All About Teaching and Learning Phonics

[tamarind]

Hi hot,

My method is not much different from that of many other parents who have successfully brought up kids who can read very well at a very young age. Most parents and experts will tell you to read every day to your kids. In my case, I ask my kids to read out loud to me every day, because I find that this is the best way to make sure that they pay attention.

Whether we read to the kids, or ask the kids read out loud to us, the key is to read everyday, and make sure the the child is paying attention when he reads. In fact, I continue to read other story books with my kids long after they have completed the Peter and Jane books. It may take some time before the child will pick up a book and read on his own. We cannot expect them to do so right after they completed the Peter and Jane books.

The fact is that even after my kids are reading chapter books on their own, I still ask them to read out loud to me, from a book of my choice. I find that this is an excellent way of bonding with them.

[hot]

Hi Tamarind,


I know this is the best method. I mean it is just not for my boy.
Or maybe time not ripe yet
I just prayed hard he will willingly read all by himself one day.
Many times, when seeing him flipping thru the pages, I would
always explain and encourage him to read the words in the book
in order to know what the picture wanted to tell him.
Hope he will 开窍 one day.

[tamarind]

Hi hot,

Yes he will definitely 开窍 one day

My boy also used to flip through the pages, and I had no idea whether he was reading or not. Until one day he told me facts that he read from the books. Then I realized that he had been reading silently

[Bluepanda]

Hi,

Does anyone know how to decode these words - helmet, second, tunnel and kitten?

I was told that these words can break down like this.
For "helmet", break down into "h/e/l/m/e/t"
For "second", break down into "s/e/c/o/n/d".
For "tunnel", break down into "t/u/nn/e/l".
For "kitten", break down into "k/i/tt/e/n"

For example, "helmet", I say it as "h/e/l/m/t" without the "e" sound. But if I sound out each word, the word will then sound funny. Is there a rule to these words?

Can any mummies help me? Thanks in advance.

-bluepanda

[laughingcat]

Bluepanda:

Hi,

Does anyone know how to decode these words - helmet, second, tunnel and kitten?

I was told that these words can break down like this.
For \"helmet\", break down into \"h/e/l/m/e/t\"
For \"second\", break down into \"s/e/c/o/n/d\".
For \"tunnel\", break down into \"t/u/nn/e/l\".
For \"kitten\", break down into \"k/i/tt/e/n\"

For example, \"helmet\", I say it as \"h/e/l/m/t\" without the \"e\" sound. But if I sound out each word, the word will then sound funny. Is there a rule to these words?

Can any mummies help me? Thanks in advance.

-bluepanda

If the short vowel does not sound right, try the long one. Which in this case the 2nd |e| should just say the name. This helps with irregular words. E.g he, blind, item

[Bluepanda]

Hi laughingcat,

Thanks for your reply.

I think I found the answer at this link - http://www.englishpronunciationpod.com/podcast_20.html

In this website, it states that \"When a syllable is unstressed the vowel changes quality the vowel is reduced- it's made shorter and usually we use the vowel /ə/,\" the schwa.\" ( /ə/ as a in across)

For example, \"helmet\"
In this word, the 2nd syllable \"met\" is unstressed and hence the vowel /e/ is reduced to /ə/. And this explains to me (at least) why I read this word (helmet) as \"helmət\" and not \"helmet\".

This can be used to explain words like \"seven, tunnel and kitten\".

I wonder how phonics teachers teach such words to the kids? Anyone parents know care to share? Thank you.

[laughingcat]

Hi Bluepanda,


There are many rules to phonics since English Language is rather \"technical\". Moreover approximate 80-90% of the words can be decodable. Normally pre-school teachers only taught the basic phonics rules. Some rules are best taught when the child is sightly older; depending on the maturity of the child. To avoid confusion, just teach the basic phonics rules will do.

To me, personally not quite possible for a toddler to understand so many rules. Both my child are taught the basic rules and they are already reading very well already. Lots of reading with the children, phonics play & activities and flashcards as well. Relax lah

[Bluepanda]

Hi laughingcat,

Thanks for your reply.

I know that I should teach the basic rules but I stumbled upon these words while reading with my girl Fitzroy Reader 8x. So I became curious :? and wonder how I should teach her... and wonder how will a phonics teacher teach her (assuming she's attending a class)... :?

[laughingcat]

I also have the fitzroy readers as well. They are excellent yeah. But I assume you have already taught your child all the phonics rules well before you embark the readers yeah. So once you hit the readers, you shouldn’t have much doubts already.

[Bluepanda]

Hi laughingcat,

Yah, the Fitzroy readers are pretty easy to teach and my girl knows the basic sounds from A-Z and simple 3-4 word blending. And because she is taught the basic sounds, she first read the word \"helmet\" as \"hel-met\" and not \"\"helmət\".

I still wonder why Fitzroy Reader has this simple yet difficult-to-explain word in Reader 8x. Did you face the same problem when you try to teach your boys these words (helmet, kitten, seven, tunnel etc) which have the schwa sound?

Sidetrack a bit, do you use Fitzroy worksheets too?