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Primary education

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Original poster

Tips for practicing letter sounds

35 replies

KitandPup · 19/09/2018 02:47

Hi, I'm hoping to get some tips from you about how to help my DD.

She is 4 and has just started reception. School have sent home some word sounds this week and have asked me practice every night for a couple of minutes. DD is super resistant and I cannot get her to do it. For context, she is under investigation for ASD/Asperger's and is very rigid in her thinking. I think she has just decided she can't do it and that's that HmmGrin

Any tips for making it fun? I've tried turning it into a game and done a sticker chart but so far, no joy. Should I be pushing more? I haven't got stern about it because..well she's 4! But perhaps that isn't the right attitude? Would appreciate your views on this. Should I speak to her teacher or will they just think I'm a flake (I probably am Grin)?

It might be easier at the weekend when she is less tired.

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SofiaAmes · 19/09/2018 02:59

Not every child learns with phonics and letter sounds. In fact, it's my understanding that around 10% of children cannot learn reading with phonics. My dd (who is highly gifted) found letter sounds and phonics completely unintelligible. She started reading fluently a little later than her peers (age 5/6 instead of 4/5), but she was a very advanced reader by the time she was 7. In the end I just ignored all the phonics work sent home and got her loads of graphic novels from the library. My advice is to let your dd do what is comfortable for her. I don't know of any research that says that forcing kids to read early is going to make a huge impact on their ability to succeed in life.

Original poster
KitandPup · 19/09/2018 07:11

Thank you Sofia DD is a smart cookie but very adamant Grin It's only been a few days so will persevere for now but it's a relief to hear it's not the be all and end all!

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Norestformrz · 19/09/2018 07:45

I'm afraid Sofia's opinion isn't supported by the evidence. We all use phonics to read even if we aren't aware of it. Some children (around 3%) manage to learn to read effortlessly without direct instruction and around 40% with broad instruction the remaining 60% require more explicit instruction with around 10% requiring many repetitions.
Having said that your child is very young and it is early days so I wouldn't worry. Try playing aural games to help her hear the sounds in words.

SofiaAmes · 19/09/2018 08:08

Hmm. I was told those statistics by a senior teacher instructor.

BrazenHusky74 · 19/09/2018 08:09

Try Letterland.

GrimSqueaker · 19/09/2018 08:10

I cynically exploited my kids' competitive streak. Got the phoneme cards out, and if they could tell me the sound - they won the card, if not - I won the card and the motivation to mercilessly gloat over your parent did the rest. They're both really good readers now (both in top phonics groups, both reading the highest book band in their class) so I must have done something right.

I'll be honest though - it was a bit of a slog at this point of the year with DD2 in particular and personally I think school pushed it a bit too early in the year for her. I resorted to a lot of "oooh you can win a Haribo if you can get 3 cards" out and out bribery at times as well! DD2 in particular is a mercenary little bugger where Haribo are concerned!

If all else fails - Alphablocks on Cbeebies is fantastic (there's a paid-app for it too), Teach your monster to read again is a good app (keep an eye for when they do it free if you don't want to pay out, and we used the Jolly Phonics apps a bit too.

DD2 can't articulate a lot of speech sounds, has many substituted for ones she can say and generally has rather mucked up speech - but she's still managed to crack phonics very well and even when she can't say a sound - she can decode it correctly within a word - it's quite remarkable how she's managed to do that.

SofiaAmes · 19/09/2018 08:11

Not to mention all the research that says that children with dyslexia (like my dd) can't do phonics. I'd love to know which research you are referring to Norestformrz as all the research I've seen says phonics isn't for everyone.

myphoneisgone · 19/09/2018 08:13

I haven't got stern about it because..well she's 4!

I think this is the attitude! I am appalled by the focus on formal teaching of early literacy in England and Wales. I would never have moved here (Wales) if I had realised what it is like.

The aim at this age should be to encourage a love of learning and confidence in learning, imo. Forcing resistant children to learn things they aren't interested in or aren't ready for is counterproductive.

