Apr 10
2
Learning to Read is Easy When Step by Step
One of the most hotly contested debates in education circles is the one concerning how a child will learn to read.
Learning to read should be straightforward but in reality it is not. Each generation thinks they have discovered a new approach.
The controversy called the ‘Phonics versus Whole Word Debate’ has it seems been going on for decades and beyond the educational community. Anyone who can read has an idea how reading should be taught.
Whole Word means the reader recognises words as a whole and not letter by letter.
A principle: Individual sounds are blended together to form words that have meaning to the speaker of a language.
In simple terms phonics is about the connection between the sounds of the language and the letters of the alphabet. A principle is: letters represent the sounds of language.
Well commonsense has finally prevailed.
It is now widely accepted that a combination of both methods is the most effective teaching tool.
In the 1950’s the ‘new’ approach to teaching children to read involved a dual approach to teaching reading. According to early years educators this dual approach involved visual work and phonic work proceeding in parallel lines. The prevailing thought was as a child becomes more familiar with the look of words the need for phonic props will be seen when tackling new words. A successful reader can sound out quickly and accurately written words that they are familiar with in their day to day speech. The importance of the reader maintaining the meaning of the text being read was emphasized.
And what have researcher’s uncovered today?
We need to take into account text level knowledge, world level knowledge, self management and direction: and letter and letter name knowledge. This provides a truly modern approach to teaching children to read!
Teaching children to read does not need more research and experts. It needs parents to speak to and read to their children and schools to provide trained teachers and a child centred curriculum.
If you would like to learn more about this modern approach to teaching children to read see
www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/teachingresources/english
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