When children learn to read, they need to understand and use the relationships between letters and sounds to be able to read words. Phonics requires knowledge of letter recognition, speech recognition, and their association. This means that children must recognize the letters in a word, and pronounce the sounds to read the word. Fortunately, there are several fun activities to teach your child phonics.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Introducing Letters by Sound Using Letter Cards
Step 1. Create, buy, or print a set of alphabet cards
Prepare 26 cards, one for each letter; Each card can have only capital letters, lowercase letters, or both. This card will be used to train children's letter recognition and speech recognition.
- You can find many free print-ready alphabet cards on the internet.
- You can also make alphabet cards yourself (or with your child). Choose colored index cards and markers to make the alphabet cards look more attractive. Write the letter clearly on one side, and the sound of the letter on the other.
Step 2. Shuffle the cards to random order
Hold one card at a time. Ask the child to say the name of each letter on the card. After that, ask the child to pronounce the sound of each letter.
Guide the child as needed for letters that make more than one sound. For example, "Yes, the sound of the letter 'e' is like the one in the word 'fast', but, what is the sound in the word 'party'?"
Step 3. Switch to letter combination cards
As a child's proficiency increases, he or she will be ready to identify letter patterns, which are two letters combined to produce a single sound. Prepare new cards containing diphthongs (pairs of vowels that make up one sound), namely /au/, /ai/, /ei/, and /oi/; and digraphs (two consonants that make up one sound), namely /kh/, /ng/, /ny/, and /sy/.
Print-ready letter combination cards can also be downloaded or purchased online, or you can make your own
Method 2 of 5: Matching Letter Sounds with Picture Cards
Step 1. Identify sound and letter matches
Ask the child to sort the picture cards according to the sound at the beginning of the word to build recognition of the sound and letter matching. Prepare a picture card containing at least one picture starting with each letter in the alphabet.
- Prepare some picture cards for the letters that usually start words.
- Make sure your child recognizes the pictures easily. For example, drawing a hat is better than a stick or spear.
Step 2. Select a group of images to start the exercise
Choose a set of three words whose initial letters are consonants and which are very different, for example: /b/, /s/, and /t/. Review the cards before you ask your child to sort them according to the sound of the first letters.
- For example, the cards can contain the following pictures: bear, hat, smile, spoon, shoes, cow, toothbrush, mouse.
- If your child needs help, ask “What is the first sound you hear when you hear the word bear? What letter reads /b/? Is it a b, s, or t?"
Step 3. Ask the child to sort the pictures according to the sound at the end of the word
After some practice with sounds at the beginning of words, try increasing the difficulty by using sounds at the end of words. For example, make some cards with pictures of a giraffe, pants, moon, table, elephant, and tree.
Ask almost the same question as before: “What was the last sound you heard from the word moon?”
Step 4. Increase the difficulty by focusing on vowels and combinations
In the end, the child can continue by sorting the pictures according to the sound in the middle of the word in the form of vowels, for example: /a/: hook, good, brother; /o/: toilet, boycott. Similarly, ask the child to sort the letters of the digraph at the beginning of the word, for example real and mosquito.
Again, ask the child: “What sound do you hear in the middle of a good word?”
Method 3 of 5: Creating Words by Filling in the Blanks
Step 1. Make a set of several blank squares and letter cards
Use a small whiteboard for this exercise. Create sideways successive empty squares (preferably starting with three squares). Each square represents one sound in the selected word.
Place a few different letter cards or magnets under the blank squares. You can color the consonants black, and red for the vowels
Step 2. Say the words K-V-K to the child
The word K-V-K is a word that consists of one vowel that is clamped by two consonants to produce a short vowel sound. The word K-V-K consists of the same number of sounds and letters.
- Examples are glue, tub, pack, bell, checkerboard, etc.
- After you say the word, have the child repeat it slowly, and pronounce each sound he hears: /l/, /e/, /m/.
Step 3. Ask the child to choose the correct letter for each sound he hears
Ask the child to start arranging the letters by placing the letter cards in the empty squares, starting from the far left and continuing to the right. This will make the child learn to arrange words in the correct order.
Guide the child if it is difficult. “The sound of the letters in the middle of the word “glue” is similar to the beginning of the word “tasty”. What letter starts the word delicious?”
Step 4. Develop an understanding of letter patterns
Continue the activity by teaching words that contain diphthongs and/or digraphs. Words that have diphthongs and digraphs (a combination of two letters into one sound) always have more letters than the number of sounds.
- For example: island, cowboy, wave, mosquito, lion.
- Use four squares for five letter words. Ask the child to put pairs of letters that make one sound into one box.
Method 4 of 5: Changing Words by Substituting Letters
Step 1. Teach how to change words by replacing letters
Start by indicating (in no order) the letters needed to make the selected word, such as “p,” “i,” and “r” for “pear.” After that, draw three empty squares (for this example) or more, depending on the number of sounds in the word.
Instead of using magnets, use a set of letter cards on the table
Step 2. Ask the child to spell the selected word
Say a word (such as “pear”) and ask the child to listen to the sound and place the appropriate letter cards in the correct order from left to right.
Guide the child if needed: “Pear, papa, and tree start with the same letter. Do you know the first letter of “pear”?”
Step 3. Ask the child to change the first letter to make a new word
Provide some extra letter cards. Ask the child to replace the letter "p" from the word "pear" with the letter that makes the sound /a/ to make the word "water". Ask the child to say it out loud.
Step 4. Continue adding more complex word changes
For example, ask your child to insert a letter combination that produces the /kh/ sound between the letters "a" and "i". After that, ask the child to read the new word, “end”.
- After that, ask the child to change the word “end” to “root.”
- Include vowels too, and change “root” to “get along.”
- As the child's skills increase, increase the difficulty of the practice by using longer words and more patterns.
Method 5 of 5: Strengthening Phonics by Reading
Step 1. Look for children's books that specifically encourage children to learn phonics
To enhance the skills you've been teaching, choose books for children that highlight the phonic patterns practiced in this activity. This book will help children apply their skills strategically to read the words in the book.
Several children's book publishers market a series of books specifically for children's phonic development. However, actually all children's books that are interesting and at the appropriate level will be useful for children
Step 2. Read books to children as often as possible
Make reading a part of your daily life. Let the children choose the books they want to read; ideally from books that focus on children's phonics, and read with enthusiasm. Imitate a variety of voices and make your reading sessions enjoyable.
Read as usual, but maybe slow down and explain so that the child can follow. Pronounce the various sounds in the words you read. You can also point to a word while reading
Step 3. Reread books that have already been read
Even if you're a bit tired of reading it, bring out the same enthusiasm as you read. Eventually your child will move on to another book that they want to read over and over again!
Repeating the same book over and over again may not develop your child's specific phonic goals, but he or she will be excited to read with you every day
Step 4. Ask lots of questions as you read
Questions help children become actively involved, and contribute to their phonic development. For example, while reading, point to the word “dog”. Ask, "You know what this is?" If your child needs help, say “Well, let's read the sentence. “Jaya went for a walk together….” Now, do you know what this is about?"
Even if it's not directly related to studying phonics, asking questions like "Do you think you know why he did it?" or “Hmm, what will happen next, huh?” will increase the concentration and enthusiasm of children
Step 5. Listen while the child reads
Because it will be your child who will turn to you reading, be an active and interested listener. Show that you are listening carefully. Every now and then, react like “Wow!” or “Funny, huh?”.