Strippervicar · 19/09/2018 08:21

Jolly phonics songs are on spotify so maybe have them on in the car. We did this and DD learned it quickly.

Mugglemom · 19/09/2018 14:15

Completely agree with myphoneisgone.

My DS is not in school yet, but I'm really surprised to hear that this is what is being asked of four year olds. Research shows that children this young learn best through play. And not adult's ideas of play such as "learning games". Actual, honest to goodness free play.

Why we insist on ignoring research is beyond me.

Original poster
KitandPup · 19/09/2018 14:33

Thanks so much everyone. Will take a look at the resources you suggested but won't push too hard. Thanks again

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Norestformrz · 19/09/2018 18:02

I suggest the senior teacher instructor updates their knowledge Reading the Brain is a good starting point.

Norestformrz · 19/09/2018 18:03

Sofia the research says children with dyslexia need phonics instruction.

Harleyisme · 19/09/2018 18:15

I don't think phonics works with all children. Specially those with asd. I have a 14 year old with asd and phonics caused him loads of issues he got bettet and caught up once he wasn't doing phonics. I also have a 4 years old who started reception this time woth suspect asd who is really struggling with phonics too he won't do it at home with me so I just do his reading books and read stories to him at the moment.

educatingarti · 19/09/2018 18:19

Hi op. I have written a booklet on how to practicing phonics in interesting and playful ways ( I'm a tutor). If you ( or anyone else) wants to pm me an email, I will send it to you!

Feenie · 19/09/2018 18:29

Practising!

Norestformrz · 19/09/2018 19:08

Harley my older child with ASD also struggled with phonics and I sincerely wished we'd persevered as it impacted on his later learning and he was very resistant to phonics when he was older.
I've taught numerous children with ASD and dyslexia and they can and do learn with phonics.

SofiaAmes · 19/09/2018 19:15

NoRest I would be grateful if you could post links to the research. I am not finding it.

Norestformrz · 19/09/2018 19:28

As I suggested start with Reading the Brain Professor Dehaene
For dyslexia start with Dr Shaywitz

Dr Louisa Moates
Professor Anne Castles
Mark Seidenberg

PoxAlert · 19/09/2018 19:28

Does she like TV?

Alphablocks (there's an app too) and Geraldine the Giraffe are both very entertaining and teach phonics correctly.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 19/09/2018 19:52

This early in the year I wouldn’t force it.

Apart from anything else she’s probably shattered by the end of the day. You might get a different response if you try in the morning before school if that’s the case.

GoodStuffAnnie · 19/09/2018 21:46

Read lots of rhyming books. Eg Julia Donaldson.

Say alliterative sentences and rhyming ones. Let’s get the fish fingers in the frying pan. Emphasise the ffffff. Fffff what a nice sound can you say ffffff. Don’t do anything formally. Just talk clearly and emphasise sounds. Get magnetic letters for the fridge. Pick a couple of letters a week and talk about them breezily and search for them on street signs etc.

Norestformrz · 20/09/2018 04:36

You might find this https://www.udemy.com/help-your-child-to-read-and-write/ free online course for parents wanting to help their child with reading and writing

Strippervicar · 20/09/2018 08:29

@Norestformrz Funny you should mention that. Mine has ASC, is 3.5 had speech/sentence formation delay and is reading at midway through reception level. I introduced phonics last xmas after I noticed she was copying alphablocks. I'd say it really improved her use of language. She was non verbal at 2. Well, not sure how much she was non verbal. She just preferred screaming.

Original poster
KitandPup · 21/09/2018 05:08

Thank you so much everyone. Educatingarti I have sent you a pm x

I've downloaded the Alpha Blocks app which she is a bit more enthusiastic about. I have been trying informally for ages to help her recognising the sounds but it's not clicking yet (they started them really early at her preschool). She recognises the shapes of the letters but is struggling with the sounds iyswim? I assume eventually it will just click?

I have to keep in mind that she is only 4 🤣 I suffer with GAD so no doubt I am overthinking things as usual.

Thanks again everyone

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