Child struggling with phonics? Here’s how you can help

Many children with additional needs, especially those with speech, language and communication needs, struggle to use phonic skills as part of learning to read. 

In this guide, we delve deep into the core principles of phonics, explore proven teaching techniques, and provide practical tips for engaging your child at home. From understanding phonemic awareness to implementing interactive activities, you’ll discover a wealth of strategies tailored to suit diverse learning styles.

Join us on this enlightening journey as we unravel the art of phonics instruction and empower you to inspire your child with the gift of literacy. Get ready to witness the transformative impact of effective phonics instruction in action.

Understanding Phonics in Education

Phonics is a method of teaching reading and writing that focuses on the relationship between sounds and their corresponding letters or groups of letters. At its core, phonics instruction promotes the understanding of how letters represent sounds in spoken language. This foundational skill is critical for students as it enables them to decode new words, which is essential for reading fluency and comprehension. Phonics instruction is typically introduced in early childhood education, where children are first exposed to the alphabet and its sounds, laying the groundwork for their future literacy skills.

The systematic approach to phonics involves teaching students to recognise the sounds associated with each letter and blend those sounds to form words. Educators utilise a variety of strategies to make phonics engaging and effective, often integrating songs, games, and hands-on activities. Understanding phonics is not merely about memorising letters and sounds; it involves helping students develop phonemic awareness—the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words. This skill is crucial as it directly impacts a child’s ability to read and write proficiently.

In the context of education, phonics is recognised as a vital component of a structured literacy program. It serves as a bridge between oral language and written communication, providing students with the tools they need to decode unfamiliar texts. As children progress in their phonics skills, they become more confident readers, which fosters a love for reading and learning. By mastering phonics, students gain independence in their reading abilities, allowing them to explore a wider range of texts and engage more deeply with the content.

Importance of Mastering Phonics

Mastering phonics is essential for several reasons, primarily due to its significant impact on literacy development. Research indicates that students who receive explicit phonics instruction tend to perform better in reading assessments compared to their peers who do not. This is because phonics equips learners with the skills needed to decode words efficiently, leading to improved reading fluency. When students can quickly sound out words, they can focus on understanding and comprehending the material rather than struggling with pronunciation.

Moreover, phonics instruction is foundational for spelling and writing skills. As students learn the connections between sounds and letters, they become more adept at spelling words correctly. This enhanced spelling ability not only boosts their writing proficiency but also contributes to their overall communication skills. When students can express their thoughts clearly in writing, they are better prepared for academic success across all subjects, not just English.

Additionally, mastering phonics fosters a sense of achievement and confidence in students. When children recognise that they can read and write words independently, their self-esteem grows, encouraging them to take on new challenges. This confidence in their literacy skills can lead to a lifelong love of reading, which is vital for personal and academic growth. Ultimately, the importance of mastering phonics extends beyond just reading; it encompasses the development of critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication skills that are essential in today’s world.

Phonics Teaching Methods

One of the most widely used teaching approaches is systematic phonics instruction, which involves teaching sounds in a planned sequence. This method emphasises a clear progression from simple to more complex sounds and letter combinations, ensuring that students build a solid foundation before moving on to advanced skills. By following a structured curriculum, teachers can effectively monitor student progress and adapt their instruction accordingly.

Another effective method is synthetic phonics, which focuses on teaching students to blend individual sounds together to form words. In this approach, learners are first introduced to the sounds of letters and then taught how to combine these sounds to decode new words. This technique encourages students to become active participants in their learning, as they practice sounding out words and applying their skills in real reading situations. Teachers often support synthetic phonics with engaging activities, such as word-building games and phonics songs, to reinforce learning.

On the other hand, analytic phonics emphasises teaching students to recognise whole words and then breaking them down into their constituent sounds. This method often involves using familiar words and context clues to help students infer the sounds associated with specific letters or letter combinations. While both synthetic and analytic phonics have their merits, the choice of method often depends on the specific needs of the students and the teaching context.

How to help your child with phonics at home

Here are some top tips on how to help your child who is struggling with phonics at home.

These ideas can be adapted for the non-speaking learner by using objects and pictures to indicate a response.

Use multi-sensory approaches

Learn about letters and the sounds they make by using the different senses. For example, manipulate wooden or magnetic letters whilst saying the sounds, or tracing over letters in shaving foam.

For the non-speaking learner: over-stretch the sounds in words and allow your child to put their hands on your throat so they can feel the vibrations of your voice-box. Use a mirror so you both watch the movements the mouth makes when making the sounds. These multi-sensory approaches help to ‘anchor’ sounds to memory.

Play memory games

Children with poor short term memory struggle to ‘hold’ a sequence of sounds in their mind in order to blend them. Play memory games that involve your child remembering and carrying out 2, 3 or 4 instructions in order.

Developing phonological awareness skills helps a child struggling with phonics

Students at risk for reading difficulty often have lower levels of phonological awareness. Phonological awareness is the ability to recognise and work with sounds in spoken language. Practise skills such as:

• Rhyming- read books with rhymes, match pictures or symbols of words that rhyme, continue a rhyming string
• Recognising syllables- clapping out or tapping the beats in spoken words e.g. win-dow
• Identify same and different speech sounds- ask your child to identify whether two sounds (not letters) are the same. E.g. are the ‘c’ and ‘p’ the same?
• Recognising initial sounds of words- play games such as ‘eye spy’ or ‘Simon says’
• Recognising final sounds in words- sort objects into groups based on their final sounds. Over-pronounce the sound if your child is having difficulties
• Blending and segmenting sounds in spoken words- give your child instructions with a word that is segmented. Your child will have to blend the sounds to follow the instruction, such as ‘give me your b-oo-k’ or ‘find the h-a-t’. Swap roles and let your child give you instructions to follow.

Here are some more phonics activities to engage with at home.

Once your child’s phonological skills are secure, you can then move on to blending to read written words and spelling. Read more about how oral language skills impact reading development.

Conclusion: Empowering Students Through Phonics

In conclusion, mastering phonics is a fundamental aspect of literacy education that empowers children to become proficient readers and writers. By understanding the principles of phonics, utilising effective teaching methods, and incorporating engaging activities, you can create a supportive learning environment that nurtures literacy skills in your child.

Ultimately, empowering your child through phonics means equipping them with the skills they need to navigate the world of literacy confidently. By fostering a strong foundation in phonics, you will not only enhance your child’s reading and writing abilities but also instill a sense of agency and enthusiasm for learning.

Want a professional phonics tutor to deliver systematic, structured phonics sessions to your child? Book your FREE trial today.

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