Early Reading Methods
Phonics vs. Whole Language - What system should you use?
When
you're ready to start teaching reading to your child, there are several
programs available on the market. There are also a variety of methods used by
teachers and homeschooling parents. So how do you know what to do and where to
start? Despite all the hoopla over new reading methods, there are essentially
two approaches, or a combination of the two. These are:
- The phonics method
- The look-say / whole-word / whole language method
For
decades, reading wars have raged among proponents of these two approaches.
Linguists, educators, politicians and parents are all actively involved in this
debate over reading methods.
Whole Language Method
This
method goes by different names: whole language, look and say, sight reading, or
whole word. It is as much an educational philosophy as a reading method, for it
emphasizes capturing meaning over systematic decoding of sound parts. The whole
language emphasis considers language a natural phenomenon and literacy a
natural function.
With
the whole language method, children are taught to recognize the sight of the
whole word, rather than its letter parts. Theoretically,
the method goes from the whole to the part. Flash cards and graded readers are
features of this approach.
While
this method can lead to early success in reading and writing, it is today considered
insufficient in itself. Having not learnt the phonetic decoding system,
children face difficulty when deciphering new words, for they cannot
deconstruct them. Critics have argued that this method is
responsible for the emergence of reading disabilities, which did not exist
in the past when children of different ages studied together in one classroom.
They also assert that such an approach forces children to learn English as if
it were Chinese. Many politicians, particularly in the United States, have
blamed whole language reading instruction for falling literacy rates.
Proponents of the system point to other factors as responsible for the decline
in reading abilities.
Nevertheless,
it may be helpful to use the whole language method in a limited way to teach
children a number of very common English words such as 'you' and 'the', which
do not follow phonetic rules. Relying on the whole language method alone could
leave holes in a child's reading abilities.
The Phonics Method
Phonics
is one of the oldest and most well-known methods for teaching children to read
and write English.
In
phonics instruction, children are taught the sounds of the letters. What is
important is that the child comes to associate the shape of the letter with the
sound it makes. Once individual letter-sounds are mastered, children are taught
how to blend them together to read words. Similarly, children taught through
the phonics method can learn how to spell correctly by sounding out the word.
Because
mastering the sounds of letters may be boring to young children, it is important to keep
lessons short and lively. A variety of reading games should be included to keep
the child engaged. It is also necessary to utilize phonetic readers,
particularly in the early stages, to help the child master phonetic patterns.
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Tips for Teaching Children to Read through Phonics
- Teach the sounds
of the letters before the names of the letters. For
example, in phonics it is important to know that the sound of the letter B
is "buh" . This will help the child to read. Knowing that the
name of the letter is B is irrelevant.
- Teach the child
writing and reading at the same time. Younger
children can "write" in a pan full of rice, in sand, or in
finger paints.
- Teach the short
vowel sounds first. This will enable children to read
simple words such as cat, hot, up, met, or pig , rather than more complex
ones such as name, seem, boat, ice, or cute.
- Train your
child's ear to the sounds of language. Play games
to help your child identify the beginning sound of his or her name and of
common words such as baby, mama, dog, and so on.
- Incorporate all
the senses whenever possible. Cut out felt letters, make clay
letters, or paste pictures of animals or items beginning with a specific
letter / sound.
- Eat your words! There are
many edible products that could promote literacy: Alphabets cereal,
alphabet spaghetti, alphabet cookies, or alphabet fries. You could also
"write" edible messages in mashed potatoes on a coloured plate.
Children
may have problems when reading due to unfamiliar words. Encourage them to study
the word, look it up in the dictionary together, explore the meaning and the
sound. By doing so your children will familiarize with the word in depth and
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- Children who read often and widely get better at it. ...
- Reading exercises our brain. ...
- Reading improves concentration. ...
- Reading teaches children about the world around them. ...
- Reading improves vocabulary and language skills. ...
- Reading develops a child's imagination. ...
- Reading helps children to develop empathy. ...
- Reading is a fun.
