All About Teaching and Learning Phonics

[laughingcat]

sunset_dae:

I attended 2 days of adult phonics class conducted by Liza, director of \"Read in a week\".

I must admit l have really learn alot from her, she taught me how to do blending, breaking and reading a word and using dictonary to do phonetic.
The 2 days lessons cost me abt $180, but I think its really worth it and I have a clearer picture of how to teach my son phonics.
By following tamarind phonics blog, my 3.5 year old son is now able to read P&J until 1B which Im so proud of him!
Personally, I think chiidren is able to read out a word faster if there is an adult who can do revision with him daily rather than sending him to phonics class

Yeah. Totally agreed with you. Like yourself, I have one teacher that provide a private lesson for me at my home. She provides the teaching materials, share the types of materials needed and also assessed my child's readiness. After that I own time own target.

That really helps me to ease in the guidance and ease my child learning ladder as well. :lol:

[autumnbronze]

sunset_dae:

I attended 2 days of adult phonics class conducted by Liza, director of \"Read in a week\".

I must admit l have really learn alot from her, she taught me how to do blending, breaking and reading a word and using dictonary to do phonetic.
The 2 days lessons cost me abt $180, but I think its really worth it and I have a clearer picture of how to teach my son phonics.
By following tamarind phonics blog, my 3.5 year old son is now able to read P&J until 1B which Im so proud of him!
Personally, I realised children is able to read out a word faster if there is an adult who can do revision with him daily rather than sending him to phonics class.

Hi sunset_dae,

Hey, kudos to ya :celebrate:

Yes. I do agree that if we can help our child along in teaching him how to read, all the more better.

I read with interest about the phonics course you attended. Would you mind sharing more details about the 2 day course ie was it group session as in a workshop session, were materials provide etc ...? Also, where is \"Read in a Week\" located?

As mentioned earlier, the course I attended was more than 2 years ago. Wouldn't mind considering a refresher course, esp when it comes to teaching blending etc...

MTIA

[Hifive]

Hi tamarind


Many thanks for your sharing and your blog on teaching children to read.

I have learnt a lot from your sharing.
I’ve started my boy (turning 4 yr old this Dec) on P&J and now he is reading level 6.

Recently, I’ve learnt from his kindy that they will be using P&J as their readers starting from next year. So in order not to use the same reader as his kindy, is there another set of reader (which is as good as P&J) which you will recommend that I can use at home?

[seashell]

tamarind:

For my kids, I usually explain the words to them by acting it out. I am still looking for good English dictionaries for kids, the ones that I have are not extensive enough.

You should look for those with as many pictures so kids can understand better.

You can try online dictionaries first :
http://familyinternet.about.com/od/websites/tp/kidsdictionaries.htm

hi Tamarind,
have you have able to find a good English dictionaries? Can share with me? Thanks.

do you have any idea how do know that a child has master the sound of each letter? thanks again

[tamarind]

Hifive:

Hi tamarind


Many thanks for your sharing and your blog on teaching children to read.

I have learnt a lot from your sharing.
I've started my boy (turning 4 yr old this Dec) on P&J and now he is reading level 6.

Recently, I've learnt from his kindy that they will be using P&J as their readers starting from next year. So in order not to use the same reader as his kindy, is there another set of reader (which is as good as P&J) which you will recommend that I can use at home?

Hifive,
Sorry for the late reply. I returned from China recently and I have been extremely busy.

It's my pleasure to share with other parents.

I think it is not necessary for you to use other readers. I would advise you to read these wonderful children's books :
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2010/03/picture-books-from-my-home-library.html

I have stated the reading level for each book. For example, reading level 4 means that kids who are reading Peter and Jane level 4 and above should be able to read the book, with some help from parents.

If you really want to use other readers, the Ladybird also have the Tom and Kate series, available at Popular bookstores.

http://books.ladybird.co.uk/static/cs/uk/13/learntoread.html

[tamarind]

seashell:

hi Tamarind,
have you have able to find a good English dictionaries? Can share with me? Thanks.

do you have any idea how do know that a child has master the sound of each letter? thanks again

Hi seashell,
I have a few children's dictionaries, with many pictures. But these are not extensive enough.

I would like to buy something like this :
http://www.amazon.com/Merriam-Webster-Childrens-Dictionary-DK-Publishing/dp/0756637589/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288345730&sr=8-1

But I cannot find it in Singapore, and shipping from amazon will be too expensive since the book is too heavy.

When a child knows the letter sounds very well, he should be able to say the sound of a letter without any hesitation, and even when you mix up the orders of the letters.

[Hifive]

Hi tamarind


Thanks for your advice! I’ll check out the books mentioned in your blog and the the other readers in Popular.

[pumpkin_pie]

Hi,


I am new here and have been reading this forum with much interest. Im in awe of all the fantastic mummies out there who do so much for their kids. Keep up the great work!

I have recently stopped working as our whole family moved to the States for 2yrs. I wish to start my boy (32mths) on reading the 3-letter words like /m/ at -> mat, but not sure if it is time. He knows all his A-Z; and for their phonetic sounds I would say 90% (still not sure of /n/, /l/, /v/). Should i keep revising the sounds with him till he is 100% sure, or start with the word building already?

[laughingcat]

Yes, you should still continue to revise the sounds until he is ready to read.


This will helps alot in the blending of the words.

[pumpkin_pie]

Thanks! ok I will follow ur advice and keep revising till he is 100% familiar with all the sounds. But then, the bad side is he can get quite bored of this activity as he is a boy who cannot do repetitive stuff, so I always have to keep changing the way I teach him the letter sounds. Sigh…and i am running out of ideas! ha!


On the other hand, how do i know whether he is ready to read? You mean read independently right? What signs will he show? Currently he loves stories but of cos I will be the one reading to him. He must have his books before he naps and sleeps else he will be sad. I have not yet read those Peter and Jane books to him, but rather more like Curious George, Berenstein Bears and Fairy Tales.