Alan & Brenda Leonard

12/9/02 23:53:

> <<Maybe my question here, as well, is does phonetic oriented exposure
> complicate or enhance or can go either way depending on the child? I am not
> always able to present myself clearly...especiallly when I am in the midst
> of a ponder...hope I am making sense!>>

I suppose it would depend on how it's presented. But I don't think you can
avoid having any exposure to phonics whatsover. They're all over the place.

I didn't teach my son phonics so he could read. He would ask about the
sounds letters make when he saw things in print. And when we sat down
together with easy books, sometimes I'd point out something that might help
him. For example, he tried to say the silent e's on the ends of words, so
we talked about how e is quiet but manipulative, because he changes the
sound of the other letters but doesn't say anything himself. And Tim got
mad at c, because he's a thief without a sound but steals s or k's sound, so
you never knew which sound he was going to be!

Is that phonics? Of course. But phonetic oriented exposure sounds very
teachy, and you don't need to teach him to read. He'll read himself when
he's good and ready.

brenda