I’ve had lots of requests from friends & family on how to teach phonics at home. Β I guess it’s mainly because of the great results we’ve been having in schools! Β So here is the video of how to do it …
This way is for English speaking countries, so if you have friends or family back home who need some help then please send them the link! Β Β (The video for teachers is here)
Here’s a brief review of the video:
Phonics just means saying the sound of the letter, instead of the “A=ay B=bee C=see” name of the letter.
1. Β Ask what the pictures are on each page.
2. Β Ask what they think today’s new sound is.
3. Β When they get it right, show them how to write it by drawing on the big letter whilst making the sound.
4. Take turns writing on the big letter in silly voices!
5. Point to the first letter of the reading word, they say the sound.
6. Point to the next letter of the reading word, they say it.
7. Keep getting faster and faster till they can say the word and get the magic “Aha!” feeling as they know what it says!
8. Practice writing today’s letter on the sheet.
9. Review all the sounds at the top of the page. Take it in turns pointing and saying the letters.
I’m sure you’ll be amazed at the difference this makes to children’s reading!
Here are the Phonics Posters I use in the video:
Printable PDF A4 Phonics Posters:
Home Use:Β Buy Now $19.99 School Use:Β Buy Now $49.99
OrΒ Teacher’s Pack owners canΒ click here to download for free
Since using these, I’m surprised again and again. First a couple of month ago, when I figured out my daughter couldn’t do anything with capital letters. This maybe sounds “bad” thinking conservatively , but I found it amazing. I think it is so easy to get these later, whereas it is much harder to learn the small letters.
Then older kids come to play and talk with “letter names”. Again my daughter doesn’t know what they are talking about.
What is “bee” or “see”?
Well, here I noticed that she probably is much better in “phonics” than I am, and I really need to study more to be able to teach them. She was showing me how a kid’s brain works. Very logically.
Meanwhile she is really good in reading (we’re only half way through, though). Last weekend I had her write. I was wondering how to help her with the sounds she couldn’t write right away. I can’t spell, as she doesn’t know the names…
So, I started gesturing. And: She was able to write! gesturing p-i-g is so much more visible for them than saying “P” “I” “G” as the names of the letters.
I think it needs some courage to start, as we are so in our world, and maybe can’t imagine that we can teach this way. It needs some trust as well. But once I let go of everything I knew it’s almost like magic!
Highly recommended.
Thank you!!! I love it!!!