Need some advice on learning to read/phonics

[GeeandTee]

I will start off by saying I am NOT a pushy parent! DS is 2.7 and has cerebral palsy. He struggles a lot physically but his intelligence isn't affected and he is really really keen to learn how to read. We can't go past a road sign or shop sign or advert without him asking me what each letter is and him trying to read it.

He can recognise all the letters and numbers 1-10 (I didn't teach him, he learnt it from CBeebies!!) And has an amazing memory - he pretends to read favourite books back to me as he can remember phrases from each page in the books that we read.

I know that phonics is a big thing in schools now so I would like to know how I should go about teaching him. Is there a book or website that explains what to do? I don't want to just muddle along in my own way and then he gets confused when it comes to preschool/school etc.

I will say again I am not being pushy but I think that as he is so keen to learn to read I should be supporting him in that shouldn't I?

The Jolly Phonics system is what my daughter has been learning at school the books are available on the internet and in our local library they have lots of the colour coded books. They started on pink banded books, getting to yellow before she starts in year one in Sept. You can teach the phonetic alphabet easily yourself and then they learn letters sounds that are grouped for example ch sh oo er. Etc. Hope that helps.

i second Jolly Phonics. You can see some of the videos on youtube. Each sound has an action and a song associated with it.

Dd2 (ASD) taught herself to read (with help from the 'alpha blocks' on cbeebies and by memorry) but it was a bit of a problem when she started school as she could already read but had skipped the phonics stage. TBH i don't like phonics and i'm pleased we didn't really have to do it although she does now use phonics sometimes at school (as the whole class uses phonics).

If he's interested do have a look at 'jolly phonics' as most schools will be using the same system.

If you have any ideas yet about which schools you are planning to send him to, it is worth asking them which systems they use. Ours uses read, write, inc, so jolly phonics might confuse. Obviously the sounds are the same, but the ways of remembering are different. It's fine if he picks it up really quickly, but if he is still learning when he starts school they will expect him to relearn it their way.

You still have just over a year before you need to decide, but it is worth looking early anyway to see which school can best accomodate your son and his needs, and if appropriate arrange for a statement/ letters of support from consultants naming that school (e.g. If wheelchair user then one level/lifts might be needed). Ask them when you visit which approach they use.

Alpha blocks are phonics.

DS is the same age and equally as word and number obsessed, he loves the alphablocks books and they have really helped his phonic recognition of the early phonics

Thank you so much. I was getting prepared to be flamed for teaching a 2 yo to read! Have found Jolly Phonics in the library this morning. I didn't know Alphablocks did a book series too, will look out for them. Alphablocks and Numtums started his obsession off!

I say definitely work with your DS if he's interested. We just started off at about the same age with these wooden letters making up simple words e.g. CAT, MAT etc. DD absolutely loved doing this and could read simple words when she started school. She also has Cerebral Palsy but her cognition isn't affected and she similarly has an amazing memory. She is reading well now which is great for her confidence and sort of makes up for the fact she finds physical things harder than her friends do and will never be good at sports!

shouldbe that's good to know and kind of what I was hoping, that being intellectually able (or at least better than average academically) would give him the confidence that being less physically able can knock. Can I ask how old is your DD and how does she find school? I know DS is only 2 but I worry about how he will cope at school, potentially being bullied etc. He can just about walk and has splints and Piedro boots but he might need a wheelchair eg for school trips etc.

Finding the right school is really important but I'm sure you'll have time to visit and make sure they will be supportive and give him the best possible start. DD goes to a small school which works well for her. No bullying so far and I think it would be dealt with thoroughly if there was! DD has a computer and supportive seating plus extra support for PE. She loves school and is doing very well - she's had to be very determined to reach her milestones (lots of physio etc) and so is used to working hard! I'm sure will be the same for your DS - so glad he's walking and doing well

Alphablock DVD which should help children with Phonics is now out......

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AFVFO2S/ref=s9_simh_gw_p74_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1XJ5W3BDRQNP1REFKJPS&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=358549767&pf_rd_i=468294

It's so sad that people feel they have to apologise for helping their children learn to read . Yes, it's 'pushy' if your child's not keen and you're trying to force it on them - but if they're really keen then I think it's bizarre to try and stop them learning (just as it would be if you tried to stop them dancing or playing football). So go for it! DS1 was just like your DS at this age, and tbh I would have had to put a blindfold on to stop him trying to read. He's in Reception now and was reading fluently when he started. He still does phonics at school, but he generally goes into the year 2 class for those sessions; everything else is with his peers. I agree that it can give confidence - although DS1 doesn't have any specific difficulties or disabilities, he's not a particularly physical boy, and I think he likes having something that he's really really good at.

In terms of teaching aids, alphablocks is brilliant - there are brilliant games on the website. Another fantastic site is Starfall - it's American, so you have to put up with the accent, but the games and exercises are great. The Jolly Phonics stuff is good too. Do you know which school he'll be going to? We did, from very early on, and I asked one of the teachers at an open day for advice, and she pointed me in the direction of Starfall and other resources. I think it's best to use phonics to start with, as he'll be doing that at school, but if he's got an appetite for language as you describe, he may well move on to word recognition pretty quickly. Also, he might cope with more complexity than others of the same age - with DS1, from the very start I introduced him to upper case, lower case and letter 'names', as well as the phonics sound, and it never bothered him in the slightest.

To explain, we always said 'Letter a (name) says a (sound)'

Actually, come to think of it, they do that on alphablocks too - the letters address each other by their letter name.

DS2 likes Alphablocks and teachyourmonstertoread.com. He also really likes the Jolly Songs CD from Jolly Phonics. The Jolly Phonics website is also handy for teaching yourself the proper phonics sounds.

My ds is slightly older than yours 2.11, and we've been using reading eggs online to start learning phonics. Lots of little online games which else is thoroughly enjoying- and there's a two week free trial. My son likes using the computer (think he feels grown up!)

So far has learnt a handful of sounds, pretty good for week one!

Jolly phonics is good! They have the whole range at early learning centre, but you might be able to find it cheaper elsewhere. I taught my dd when she was coming up to 3 because she wanted to do it. Go with what your dc wants.
I would suggest oxford reading tree books or kipper books as they start off really easy and start with basic phonics in practice.

Hi g and t, I've been a teacher for 35 years and just want to say you should not be worried at all about your child learning to read at home, good teachers will will always be delighted with what a child can already do!
The first few sound they learn in jolly phonics are s a t p I n so that lots of different 3 letter words can be made eg pat, top etc, then they add m d g o c k ll and e. at school they learn the sound and the name.
It's quite important to teach them the lower case letters as that is what they will be seeing in the reading books.
Hope that helps, have fun.