Phonics For Kids
Anything taught interestingly to kids serves their memory for a long time. While kids are exposed to a number of new ways in learning, it is important to let them know the right use of English language. Using various interactive methodologies and studies, phonics is the best medium to let the child learn about the subtle importance of pronunciation. Reading is a matter of time but knowing the right intonation, pitch and altering the tone can be taught to children at their early age with the help of an able guide.
It is form of learning or also understanding how to read. Hence the teacher needs to simplify the same. Usually phonics sessions are split into several classes and the methodology is uniform. Children understand the play-way method and hence hand movements, gestures and facial expressions help them to understand the sound of the word. English is usually taught with the help of words and also charts. The vowels (a,e,i,o,u)are separated from the consonants. The usual way is single sounds like c or a v but later on the education goes to digraph types like ‘ch’ – chopsticks, church and so on.
Blending words is also a way to teach phonics like using a series of words like ‘cl’ would mean clear, claw and other examples like branch, broad for ‘br’ words. This way the pronunciation can be checked and the phonics lesson can be conceptualized. Initially teaching ‘c’ and ‘h’ would be important and then combining the words like ‘ch’ would be a method. Classes for children are very simple and there are many practice lessons along with fun assignments.
The ideal way for teaching phonics to kids would be to teach them about writing too for e.g. giving them a few words with ‘ch’ like chalk, chocolate and then progressing to other vocabulary. Asking questions to children would be the easiest part of revision. The difference between a ‘o’ and ‘oo’ is also slowly brought out once they finish the short vowels. Then two vowels can be mingled like ‘ea’ or ‘ee’ and then kids are able to adjust to the sound effect.
An interactive parent-child session would again be beneficial even in the pre-school class. This accentuates the need for parents to speak in the right phonetic way in order to impart the correct reading habits in children. Books with pictures also serve as a revision session. Pictorials are really interesting for children and it serves well for memorizing too. Including short sessions along with colors or crayons will be a better way to inculcate a phonetic habit.
Children require a lot of comfort level with a particular subject and hence it is important to get them oriented towards books and other concepts in teaching. In case it is a purely phonics class, then interesting ideas should be combined like dressing as a cat to enact the sound for ‘c’ or dramatizing hiccups for ‘i’. All is not learnt in a day and with a phased plan this also becomes easy. Alongside, the writing or coloring activities certainly increase their interest levels and then they can proceed to read-aloud sessions.