On Phonics

OK. FB has this thing where they will post up memories on your timeline. They are your old FB posts. So, whenever I see an old post regarding my thoughts on everything ECE appears on my timeline, I will post it here and review it. Do I still share the same sentiment or my views have change or evolve? OK?

Here's one. I was looking for something else but I found this old status along the way. and since in this post I talked about reading, I thought why not post it now, early of the year. This post is dated 21/11/2013: 

Its the forth day of my so called extra reading class with the children and I realised - its awesome that some parents introduced the alphabet to their children from a very young age but here lies the "problem": just knowing the letters will not help as much with developing their reading skills.  

Since reading skill is very much important to some of Malaysian Parents (and seem to think that is a form of intelligence rather than a part of their children's holistic development), here's my suggestion: go on youtube or google and search for phonics or sound of letters. While you're flashing flashcards to your child and saying "A.. this is A for Apple" change your tactics and do this instead .. "this is A.. /a/ /a/ /a/ (the sound of the letters).. "  

soon enough, it'll put your child beyond their age's reading skill once you start to introduce them to words (start with three letter words). *** At this point however, you have to google "How to teach sounds blending". 

please note that this is one way (out of so many theories out there) to kickstart your children's reading skill (key word skill. because the ability to read is a different thing after that - ask me what, if you want to know more).  

plus, it is in our KSPK (national preschool curriculum standard) that by the age 4-5 years old, children are able to grasp basic phonetic to help them to read. It means that almost all preschool in malaysia (coz they have to abide to KSPK) will employ phonetic approach to teach children to read. (this will also help in your child's preparation for school!) 

OK, good luck young parents! have fun with phonics!

My views on how to teach children reading is still the same 2 years back and now.

I really find it helpful to introduce phonics (letter sounds) to children when you are helping them to read.  Yes, as an adult, we'd find it odd to back track because we are familiar with all the letter-sounds and we do not have to put much thought when we read text. 

Like reading the words cat, dog, fish. 

OK, now, try to be aware of your thought process when you try to read these unfamiliar words:

KAKORRHAPHIOPHOBIA

PAUCILOQUENT and

SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPUALIDOCIOUS

You segmentised these words according to the sounds that made sense to you, didn't you? 

For example, to read the word kakorrhaphiophobia, your thought process probably went something like this:

kaa...kor..rha...fi...o...fo...bi...a! 

That's you rationalising the word kakorrhafiofobia according to the sounds you are already familiar with, such as KA KOR RHA PHI (FI) O PHO (FO) BI A. 

This is why I think phonics is very helpful for early readers. 

Youtube has an array of video on how to sound the letters correctly according to your preference: British English or American English. My favourite to this day is still JOLLY PHONICS. 

The best thing about phonics for Malaysian children is, the same method can be applied to help your child to read Malay too! And all other language when it is written in romanised lettering. 

Kalau kita belajar mengaji Al Quran pun sama kalau kita guna system belajar membaca melalui Iqra'. Belajar melalui membunyikan huruf-huruf hijaiyah kan? 

So, if you're thinking to help your early readers, phonics is your safest bet to start with. Of course you need to consider their age, and the type of book to use too. But that's for a different post. 

This is all for now.

Love,

Teacher Najmi