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Original poster

I 'm begining to think I must be thick!

81 replies

Creole · 30/09/2005 22:20

I have read almost all posts on teaching our little ones to read and I still do not get it. I am getting so frustrated and worried for my ds. I would really like to know how to use this synthetics phonics thing but from most of the post I have read, I still don't understand how to use this method.

Can anyone please give a simple and straightforward guide on the best way to teach my ds please?

OP posts:
auntymandy · 30/09/2005 23:19

enjoying a book with an adult is specific reading skills

auntymandy · 30/09/2005 23:20

sad but true..many children start school having never looked at a book!

aloha · 30/09/2005 23:20

It's not about how to read actual words, it's about understanding how books work and what they are. That's all wonderful of course, but teaching reading words is different.

auntymandy · 30/09/2005 23:21

not really. its progression

aloha · 30/09/2005 23:22

So looking at pictures and learning that you read a book from left to right helps you decode words how, exactly? Can I learn French just by looking at books with pictures?

ScummyMummy · 30/09/2005 23:23

see here

auntymandy · 30/09/2005 23:23

if you were french
yes

aloha · 30/09/2005 23:29

Absolutely not. If you just left children to look at books and didn't teach them how to read the actual words then illiteracy rates would be tragic. I am a huge fan of reading to children and helping them learn to love books, but learning what books are and how they work is not the same as learning to read. Otherwise I would buy copies of French Vogue and be able to read French. It just doesn't work like that. We are primed to learn to speak just from exposure to spoken language. Reading is not the same.

aloha · 30/09/2005 23:29

And why on earth would the country I happened to be born in make any difference? That seems bizarre to me!

auntymandy · 30/09/2005 23:32

they need to learn the pre reading skills first thats all I am saying!

soapbox · 30/09/2005 23:33

Aloha - I think we had a spell of that approach in the 70s and 80s with profound effects on the literacy rates in the country.

Many many children leave school at 16 unable to read - ask some of the secondary teachers on here for confirmation of that point - and that is a tragedy!

As I said AM - if only it was that easy!!!

auntymandy · 30/09/2005 23:33

if you see a picture of a table you know its a table in your mother tongue iyswim

essbee · 30/09/2005 23:34

Message withdrawn

auntymandy · 30/09/2005 23:34

as easy as what soapbox

auntymandy · 30/09/2005 23:35

Think you all expect too much from your children if you want them to read fluently in early reception

aloha · 30/09/2005 23:36

Yes, I absolutely agree with you that children should see, handle and be read books long, long before they start the process of learning to read. Of course. My kids have had books since they were born. But I thought we were discussing what happens next, and IMO that does involve specific teaching in some way for most children. And for children who don't learn by osmosis (which is a fair proportion) which is the best and most effective way. After all, many children still don't read well long past the stage where they are simply familiarising themselves with how books work, and that's where seemingly nitpicking debates about methods come in. I think (and hope) my own ds will be OK anyway but some children are failing at reading and that's an absolute tragedy for them.

aloha · 30/09/2005 23:36

Yes, I absolutely agree with you that children should see, handle and be read books long, long before they start the process of learning to read. Of course. My kids have had books since they were born. But I thought we were discussing what happens next, and IMO that does involve specific teaching in some way for most children. And for children who don't learn by osmosis (which is a fair proportion) which is the best and most effective way. After all, many children still don't read well long past the stage where they are simply familiarising themselves with how books work, and that's where seemingly nitpicking debates about methods come in. I think (and hope) my own ds will be OK anyway but some children are failing at reading and that's an absolute tragedy for them.

auntymandy · 30/09/2005 23:39

Creole was worried her child couldnt read the enormous turnip..I pointed out that he shouldnt be..it was sent home for pre reading skills.
Schools have various ways of teaching some word recognition some phonics and most a mixture of the two.

soapbox · 30/09/2005 23:40

AM - Aloha said 'So looking at pictures and learning that you read a book from left to right helps you decode words how, exactly? Can I learn French just by looking at books with pictures?' and you replied ' if you were french
yes' and I said 'if only it were that easy'!!

Thats 'it' really

auntymandy · 30/09/2005 23:40

I just worry that lots on here seem to be getting really worried about it and that can make the child worry and in turn make them fearful of reading.

auntymandy · 30/09/2005 23:42

ok soap box. thanks!
Your schools will probably have a reading meeting when most of the class are ready. they will bring words home first and books with very few words in. they will learn the books..not to read, but this builds confidence..its kind of like crawling then walking then hey wait for me..they're off!

QueenOfQuotes · 30/09/2005 23:45

"they will learn the books..not to read, but this builds confidence..its kind of like crawling then walking then hey wait for me..they're off!"

That's exactly what they've started with DS1's year group. He's bringing a new one home each - repetead words "I like rice with......", soon they've be brining bookmarks home with 'sightwords' to learn, and then once they've feeling confident and settled they started on the 'proper' reading (although DS1 did impress me today knowing a few of the phonic sounds - and telling me how to draw them "hasn't got a roof on it that one mummy" )

soapbox · 30/09/2005 23:47

Hmmm - but what happens when there is no 'off'??????

auntymandy · 30/09/2005 23:48

ahh bless. I love watching them learn and it is fantastic when it all clicks into place..like someone has switched the light on.
Try not to worry and if you have concerns voice them away from the child. they need to be encouraged. worry if at the end of reception they dont know a few basics worry at the end of year 1 if they are still on stage 1 ort.
If you are at a good school the staff know what to look for

soapbox · 30/09/2005 23:48

Oh and BTW - DS is Y1 not reception and loves books!