Methods of Teaching Phonics to Children
Phonics is a method of teaching children how to read. After children learn the sounds of the alphabet, they are taught to join these sounds together to make simple three-letter words. Children are then able to read from specialized books made up of three-letter words. They then advance to pairing letters, such as "tr," "st" and "cl," so they can move on to more difficult reading material.
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Games
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Learning is not high on the agenda of a child but play is, so try to combine the two. Children find it easier to remember what they have been taught if the knowledge was gained through an enjoyable experience. Use games like hangman and charades to teach phonics. For example, create a word search game that gives pictures for clues; the child must work out the spelling before hunting for the word. The first child to complete the search could win a small prize. This game is also very effective because the child is figuring out the answer rather than being told it, helping her retain the knowledge.
Encouragement
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Regularly encourage and praise children learning phonics, as high self-confidence will help them learn the different sounds. Some children may be worried or insecure about their current of level of learning so let them know that you believe in them and that they are doing very well. A lot of this praise should come verbally, but you can also try attaching stickers with smiley faces to a child's work or really boosting a child's morale by pinning exemplary work to the wall of the classroom.
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Unfamiliar Sounds
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When you are leading your students into uncharted territory in their learning, find a way to make it seem familiar. If you are teaching the children about a new sound, compare it to sounds and techniques they have already learned so they understand the new concept quickly. For example, if you are teaching children about the short "o" sound, then contrast it to what they already know about other short vowel sounds like "a" and "u."
Consistency and Variety
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While these two may seem like opposites, they don't have to be, and in fact both are vital to effective phonics teaching. Consistent activities can be effective learning tools for children. Pick ones that are quick and easy to comprehend. It can be as simple as singing the alphabet at the start of class. However, repetitive teaching can become monotonous, so make sure to alter lessons to keep things fresh. Variety is very important in keeping children interested. If you have completed a lesson on a particular sound, finish it off with a game relating to the children's new knowledge, or allow them to draw pictures representing some of the new words they have learned.
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