All About Teaching and Learning Phonics

[tamarind]

Wesim:

hi tamarind


My girl has just finished reading Book 3b. However, for the C series, she is still at 1c. Do i have to follow the sequence i.e. 1a, b and then c?

She also likes to look at the picture first before she starts to read. She does not ask questions, but sometimes will just say out something what she likes or what happened by looking at the picture. Does this mean she understand what she is reading?

Btw, she is turning 3 next month.

Hi Wesim,
You girl is doing very well ! There is no need to complete all the a, b, c books. Some kids only require the \"a\" books, while most kids will require the \"a\" and \"b\" books. If she can read about 80% to 90% of the words in the \"b\" book, then you can already move on to 4a.

It's good that she likes to look at the pictures, if she does not ask questions, she probably already understands what she is reading. If you think that she may not understand something, just explain it to her. For kids at this age, parents should focus on \"inputs\".

[tamarind]

smurf:

I think Tamarind is right about picture books. I tried to 'force'my boy to reads those chapter books, but a lot of time, I found that he doesn't even understand what the story is about. he can read, and can recognise words. but he hates reading, and would prefer to read very very very simple book. simple books meaning those few-words-a-page kind. with very BIG picture. and he will stare at the picture and ask what is this doing what is that doing. initially, I was frustrated, very frustrated, but now, I just feel that it's better that he reads simple book than not reading.

Yes we should actually books that are at a lower level for the child. For example, if the child is reading book 6a which has about 100 words a page. Then we should find picture books that have about 50 words a page. Then the child will find these books very easy to read.

There are many picture books that have big pictures on every page, and enough words too. Try looking for these books in the library :

Percy the park keeper : a classic treasury
by Nick Butterworth
This is a very nice book, very thick, but with cute pictures on every page.

The complete adventures of Curious George
by Margret & H.A. Rey.
Another very thick book about a very cute monkey, will occupy kids for a long time.

Parents can search and reserve for the book at
http://www.nlb.gov.sg/

[tamarind]

smurf:

just want to ask Tamarind, did you send your gal to drawing class? cos her drawing is fantastic! I wish my boy can draw so well, but usually, he only doodle and ''copy'' what he sees.

smurf,
Thanks for your compliments I did not send her to drawing class. She does not like to draw what the teacher asks her to draw, she has her own ideas of what to draw

[smurf]

Thanks Tamarind for the recommendation. will go search the books.:)



your gal has her own mind at such tender age.:)

[sunset_dae]

HI Tamarind


My boy still cant read by himself but he does like to flip every page of P & J. Should i continue to move on to reading 1B, 1C to him when he cant even read out 1A?

tamarind:

Hi Wesim,
You girl is doing very well ! There is no need to complete all the a, b, c books. Some kids only require the \"a\" books, while most kids will require the \"a\" and \"b\" books. If she can read about 80% to 90% of the words in the \"b\" book, then you can already move on to 4a.

It's good that she likes to look at the pictures, if she does not ask questions, she probably already understands what she is reading. If you think that she may not understand something, just explain it to her. For kids at this age, parents should focus on \"inputs\".

[tamarind]

sunset_dae:

HI Tamarind


My boy still cant read by himself but he does like to flip every page of P & J. Should i continue to move on to reading 1B, 1C to him when he cant even read out 1A?

There is no hard and fast rule because every child is different. You should point to every word and teach him to read out loud. If he is able to read about 50% of book 1a, then you can move on to book 1b. This is just a suggestion. Book 1b uses the same 16 words as book 1a, but in a different story. My advise is to teach the Peter and Jane books only when kids know how to join 3 letters to form a word quite well. Knowing all the letter sounds are not enough, the child may not be ready to read words yet.

[mummaid]

Hi Tamarind,

I tried the phonics teaching method you shared in your blog. DS1 and me had great fun! He was able to pronounce most of the 3-letter words to my surprise. The fun part came in when I asked him to try to explain some of the words (eg. he explained ‘Jam’ as ‘Jam’ on the bread, traffic ‘Jam’…etc). However, I have problem explaining present and past tense to him (eg. ‘sit’ vs ‘sat’). Is it the right time to introduce present & past tense to a K1? Will I confuse him?

[mummy of 2]

tamarind:

There are many picture books that have big pictures on every page, and enough words too. Try looking for these books in the library :


Percy the park keeper : a classic treasury
by Nick Butterworth
This is a very nice book, very thick, but with cute pictures on every page.

The complete adventures of Curious George
by Margret & H.A. Rey.
Another very thick book about a very cute monkey, will occupy kids for a long time.

My kids also love the Curious George book. There is another book \"The New Adventures of Curious Geoge\" which is almost as captivating This book is also available from NLB.

[JJmom2008]

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[Akin]

actually i had already started with K1 boy and he responded quite well, maybe you can work with with him slowly but have to be very patient.[/quote]