| To date, over 180 research studies have | | | | available in the language, for example, |
| confirmed that phonics is the best way to teach | | | | "kuh---aah---tuh" sounds out "cat". |
| children how to read. Unfortunately, 80% of our | | | | - Part 3: Exposure to meaning of the written |
| nations schools do not use an intensified phonics | | | | word through reading and being read to, for |
| approach for reading instruction. | | | | example, "kuh---aah---tuh" sounds out "cat" which |
| They use a whole word approach (see and say) | | | | is "a furry mammal that purrs". |
| or a combination of phonics and whole word. | | | | These elements should be used as building blocks, |
| While children can learn using the whole word | | | | each necessary to support the next. With |
| method, it is not the best or most efficient way | | | | phonemic awareness as the first block, a child can |
| to learn how to read. The whole word method | | | | begin to puzzle out words in books. |
| teaches reading through memorization and | | | | With the help of a parent or sibling by his side he'll |
| guessing. | | | | begin to have the answers to questions he will |
| Unlike the Japanese and Chinese languages which | | | | soon begin to ask. |
| are picture based, the English language is phonetic. | | | | Now is the time to point out important clues, such |
| There are only 44 sounds while there are about 1 | | | | as how letter sounds blend, how an "e" at the end |
| million words in English. | | | | of a word changes a vowel sound from short to |
| These facts readily explain why having to | | | | long, how some consonants have more than one |
| memorize 44 sounds as opposed to memorizing | | | | sound. |
| hundreds of thousands of words is the most | | | | Discuss lower and upper case letters. Point out |
| efficient way to learn to read. | | | | the eighteen frequently used words best learned |
| Reading and writing is simply talking on paper. | | | | by sight. And remember to keep reading to your |
| When children learn to talk, they do so by | | | | child to include exposure to meaning, the all |
| imitating sounds. They then combine the sounds | | | | important part 3. |
| to form words. | | | | What does your child need in order to read well? |
| The brain is programmed to learn language in this | | | | You need to provide 4 things to your child, |
| fashion. Therefore, the most efficient way to | | | | preferably at an early age, to build a proper |
| learn to read is through phonics because it | | | | reading foundation: |
| teaches children to read the same way they | | | | 1. Phonics information and the ability to manipulate |
| learned to talk. | | | | the sounds that make up spoken language. |
| A two decades study on the best way to learn | | | | 2. Phonics skills and the understanding that there |
| how to read, funded by the National Institute of | | | | are relationships between letters and sounds. |
| Health, discovered that the three important | | | | 3. The ability to read fluently with accuracy, |
| aspects of reading - identifying letters, identifying | | | | speed, and expression. |
| sounds associated with the letters, and reaching | | | | 4. To apply reading comprehension strategies to |
| for meaning of the written word - are each | | | | enhance understanding and enjoyment of what |
| accomplished by different parts of the brain. | | | | they read. |
| A three-part plan that incorporates this | | | | There are many commercial reading programs |
| information to guide you as you help your child | | | | available that combines whole word and phonics |
| learn to read. | | | | based principles. Whatever reading program you |
| - Part 1: Phonemic awareness, or learning the | | | | decide to use, make sure that it's recommended |
| individual sounds that constitute a language, for | | | | by parents and teachers, find out how long the |
| example, "kuh" as the sound of "c". | | | | program has been on the market and verify it's |
| - Part 2: Phonics, or the letter-sound relationships | | | | success rate. |