Articles
Oct 03, 2012
Interactive Phonics Games
Systematic and explicit phonics instruction is a crucial part of any reading program, and interactive phonics games are one of the most effective and enjoyable ways for kids to learn phonics. Phonics instruction, that is, the method of teaching how letters are linked to sounds (phonemes), has experienced renewed popularity online, where interactive phonics games are typically found. These games have proved to be great tools to help kids learn the 26 letters of the alphabet and the 44 sounds that they make, both individually and in letter combinations. Phonics games found online offer a variety of highly interactive tasks,...
Oct 03, 2012
Reading Help for the Struggling Reader
No parent wants their child to struggle with reading, but it’s important to be aware of the signs of reading struggles in order provide your child with effective reading help if necessary. Repeated ear infections as a young child, speech delays, or difficulty with the pronunciation of certain sounds can all signal possible reading difficulties later down the track. Another sign that your child may struggle with reading is the difficulty to recognise the letters of the alphabet. Any difficulty with the alphabet or the related alphabetic principle, that is, the relation of letters to specific sounds, can lead to...
Sep 19, 2012
Learn How to Read
To learn how to read is one of, if not the most important rite of passage in a child’s early education, and one that is far more complex and rigourous than seems at first glance. When kids learn how to read, they must systematically learn and rigourously apply a complex set of literacy skills in order to ultimately achieve reading fluency. Many parents, for whom reading is second nature, may sometimes forget how complex the act of reading is for a young learner. While it is easy to assume that kids will just ‘pick up’ reading innately over time, research...
Sep 19, 2012
Kids Reading Books
The goal of any reading program should ultimately be to have kids reading books independently, with the ability to comprehend for meaning and communicate meaning to others. As a means to this end, teachers and parents need to provide their children and students with a reading program that systematically teaches the fundamental skills needed to become a fluent reader. Informed by decades of study into the best ways to teach reading, the most effective reading programs are those that target the five literacy skills that contribute to reading fluency: * **Phonemic awareness** * **Phonics** * **Fluency** * **Vocabulary** * **Text...