best way to teaching phonics/letters?

[skewiff]

I am just wondering the best way to go about this. I don't want to do anything too different from school - which DS starts in 4 months time.

For ages we've been doing odd letters now and again in various ways. And DS knows a few now. I've taught him the sound of the letter, rather than its name and I've shown him the lower case version.

However on the alphablocks programme, i think they do the name of the letter as well as the the sound (not sure, as my back is always to the tv as I'm doing physio on DS).

Also when we go out DS often asks what capital letter symbols are on things like drain lids. I never go into those as I think it would confuse him.

Is it best to wait until they've got the sounds/phonics until you introduce letter names and/or capital letter symbols?

Thank you.

The sounds/phonics are the most important to learn, but I wouldn't worry about him learning the names of letters as well on alphablocks. Most children can cope with distinguishing the name/sound thing. As they go on in phonics, they have to cope with vowels making their "name" sounds at times (like the "a" in baby - officially known as the "long" a sound as opposed to the "short" a sound like the "a" in cat). Again most children get this OK when they are at the appropriate stage. Stick to the short sounds now when you are talking with your DS as he is so young. If he asked about the difference just say "cee" is its name but it makes the sound "c" (just like cow is its name but it makes the sound moo!).
Regarding capitals - again it is most important that they learn lower case so you have been doing the right thing!However they will need to learn capitals at some point so I'd answer him briefly if he asks but not talk too much about it otherwise.
If he asks about a capital on a sign or whatever, you could just say something like - "Oh that's a capital T, it makes the same sound as the other/usual way of writing t even though it looks different. People use a capital letter for the first letter of their name." Then I'd just leave it at that. Does he have a first name initial that looks different as a capital compared with lower case? He will be used to seeing this so you could use this as an example if he wants to know more!

It is really fantastic that he is interested in letters and is asking about them! A great sign that he is getting ready to learn to read!

in alphablocks, it is usually the vowels that say their names, because the vowels do say their names in some words. I have watched an awful lot of alphablocks...

school are very very likely to follow the letters and sounds programme, here look at initial letters, and be careful how you say "m" and "n" - mmmmmmmm not 'muh' and nnnnnnnn not 'nuh' or 'ner' iyswim. We introduce letter names early on, but yes to geting the phonemes right first :)
tbh anything you do at home is likely to help, and you sound like you are trying really hard to set him on the right track. Wish there were more like you :)

Remember to show him capitals and lower case letters as both represent the sound but I would avoid teaching letter names at this point. However singing the alphabet song can be fun.

A-B-C-D-E-F-G, all the letters came to tea, H-I-J-K-L-M-N, the food was quite delicious, O-P-Q-R-S-T-U, V and W, they came too, X and Y ate all the pie and Z washed up the dishes.

www.mrthornedoesphonics.com will show you the best way to teach phonics - it was featured on the news and everything totally free :) or my paid-apps on appstore :) search Mr Thorne

Oooh - thank you everyone those thoughts and ideas are really helpful.

Its good to know I've not been doing it all wrong so far too x

Sorry - one more question:

What do you call the letter 'k' - or how do you distinguish it from the letter 'c'?

I have been calling 'k' - 'kicking k' because I think that must have been what I was taught at primary school. And I've been called 'c' - 'curly c'.

I don't want to confuse DS though.

Let the school do it.

If you want to help him at home then go and ask the teacher directly to avoid any confusion in materials used or methods

:)

kicking k and curly c are fine and don't forget ck represent the c sound (a friend called Jack helps)

Thank you mrz.

I don't think we'll get on to ck before he starts school. We're just on beginning letters at the moment and simple things.

normally c k and ck are taught together in school but your son is still young

Oh I see.

I do think DS is too young to grasp the ck thing. And also I don't feel that I would know how to teach it. I know that probably sounds odd. Maybe I just don't feel right teaching it to him because I know he won't get it yet ...