Teaching Teens Phonics

Good reading skill is a necessary task we expect our teens to master in elementary school. But what happens if they haven't grasped the key ingredients to learning how to read, which is phonics? According to a National Institute of Child Health and Development 2000 study, the best way for children and teens to learn phonics is through a combination of teaching methods. I am going to show you some alternative techniques to help your teen improve their phonics, which will help them enjoy the reading process much more.

Things You'll Need

• Large size index cards
• Laminating machine (any copy or print store will do)
• Basic reading books ranging from ages 1 to 6
• Phonic/Spelling Puzzle workbooks
• Composition notebooks in different colors
• Audio recorder

Instructions

Introducing Sounds

1. 

   Purchase large index cards and write the targeted sound on one side of the card. On the other side write several word examples using the targeted sound. Laminate each card. If you are working with more than one teen, group the students in pairs and have them voice the sound of each letter and then as a game ask each student to guess the word examples on the back. Whoever guesses the most words and pronounces them correctly is a winner.

2. 

   Phonic workbooks go over a range of alphabet sounds including consonant blends, vowel teams and digraphs.

   Purchase age-appropriate phonic workbooks which can be found at any local bookstore and some drug stores. If you are working with more than one teen, the best thing to do is assess their language level and group them accordingly. Have them complete joint exercises together. One pair works on the long "a" sound, for instance, and the other on long "e." For individual lessons, focus on several targeted sounds each week. Take the students through a guided practice and review the targeted sound together. After the written exercises are complete, have the students make practice sentences using each targeted phoneme. To up the stakes and really make learning fun, create teams with each pair of students. Encourage the other teams to come up with as many words featuring each targeted sound.

3. 

   Choose a small chapter book for your teen to read. This is even better in a group. Small chapter books work well because the writing is bigger and the chapters are shorter. Break each chapter down by paragraphs or chunks. Have each child read and underline the difficult words. Review each definition by having the teen use context clues from the reading. This reinforces comprehension and gives the child confidence to trust her own conclusions from the reading. Have each teen read a portion of the paragraph and then have her explain the meaning of the sentence in her own words.

4. 

   As an addition to reading a chapter book, provide your teen with his own composition book to use with guiding reading. Make it fun. Let your teen personalize his composition book in a creative way. Use construction paper, felt alphabet stickers and paint which you can find at any local hobby or chain store. Engage the student in consciously relaying his thoughts about the reading passage in his composition books. Use the underlined words from Step 4 and have each teen work on these words for one week. Review the phonic sounds/phonemes for each word along with the word meaning. Have your teen write sentences using each word. Then use his sentences in sentence dictation. After correcting for errors, have each student read out loud his sentences and then write them.

5. Get a tape recorder or use a computer to record letter sounds and then use the recording as a way of testing if your teen is on target. Play a letter sound and have your teen guess what letter combination she is hearing. Turn the exercise into musical chairs. Use the student's favorite music. When the tape stops on a letter, have the teens take turns guessing a word with the sound. Whoever can't think of a word with the targeted sound when their turn comes loses a turn.

Tips & Warnings

• For older teens, cut out clippings from popular teen and film magazines and have students create their own unique story using PowerPoint. This is a more interesting spin on chapter books and provides the student a chance to improve vocabulary, phonics and reading comprehension.

• Remember that each child or teen has her own special way of learning new skills. Phonics is no exception. Be prepared if your teen does not grasp the skills right away or resists your efforts. Use your teen's strengths to drive the learning process.

References

• National Reading Panel Report about Teaching Phonics
• For Teens, Phonics Isn't Enough

Resources

• EZ School
• Starfall
• ED Helper