When children are learning to read for the very first time, they are opening the doors of their imagination as well as learning something new. However, becoming confident readers isn't something that happens overnight. It takes a little bit of teaching as well as learning through the right manner. Phonics lessons are the place where the magic lies! Phonics isn't something new that children need to learn. It’s an essential skill set in which will not only make learning an art of reading easier but also fun! Let’s see in the next blog posts how phonics lessons can be beneficial in making children confident readers all their lives.
What Exactly is Phonics?
“Phonics” refers to a methodical way within which children are exposed to the sound value of letters, a combination of letter sounds, as well as a combination of letter sounds that form words. Essentially, it’s a toolkit that helps decode words in a way that helps transform a bumpy reading experience to a smooth one. When it comes to phonics, sound and words go hand-in-hand, a combination that enables a child to sound out a new word by herself. Consider a scenario involving a child looking at a written word “cat” for the first time ever. Thank phonics, she will automatically discover that “c” is written as “k,” “a” is written as “a,” and “t” is written as “t.”
Importance of Phonics in Children
In fact, learning to read is a daunting task for children. Children look at a string of letters, and without learning phonics, every word could be a mystery in a foreign tongue. Phonics gives a child the power to decode these "messages" because it teaches a child sounds in association with letters and letters sequences.
Learning these rules allows children to possess the skill to try to read unfamiliar words, making the entire learning experience much less intimidating. Moreover, learning phonics is a much more intriguing andnon-frustrating way to teach children to read, as opposed to how to memorize words. The children experience a “puzzle-solving” activity while decoding a word, and when they make correct predictions, their levels of confidence boost up.
Building a Foundation to Encourage Confident Readers
"Phonics lessons are more than just instruction on how to sound out words," explains Cynthia G. Tusa, "they stimulate children to become enthusiastic and impassioned about reading. Here’s how it’s done,"
Enhances Decoding Skills
Phonics is an ability to "sound-out" words instead of memorizing them. This means that even if the word is not known by the child, she is still able to decipher it. The strategy to utilize for reading is now phonics, and so the game of reading is no longer a game of memorizing, but now it is applicable.
Improves Reading Fluency
It is dependent entirely upon reading fluently or rythm reading. Phonics classes help the child read fluently by training the patterns of the words. They learn them subconsciously so it becomes easy for them to read the text. They learn to read the total text rather than reading word by word.
Enhances Understanding
Since children wouldn’t be working so hard to try and make out what the word says, they would be able to better listen to what message comes out from either the story or text. Essentially, phonics aids children in possessing their minds with advantage that comes with using less power.
Inspires a Passion for Reading
One of the best ways to raise a life-long lover of reading is to ensure the basic goal of the child’s reading lessons is enjoyment from the first moment onwards. "Phonics classes make reading a fun and interactive process." Children can play with words, explore the process of reading, and become captivated by the unique experiences associated with the process when they read for enjoyment rather than for a class assignment.
The Role of Phonics Lessons in Relation to Reading
Furthermore, Phonics skills not only benefit the Phonics skills, but other skills that children need are also enhanced as they move along in their education and in their academics:
Improved Spelling
Spellings are made more understandable by the use of Phonics. Since the child understands the letters that sound while uttering words, the spellings become a simple method for the child to follow.
Listening Skills By Phonics
This learning technique helps teach children to be conscious of the sounds around them. Enhancing their sensitivity in this aspect helps improve their listening skill, explains Avant. This is a vital skill in communication.
Thinking Critically
Besides learning to read, this exercise also helps teach them to formulate solutions to their puzzles. It is a kind of puzzle in itself that helps exercise their brains to critically think in searching for a pattern.
Selecting the Correct Phonics Package
There are There are various ways of teaching phonics, and each child is unique; therefore, it’s imperative to identify the approach that’s ‘just right’. “A well-delivered phonics lesson requires an interactive approach with engaging resources and plenty of opportunities for children to practice reading interesting and engaging text.” Phonics instruction that involves a combination of visual learning resources, listening activities, and physical learning opportunities tends to be highly successful as they are delivered in a way that reaches children through their learning style.
Final Thoughts: Phonics as a Lifelong Gift
Phonics instruction and reading are not only a teaching method to teach children how to read; they are also a skill that builds a child’s confidence and independence and helps them enjoy learning. With this skill of teaching children how to decode words and empowering them by teaching them how to read independently and efficiently, it makes learning a beautiful experience that becomes a part and parcel of a child’s daily life experience. As a parent, this becomes an exhilarating experience as they see what they call “their star” picking up a book and reading; similarly, for a child, this becomes an experience through which they experience joy and freedom of discovery and independence of learning. “In today’s world, with information at our fingertips, the important thing is reading with confidence and having the key to unlock all the adventures and learning opportunities possible.” “With phonics lessons taught in class, children do have the essential building blocks so that this first discovery of the world of reading becomes a wonder experience of discovery and joy.”
