Learning phonics is a critical skill for reading development, and it is essential to reinforce this at home.
This article provides guidance for parents to support their children in developing phonological awareness. Teachers can share this URL with parents to help them understand and implement these strategies.
Understanding Phonics and Its Importance
Phonics is the method of teaching reading by correlating sounds with letters or groups of letters.
It is foundational for children as it helps them decode words, improving their reading and spelling skills. Engaging in phonics activities at home can significantly enhance a child's phonological awareness, especially for those struggling.
How Schools Typically Teach Phonics
In schools, phonics instruction is systematic and sequential, starting with simple sound-letter relationships and progressing to more complex patterns.
Teachers use a variety of activities to teach phonics, including reading, writing, and interactive games. Parents must collaborate with teachers to ensure consistent support at home, reinforcing the skills learned in school. To find out more, you should contact your school SENCo.
Intensive Remedial Literacy Programmes
Intensive remedial literacy programs can be beneficial for children requiring additional support. These programs are designed to provide structured and focused intervention to improve phonological awareness and reading skills. There are some programs that schools could use - a couple of examples are listed before. For a full list see here.
Sounds-Write
Sounds-Write is a well-regarded phonics program that focuses on teaching the skills necessary to read and spell. It uses a structured and cumulative approach, making it suitable for intensive remedial work.
Lexonic
Lexonic offers targeted intervention programs designed to accelerate reading skills. It includes assessments and tailored instruction to meet the specific needs of each child.
Activities to Improve Phonics at Home
If you want to play a part in improving your child's phonics, there are ways to improve phonics at home, this time through some fun games. Below we give an example. However, for more games like this, please view this article that we created that goes into more detail.
Clap Out Syllables
Start simple by clapping out syllables in everyday words. Use familiar terms like their favourite football team or what you're eating for dinner. One clap for each syllable. This can be something you do anywhere! Some examples below:
Chel-sea (Chelsea)
Pas-ta (Pasta)
Ap-ple (Apple)
Cho-co-late (Chocolate)
Li-on (Lion)
Morphology, if the Student is Still Struggling and Nothing is Working
Sometimes phonics can be a real sticking point. If this is the case, then you might want to try Morphology. Morphology is the study of the structure and form of words, particularly how they can be broken down into meaningful units called morphemes. Morphemes include roots, prefixes, and suffixes, and understanding these elements can significantly enhance a child's ability to decode and spell words. If a child really struggles with learning phonics, morphology might be a good option.
How This Helps
Morphology provides a different approach to phonics, focusing on the meaning of word parts rather than just sounds. This can be especially beneficial for children who struggle with traditional phonics methods. By learning how words are constructed, students can better understand and predict word meanings, improving both their reading comprehension and spelling accuracy.
If you would like to try Morphology, check out our article here which explains more detail.
Pre-Teaching and Repeated Reading
Pre-teaching and repeated reading are effective strategies used to improve students' comprehension and engagement with class texts, particularly in a secondary school setting. Pre-teaching involves introducing key vocabulary and concepts before the student encounters them in the main text, giving them a head start in understanding the material. Repeated reading, on the other hand, involves reading the same text multiple times, allowing students to deepen their comprehension and retention of the material.
How This Helps:
Pre-teaching prepares students for what they are about to read, reducing the cognitive load during the actual reading process. By familiarising students with difficult vocabulary and complex ideas beforehand, they can focus more on understanding the overall meaning of the text rather than getting stuck on unfamiliar words or concepts. This strategy is particularly beneficial for students who may struggle with reading comprehension or those learning in a second language.
Activities to Try at Home
Pre-Teaching Vocabulary
Introduce key vocabulary and concepts before students read the text. Discuss these in the context of the upcoming reading to give students a clearer idea of what to expect.
Multiple Readings
Allow students to read the text multiple times. During the first reading, focus on general comprehension. In subsequent readings, encourage students to pay attention to specific details, themes, or vocabulary.
Pair with Discussion:
After repeated readings, facilitate a discussion where students can express their understanding of the text. This can help reinforce the material and provide an opportunity for further clarification.
Phonics for Older Learners (11+)
Phonics instruction can also be adapted for older learners who may still need support with foundational reading skills.
While the principles remain the same, the approach is tailored to be age-appropriate and relevant to older students. It's also worth noting that most children should be pretty good at phonics by the age of 9. So if they're still struggling, it might be worth getting some extra help. To see what options might be available go to the 'Older Learners' section of this article.
A Few Tips for Older Learners
Use More Complex Texts:
Incorporate phonics practice into more challenging, age-appropriate texts that align with the student's interests. This helps keep them engaged while reinforcing phonetic principles.
Morphology Focus:
Older learners can benefit from a greater focus on morphology, understanding how words are formed and how this knowledge can help with spelling and reading complex texts. Oftentimes Morphlogy can be the unlock when other things haven't worked.
Consistency is Key:
Regular, consistent practice is important for older learners, just as it is for younger students. Short, frequent sessions can be more effective than infrequent, longer ones.