Solli .. side-track a bit ...

This one I gotta agree 101%. That is why DS LOVES me reading to him. Because I 'act' out the story. Sometimes I even use finger puppets.

Gave up getting DH to read to DS. What I have done is get general knowledge books for eg on Diggers etc.. and these are the ones that DH reads to DS.

Anyway, my DS also seems to be more fascinated with pix than the words. I sometimes randomly remind him to focus on the frequently used sight words like 'The' so that he can learn to recognize them.

And yup, he picked up pointing because I do that too, while reading ...

[tamarind]

For parents who are new to my blog, here is a guide.


From birth to 3 years old :
First Step - Teaching A B C
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2009/10/first-step-teaching-b-c.html

Wonderful books that can grab the attention of kids who cannot sit still
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2009/09/wonderful-books-for-kids-from-birth-to.html

From 3 years old to 5 years old :
Phonics is essential for kids to learn to read. How to teach phonics by using a matching/grouping game :
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-teach-phonics.html

Phonics is not only important for reading, it is very important for spelling :
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2009/05/spelling.html

It is also very important to teach sight words using a good reader. The Peter and Jane series has been around for more than 40 years, and has taught millions of children to read.
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2008/12/key-words-with-ladybird.html

How to make reading interesting by using activities :
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2009/05/make-learning-phonics-and-reading.html

How to develop a love for reading by acting out the story:
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2010/02/developing-love-for-reading.html

How do I manage to find the time to teach
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-do-i-manage-to-find-time-to-teach.html

From 6 years old :
If your kids are able to complete the Peter and Jane series by the age of 5 years old, they will be able to read these books before they turn 6 years old.
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2009/09/books-they-love.html
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2009/02/great-books-for-confident-readers.html

[autumnbronze]

Thank you Tamarind, for sharing

[tamarind]

autumnbronze:

Thank you Tamarind, for sharing

autumnbronze and all,
Thanks for sharing too !

[tamarind]

My friend asked me how much time do I spend reading to my kids everyday. I told her that I have not been reading to my kids since they were able to read independently, before they turned 5 years old. Not that I don't want to, it is just that I really cannot manage to do so, both my mind and body are so tired after work. Everyday, I ask them to read to me instead That is so much better for me. My kids also have a deeper understanding of the story, and they remember the details much better as they read every word out loud. It is wonderful to listen to my kids read the classics of children's literature to me, and I find myself learning a lot, together with them. Reading is not only about preparing for exams. Checkout my new page, about the important lessons that we can learn from books, and the books that all children should read :


http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2010/03/importance-of-reading-books.html

[tamarind]

I just found out that the book 1a and 1b of the Peter and Jane series are available at the National Library.


1a - Play with us
http://newarrivals.nlb.gov.sg/item_holding.aspx?bid=12856138

1b - Look at this
http://newarrivals.nlb.gov.sg/item_holding.aspx?bid=12856142

If you cannot find a book, just click Recommend a Book and enter the information of the book. The library will find it for you, or they may order it for you.