Mind: Literature Tips for Teachers and Parents - Phonics

An important part of teaching my child to read is certainly phonics instruction. Teaching phonics is teaching them about the blending of letters to make certain sounds and also introduction to the relationship between printed letters and spoken words. So I am not just dealing with multiple letter blends, but, also, understanding that the letter 'd' in the word dog makes the 'd' sound.

Obviously, there are a lot of activities that we can do with our boys to get them started on understanding how these sounds and these printed letters and words work together. As they are learning the relationship between letters and sounds, these fun activities will allow them to practice what they are learning.

Now, this is my suggestion. I will make a trail of alphabet footprints so my boys (Deen and Kasyfu) and I can sing the alphabet song as I walk along the ABC path. Using some sturdy paper, like card stock would be just nice, and cut out 26 footprints and write one letter of the alphabet on each one. Tape them on the floor in order, but, in a gently curving path. Step on the letters one at a time, in order, and sing each letter as I step on it. Then, I will let my boys to try it and sing along with them as they walks the path.

For this activity, we will need at least two kids. The more the better as we will actually need two teams of players. So, inviting the neighbors to join the game would be great. We are going to give each team a word and each team will have to come up with words that rhyme with their word. So let's say I give the first team the word 'let' and the second team the word 'sat'. They send each of their players up to the board to write a word that rhymes with their word. When every player has had a turn, the team with the most correct words wins.

Another great example of a game that doesn't require any materials and that is easy to play on the go is phonics I-spy. As a friend of mine once suggested. The player who is it will spy something and tell the other person or people that they see something that starts with a certain letter. Perhaps he sees a tree, he would say that he sees something that starts with a 'tttttt'. And the other players have to guess what it is that he has spied. The one who figures it out then gets to spy something and make the others guess.

Understanding how letters and the sounds they make are the building blocks for the words that we speak is an important part of learning to read. So, when my child learn phonics, they learn that the words I speak is formed of letters and that each letter has its own sound. And, they also learn about groups of letters that are blended together to form sounds. When they begin to familiarize with all of these sounds, they can not only recognize familiar words, but, they also have clues to work out new words on their own.

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Mind: Literature Tips for Teachers and Parents 4.2

Recently, I did an intuitive  shopping at e-Cosway, Sandakan, I think. I bought an automatic-bread-maker! And, I am planning an activity...

An activity that will boost reading enthusiasm and make my little one feel a bit more grown up by helping me making bread from an instant-bread-making book. I will explain to my child that it is important to put the ingredients in and follow the instructions in the recipe in order. Then I will just let him be in charge of reading the recipe to me as the breading precess flows. I will, of course, give him any help he needs.

He can always read the labels on the ingredients that I am using. For instance, he can help me to differentiate between baking powder and baking soda and make sure I get the right one. Perhaps I might even let him fix my 'mistake' when I pick up the wrong one. He will feel so smart and helpful.

Here is the thing, when I can get my child excited about things and making pictures, funny games that maybe lead to silly stories, helping in the kitchen and feeling like a big kid, I am actually helping to raise his confidence and also his motivation to really enjoy books and reading.

Getting creative and changing things up obviously can inspire children to get reading!

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

 Reading makes me smarter. Now, its your child's turn...Click Here

Mind: Literature Tips for Teachers and Parents 4.1

How do you feel whenever your child keep on insisting (crying for actually in the case of Deen, my lovely 3 years old son) for  a book! Its really a satisfying observing your child having fun with books or the kinds.

Indeed, many fun activities we can do with our children to get them excited about books and the world of reading. When kids are having fun, it is so much easier to draw them into something - like the wonderful world of literature. The very best thing we could do is to channel them to enjoy it for themselves. When we are intuitively motivated to do something, it is a sustainable motivation. This will mold an awesome foundation for their whole school careers.

A very fun and proven way to really dig into a story is to read it with your child and when you are done, ask your child their favorite part of the story. Then have them draw a picture of that part. Further, creatively ask them for a short explanation of their picture and that part in the story. And either have them dictate to you and you write it on the bottom of their picture or let them write it if they can.

Another suggestion to really engage your child in the books you are reading with them is to play a guessing game. Each time you turn new page of the book, look at the pictures with your child and encourage them to guess what they think might be going on at this point in the story. It could be so enticing to see if they got it right, because, sometimes they might get it so wrong that it turns the book into a super silly story. And what is more fun than the giggles?

To be continued...

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.