All About Teaching and Learning Phonics

[autumnbronze]

keltong:

Just to share a minor success I have after recently (like 1 week only) starting to do some 3 words blending with him. He just started last Sun at Mind Stretcher for his phonics class and from the worksheet I know he is have trouble. They were on 'am' and 'ad'.

So I prepared the material as per tamarind's blog and took out the 'am' and 'ad' set.

The words for 'am' are 'jam' and 'ham'. So I bought some ham home, place a piece on the table along with his favorite strawberry jam and a piece of bread. He didn't saw me preparing the food but saw me taking out the word cards to line on the table and his reaction was, \"wow man, not the word again\" and hide in his room.

So after I lay the food on the table, I went into the room to call him. Same reaction, but I told him I have something special for him. That made him walk out of the room. When he saw the food on the table his eyes sparkle.

So I told him we are going to do the word cards and he can eat after that. He readily sat down. So naturally I started with the 'am' words. He got it pretty fast, so as we do jam, I got him to spread the jam on the bread, than we do ham and I cut half of it and put it in his bread. I than allow him to eat while he promise to do the next set of words, the 'ad'.

I started by taking out a writing pad and get him to do the word 'pad' and show him what it is. Than I started to (try to) draw a girl who is tearing, and got him to do the word 'sad'. I get him to than do 'bad' and explain that the bad boy cause the girl to be sad (getting him to read the word cards instead of me saying out the word). Than I draw an angry dad scolding the boy. So I got him to say the 'dad' got so 'mad' with the 'bad' boy for making the girl 'sad' and scold the 'bad' boy. Than the 'bad' boy apologies to the girl. Trying to re-emphasize the 'ad' words again. My boy was very delighted and even asked me to draw a speech bubble for the boy to say he is sorry.

I realize this picture and visual stick as over the next 2 days he is still talking about the picture. Yesterday he even ask me for the 'pad' and attempted to draw his own version of a 'bad' girl making the boy 'sad' (doing the reverse of what I did). And he has been asking for his ham bread daily.

Yesterday when doing 'at', he was the 'cat' and chase the 'fat' 'rat' (me of coz) around the house. It has been both tough and fun trying to come out with creative ways to teach but it sure make him more interested (he brought the cards to me yesterday).

I can't thank tamarind and the rest enough for their inspiration.

:goodpost:

Great sharing keltong :celebrate: :celebrate:

I have just started 3 words blending with him too. Will def keep your tips in mind

[keltong]

porcupine12trade:

keltong:

his reaction was, \"wow man, not the word again\" and hide in his room.

Heh my son has the same reaction! He would say \"我不要读了\" or \"我不要玩了\" only after 2-3 words. sigh...so demoralising. Wah you really put in loads of effort! i think i have to try do the same. Show all sorts of materials, stuff etc.

Try to bring in the fun part so that he will get interested and will not tink it's a chore, that is what I am trying to avoid with my 2nd boy. My son kept talking about the 'sad' girl and 'bad' boy this few days, so it has really stuck in his head. Just now he was looking for the 'pad' to start his drawing again. Only that tonight I was rushing my work and didn't have time to go through with him again but he seems more open to it now.

Perseverance is definitely needed. 加油！

[keltong]

autumnbronze:

:goodpost:

Great sharing keltong :celebrate: :celebrate:

I have just started 3 words blending with him too. Will def keep your tips in mind

Thanks...just hoping my sharing can help to encourage those who feel down. It's definitely not an easy job, been a parent that is! So it's a relieve for me to read inspiring stories here. To let myself know, there is hope.

[tamarind]

keltong,

Thank you so much for sharing

Yes it is not easy. I was not able to come up with fun ideas every day, more than 50% of the days when I was teaching him phonics, I only asked him to arrange the cards. But he was quite enthusiastic because he knew that I would surprise him once in a while with interesting and fun things to do

[bearbear]

Don’t forget the rewards (e.g. encouraging words, child favorite food, etc) it helps a lot.

[tamarind]

bearbear:

Don't forget the rewards (e.g. encouraging words, child favorite food, etc) it helps a lot.

I agree !

[tamarind]

smurf:

How to teach phonics? :?


I understand that kids should be taught single letter sound first and then follow by three letters words, such as cat, fat, tap, etc.

But what I understand is that some teachers taught phonics in such a way that they teach first letter first and THEN teach the second and third letters together.

For example, the word cat. Teachers only teach the 'c' sound and then followed by 'at' sound.

So it would be c...at. But what I understand from a phonics teacher is that this is wrong. Teachers should teach in this manner:

C...a...t

3 sounds instead of 2 sounds.

smurf,
There are different methods of teaching phonics, Montessori, Jolly, Letterland, Zoophonics, etc Any method is fine so long as the child can understand it easily.

My method is similar to the Montessori method, and is very easy to do at home :
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-teach-phonics.html

[keltong]

tamarind:

keltong,

Thank you so much for sharing

Yes it is not easy. I was not able to come up with fun ideas every day, more than 50% of the days when I was teaching him phonics, I only asked him to arrange the cards. But he was quite enthusiastic because he knew that I would surprise him once in a while with interesting and fun things to do

Ya..some days just too tired to do anything. But must keep going.

[keltong]

tamarind:

bearbear:

Don't forget the rewards (e.g. encouraging words, child favorite food, etc) it helps a lot.

I agree !

I second that!

[smurf]

Thanks Tamarind.


I thought it would be more difficult for the child next time when he or she has to spell out the words. For example, cat or fat, there is no letter that makes the sound 'at', so it might confuse the child. I thought so. :celebrate: