Phonics Fun

By Joyce R.

This is how I have taught my children to read. This method can be used with very small children. I hope you and your children enjoy it!

• Teach the sounds of the lower-letters first, before the names.
• Teach the short vowel sounds. (hat bed sit hot tub)
• Teach the consonant sounds as a clear crisp sound without a vowel sound connected to it. For example teach the sound of "t" not "tuh"
• Make flash card out of 3x5 cards. Start with 2 sounds. Review them often. Look for them on a signs or cereal boxes. Make sure the child can identify the sounds she has learned instantly before introducing a new sound.
• Practice writing the letters. If your child is very young, he can write very big letters on a chalkboard, or large piece of paper. She can trace the letters with her finger in a pie pan full of salt. Get a whiteboard marker for her to write on a glass door or window. Very young children do not have the fine motor skills to write small letters, but if they can use their whole arm, they can do it!
• Make it a game. Stop before it isn't fun anymore!

Simple sounds that are easy to say, and easy to tell apart are introduced first. Confusing letters like "b" and "d" are not given at the same time.

o - This letter looks like a mouth saying "aw" That is the sound this letter says! Put your little child on your lap. When he correctly identifies the sound of this letter as "aw", hold his hands and drop him between your knees as a funny reward!

s - This letter looks like a snake. Make the sound a snake makes. Move your arm like a snake then have the "snake" tickle your child when she says "ss"

b- Makes the sound of a bubble popping.

t- Makes a sound like a typewriter.

h - Run around until you are out of breath. Collapse into a chair. The chair looks kind of like a lower case "h". As you breath deeply, you are making the sound of the "h"

*When she knows "h" "o" and "t" perfectly and immediately, show how to sound out the word "hot." But don't be discouraged if the child doesn't really understand yet. As she learns sounds, keep showing three letter words that could be sounded out, but don't push, and be patient. It's a big concept! Most children will be able to learn to sound out a word by age 4 or 5.

m - Pretend to each a delicious cake then rub your tummy and say "mmm"

u - Reach for the ceiling and say "uh" Your arms form a "u"

c- Sounds like a stick breaking. Pretend to break a stick with your hands.

a - Pretend to be a little baby. Say "a"

p- This sounds like popcorn popping. Bounce up like popcorn.

*Show how to sound out the word "up". Get the library book, Great Day for Up, from the library. She can help you read the book! Make your own very simple books using words your child can sound out. Put her in the story!

f- Pretend to be a mad cat. Make this sound.

z- Bees make this sound. Fly around like a bee.

r - Fire trucks make this sound. Be a fire truck.

e- This letter looks a little bit like the head of an elephant. The word "elephant" begins with this sound.

i- Pretend to taste something nasty, say "i"

d- Act confused, say "d?"

l - You bite your tongue when you say "l"

n - Computers, robots, and refrigorators say, "n"

g- Pretend to go under the water and say this sound.

j- Dance the "cha-cha" and say "j" "j" "j"

k- This has the same sound as "c" - they are friends

v- When you say this sound, it tickles your lip. Say the sound then giggle!

y- Do you like to eat candy? Start to say "yes" but just say "y"

x- The sound of this letters is "KS" It sounds like cymbals crashing together.

w-Start to say "what?" but just say "w" Be silly, talk to each other, then     pretend to not hear and say "w?" "w?"

qu- this letter has a best friend. It always brings "u" with it. It says "KW"

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When he has learned all the sounds and knows them without hesitation, teach these:

oo- sounds like a ghost

ee- is what you say when you see a mouse!

sh- means be quiet!

ch- sounds like a train (ch - ch - ch)

th- bite your tongue to say this sound

ow - that hurts!
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Words to practice. Always underline two-letter sounds at first.

moo
boo
bee
see
ship
wish
fish
chip
ch eep
bath
cow
owl
sh ee p
di sh
d ow n
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    Now get the Bob Books. They are completely phonetic. Many home school suppliers carry these. Also get some Margaret Hillert books from the library to learn the basic non-phonetic reading vocabulary you need. These are fun books.
    This will give you a great start!
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