As parents and educators, we all want to ensure that our children are equipped with the skills necessary for success in school and beyond. One of the most important skills children must develop is reading, which is the foundation for all other learning. Reading helps children build their vocabulary, improve their comprehension skills, and expand their world knowledge.
Phonics teaches children to read and spell by breaking down words into their component sounds. By recognising the sounds that make up words, children can more easily read and spell words they have not encountered before. Phonics instruction typically begins with the most basic sounds, such as those made by individual letters, and progresses to more complex sounds and combinations of sounds.
One of the key benefits of phonics instruction is that it teaches children to decode words on their own, rather than simply memorising them. This means they are better equipped to tackle new words they encounter in their reading rather than relying on rote memorisation. Additionally, phonics instruction helps children develop their phonemic awareness or ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds in words. This skill is crucial for reading and spelling, allowing children to recognise patterns and relationships between words and sounds.
Phonics instruction is extensively researched and documented as effective in helping children read and spell. The National Reading Panel, a group of experts convened by the United States government, concluded that phonics is an essential component of a comprehensive reading program. Studies consistently show that explicit phonics instruction leads to better reading and spelling performance, outperforming other approaches.
Our school has been using phonics instruction since its inception in 1991, and we have seen firsthand the positive impact it has had on our students' reading and spelling skills. We have also seen the benefits of phonics instruction in our students' performance in spelling bee competitions, as our students consistently rank among the top performers. While spelling bee competitions should not be the sole measure of a child's reading and spelling ability, they demonstrate the effectiveness of phonics instruction. We believe phonics instruction is a vital component of a comprehensive reading program, and we are proud to have used this method for over 30 years.
In conclusion, phonics instruction effectively develops the skills needed for proficient reading and spelling. By breaking down words into their component sounds, children can better recognise patterns and relationships between words and sounds and decode new words on their own. Parents looking for ways to help children improve their reading and spelling skills should consider the benefits of phonics instruction.
Sources:
National Reading Panel. (2000). Teaching children to read: An evidence-based assessment of the scientific research literature on reading and its implications for reading instruction. Retrieved from https://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/nrp/Documents/report.pdf
Ehri, L. C., Nunes, S. R., Willows, D. M., Schuster, B. V., Yaghoub-Zadeh, Z., & Shanahan, T. (2001). Phonemic awareness instruction helps children learn to read: Evidence from the National Reading Panel's meta-analysis. Reading Research Quarterly, 36(3), 250-287.
Johnston, R. S., & Watson, J. E. (2005). The effects of synthetic phonics teaching on reading and spelling attainment: A seven year longitudinal study. The Scottish Executive Education Department.
Torgesen, J. K., Rashotte, C. A., Alexander, A. W., Alexander, J., & MacPhee, K. (2003). Phonological awareness and spelling in normal children and dyslexics: The case of initial consonant clusters. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 84(3), 200-250.
