Phonics, learning to read intro.
Ren Allen
~~I agree that knowing some phonics helps decode new
words while reading books. But a child who's made it
to that level of reading will have gathered some
phonics on the way anyway. I'm just not convinced that
it's a good starting point for every child.~~
I agree.
Jared (13) learned to read without a lot of questions about anything.
From the time he was very little, he would bring us his pokemon cards
or whatever needed deciphering and ask us to read it to him. We read
to him.
That's IT.
He never wanted to know the letter sounds and the couple of times I
tried to explain it, he totally shut down. NOT interested.
He started reading and writing spontaneously this year. Very well I
might add. Over the last year or so, he would occasionally ask "Does
the letter ____ make this sound?" and we would discuss how it made
that sound (or didn't, or what exceptions there were).
So until he could already read, he had no use for letter sounds. Now
he understands a lot of them by default. Trying to show him phonics
would not have helped this child, it just would have been a stumbling
block to his own process. This same child could grasp large numbers
and how the place values worked at a very young age.
So.....phonics awareness eventually happens. Doesn't mean we need to
"teach" phonics, nor is that the best way for some kids to learn
decoding skills. It has the potential to slow them down if that isn't
going to 'click' for them.
Sierra, by age 4-5 wanted to know letter sounds. She asked what
letters made which sounds over and over and we DID do phonics style
learning because she wanted to know. There was never a lesson or any
agenda on my part, I was simply with her, exploring language in HER way.
Her reading process was much more laborious and lengthy compared to
Jared. Each learner needs space to figure it out in their own way.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
words while reading books. But a child who's made it
to that level of reading will have gathered some
phonics on the way anyway. I'm just not convinced that
it's a good starting point for every child.~~
I agree.
Jared (13) learned to read without a lot of questions about anything.
From the time he was very little, he would bring us his pokemon cards
or whatever needed deciphering and ask us to read it to him. We read
to him.
That's IT.
He never wanted to know the letter sounds and the couple of times I
tried to explain it, he totally shut down. NOT interested.
He started reading and writing spontaneously this year. Very well I
might add. Over the last year or so, he would occasionally ask "Does
the letter ____ make this sound?" and we would discuss how it made
that sound (or didn't, or what exceptions there were).
So until he could already read, he had no use for letter sounds. Now
he understands a lot of them by default. Trying to show him phonics
would not have helped this child, it just would have been a stumbling
block to his own process. This same child could grasp large numbers
and how the place values worked at a very young age.
So.....phonics awareness eventually happens. Doesn't mean we need to
"teach" phonics, nor is that the best way for some kids to learn
decoding skills. It has the potential to slow them down if that isn't
going to 'click' for them.
Sierra, by age 4-5 wanted to know letter sounds. She asked what
letters made which sounds over and over and we DID do phonics style
learning because she wanted to know. There was never a lesson or any
agenda on my part, I was simply with her, exploring language in HER way.
Her reading process was much more laborious and lengthy compared to
Jared. Each learner needs space to figure it out in their own way.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com