As a parent, you are surely wondering when to start learning to read with your child and what method to choose. It takes a lot of effort for a child to acquire such a skill. To make it easier for him, you should choose an effective method of learning that will not discourage him.
This method is based on spelling and is the most common way to learn to read. It is the one that is used in kindergarten or school. If you want to use it, first teach your child the alphabet. First, match the sound to the corresponding letter, then teach your child to combine these sounds into a whole. The mechanism of this method is that the child must first hear the word and then understand its meaning. This is a very well-known technique that has been shown to be very effective. It is also recommended for use in larger groups.
Another very effective method is learning to read with syllables. It is a very simple technique with visible results. It leads to the development of cognitive functions and the results can be seen quickly, which motivates to continue. It is a perfect suggestion for learning to read for students as well as smaller children. The toddler learns vowels, but at the beginning you have to present him with a graphic pattern and then pronounce the given vowel. To consolidate the knowledge, swap with your child and let him call the vowels himself. Once your toddler has learned this skill, then add consonants to start reading open syllables. Slowly add new consonants and consolidate the knowledge your child has acquired. Remember that it is very important to do a lot of exercises here
Global reading, or the Doman method, is based on learning whole words instead of individual letters or syllables. Interestingly, it can also be used by parents of infants. It is especially recommended for children aged from 0 to 7 years. It is worth introducing it as the first method, because if other techniques were used before it, then it may not give such good results. The global method consists in showing the child whole words on separate sheets of paper. It is best if you show them to your toddler, even a dozen times a day. You have to show the word and read it out loud, focusing the toddler’s attention on the card with the word. If you are teaching a preschooler, you can prepare a different, relatively simple word for each day of the week. The child will have to decipher the letter code, if he/she does it correctly, you can reward him/her
When the toddler will already cope with single words, introduce two-word phrases (e.g. the sun shines, it rains). Such learning benefits creativity, intelligence and develops photographic memory. The child does not repeat the words after the parents, because his task is to decipher them independently. This is a natural technique, thanks to observations a toddler is able to decipher the code of letters. The effectiveness of this method depends on many factors, especially on your involvement and regularity of work with the child. Of course, a lot depends on the toddler himself. Not every child learns at the same pace. While learning, motivate your child, but do not put pressure on him. Learning is supposed to be fun first of all; combine business with pleasure.
As a parent you are also your child’s teacher. To a large extent his/her development depends on you. In order to make learning to read easier, remember to encourage your child to learn by using movement games. The exchange of information between the right and the left hemisphere is facilitated by physical activity. The left hemisphere is responsible for voicing, while the right hemisphere is responsible for global information processing.
Also use listening games while learning. They help in learning to read and write. They make it easier for your child to recognize the sounds in words. For example, play with your child about what sounds you currently hear. Teach your child to tell the difference between left and right. Even a toddler can handle this. Learning the sides proves to be helpful in learning to read, as the child will not confuse the letter “b” with the letter “d” thanks to this skill.
Main Photo: Stephen Andrews, source: unsplash.com
