Wondering How to Teach a Child Phonics? 3 Critical Facts You Need to Know.

Many parents are wondering how to teach a child phonics, and may even be a little nervous about it. You know how critical it is that your child learn phonics, but now that you've become (almost overnight!) a sort-of homeschooling parent, some of the 'learning' may fall on you. When you hear words like 'phonemic awareness,' 'diphthong,' and 'short/long vowel,' it can feel pretty overwhelming.

Fortunately, understanding the complexities behind the science of phonics is not a prerequisite for using phonics to teach your child to read. Learning how to teach a child phonics is actually pretty easy.  In fact, substitute the word 'sounds' for phonics, and basically all you are doing is teaching your child the sounds of the English language, a simple code. But before you begin, take note of the following 3 key facts that are critical for your success.

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3 Key Facts You Need to Know About How to Teach a Child Phonics

1) Phonics is a linear, systematic approach to teaching reading.
A phonics-based approach starts at the very beginning with the sounds of the letters. Once your child knows the sounds of the letters, he or she assembles these sounds into words. Moving on, your child learns the unique sounds of letter 'blends,' such as 'th,' 'sh,' and 'ch,' and again combines the sounds to read words. Next, your child learns what to do when a vowel is silent. And now that your child has gotten this far, there are hundreds of books your child can read!

2) Correct pronunciation of the sounds is critical.
If you don't know how the sounds of the letters—or how to pronounce them—you're not alone. Most people don't. Even if you learned to read using phonics, it's probably been a long time since you've sounded out a word. For this reason, it's critical you choose a phonics program that has an audio component. 

3) Repetition is key.
One concern about a phonics-based approach is that children might become bored. It's extremely important they learn the code, which involves repetition, at least at the beginning. For some children, this moves quickly, and for others, it takes time. When choosing a phonics program, look for short lessons. (In the beginning lessons in Teach Your Child to Read™ we keep the lessons to about a minute per day—or less.) Be sure to leave your child wanting more at the end of each lesson! Children never get bored of pleasing mom or dad by getting a 'sound' right, so one sound a day is perfect for keeping them engaged. 

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