All About Teaching and Learning Phonics

[tamarind]

smurf:

HI Tamarind,


just want to ask u, what do you think of Leapster game set? my boy enjoys game but I refuse to let him play computer game as they do nothing. but I think Leapster is educational game right? :?

Hi smurf,
Do you mean this one ?
http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-Leapster%C2%AE-Educational-Game-Kindergarten/dp/B00009KWYS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1258520719&sr=8-1

I haven't bought any of the Leapster game set, so I cannot comment. The above does look very educational to me.

[smurf]

yup yup. that is the one. not sure if the child will be ‘hook’ by the game.

[tamarind]

smurf:

yup yup. that is the one. not sure if the child will be 'hook' by the game.

Usually educational games are not addictive, because they get boring after a while. But it is still important to control the amount of time playing the game.

[smurf]

thanks Tamarind!

[sunset_dae]

Hi Tamarind


Im not sure how to break up a word and pronounce it…
E.g in starfall:

Surfer girl:

The word surfer is read as "er", then "Fs" then read as Surfer…
However how do i know when and where to break up the words to pronounce?

[tamarind]

Hi sunset_dae,

starfall.com teaches Surfer as

S - ur - f -er

When I teach my boy 3 letter words, I break up the words like this :

c - at
b - at
m - at

Once kids learn how to read 3 letter words, they will break up more complex words into 3 letter words, each with the vowel in the middle, like

sur - fer

Both methods work fine.

Concentrate on teaching all the 3 letter words first. You can refer to my blog :
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-teach-phonics.html

[starz]

hi tamarind,


thanks for your advise. Wil definitely set a routine for her.
Btw since she is turning 3.5 yrs old, is it e correct time to send her to Montessori phonics? is it true e earlier e better to send her for the course? however, if i teach her myself and never send her, do you think i can produce similar results from the course?
But i oni know how to teach e basics only as from your blog.

[tamarind]

starz:

hi tamarind,


thanks for your advise. Wil definitely set a routine for her.
Btw since she is turning 3.5 yrs old, is it e correct time to send her to Montessori phonics? is it true e earlier e better to send her for the course? however, if i teach her myself and never send her, do you think i can produce similar results from the course?
But i oni know how to teach e basics only as from your blog.

Hi starz,
Once your girl is 3 years 6 months old, you can enrol her in the course. Yes it is definitely better to start earlier. But note that this is an express course, make sure your girl knows all the phonics letter sounds very very well before she starts the class. Parents also have to practice with the kids everyday at home, otherwise the kids cannot follow up.

One good thing about Montessori phonics, is that the teacher teaches the parents how to revise the lesson with the kids after every lesson. I learn a lot from them.

I taught my boy at home, the results are far better than attending the course But you need to be very disciplined and teach for 20 - 30 mins everyday. Consistent learning everyday is much more effective than attending one hour class a week.

[starz]

hi tamarind,

So i guess it would be better to send my girl to the phonics class rather than i teach her myself n also not sure whether i pronounce correctly anot. The most i can teach 3 letters basic, e rest i m not too sure. i guess after e whole course, our kids can pronounce better than us?

btw i called up JE branch, the teacher will be a Malay teacher. how about urs at JW?

[tamarind]

starz:

hi tamarind,

So i guess it would be better to send my girl to the phonics class rather than i teach her myself n also not sure whether i pronounce correctly anot. The most i can teach 3 letters basic, e rest i m not too sure. i guess after e whole course, our kids can pronounce better than us?

btw i called up JE branch, the teacher will be a Malay teacher. how about urs at JW?

My girl attended in 2007, I think the teachers are probably different now.