Phonics Method of Teaching Reading

Phonics teaches young readers language basics.

Phonics is useful in teaching reading skills to students from preschool through early elementary school or as a practical way to introduce English to foreign speakers. Phonics works by breaking English words in smaller components and basic sounds. These letters and letter groupings are then applied to make words until the student can comprehend phrases, sentences and longer works.

Things You'll Need

• Flash cards
• Pencil
• Paper
• Nursery rhymes

Instructions

Sounds

1. Use flash cards to introduce the sounds of commonly used letters, progressing through the alphabet to those less frequently used. Start with letters "s," "t" and "n," before finishing with "x," "z" and "q."

2. Concentrate on short and long vowel sounds, including those made by double letters like "oo" and "ee."

3. Reveal the effect silent "e" has on other vowels through comparisons of words like cap and cape, hop and hope.

4. Establish the sounds made by common letter combinations like "sh," "ch" and "th." Give examples where these letters are used at the beginning and end of words like shop and ash, chin and itch.

5. Focus on more difficult letter combinations typically found at the end of words, including "ng," "nk," "er," "ar" and "ck."

6. Work with more difficult vowel combinations like "ou," "ae," "ay," 'ea" and "oi."

Reading

1. Create lists of rhyming words like "round," "sound" and "bound" so that students can see sound and word patterns. See that they add similar words to the list.

2. Have students read nursery rhymes, picture books and poems with predictable language patterns and rhyming words, allowing them to practice more difficult and longer selections.

3. Encourage students to copy passages they have read to make the connection between reading and writing.

4. Let students express themselves by putting their own ideas on paper.

Tips & Warnings

• Reward students often to foster excitement about learning new words and concepts. Start each new step by reviewing the previous exercise or exercises to keep lessons fresh.

References

• A to Z Phonics: Printable Phonics Lesson Plans
• Teachnology

Resources

• Synthetic Phonics