Tips for Sounding Out Words (Phonics Strategies)

Reading Time: 6 minutes

• What is phonics?
• Why is phonics important?
• Signs your child may be struggling with phonics
• What you can do to help your child with phonics
• When to seek professional help
• Benefits of our online reading program
• Conclusion

Reading is one of the most important skills a child can understand. It is the foundation for all other learning and opens up a world of opportunities. However, teaching phonics is a skill that is unfortunately not emphasized in schools. In some classrooms, teachers are teaching reading through inferences instead of teaching letter sounds. So this is for parents who are looking for a reading program that will support phonics teaching, or you may want to learn more about phonics so you can help your child at home.

What is phonics?

Phonics is a method of teaching reading that emphasizes the relationship between letters and sounds. Children who learn phonics learn to associate each letter with its corresponding sound. This allows them to decode words by sounding them out. Think of letter sounds and vowel teams such as “-sh” or “-ai”.

Why is phonics important?

Phonics is essential because it is a foundational skill needed for children to know how to read. When children learn phonics, they are not just learning how to sound out words. They are also learning how to decode words, which is the process of breaking down words into their individual sounds. This is an essential skill for reading fluency and comprehension.

Does your child guess the word, or maybe they are trying to read the word too fast and read a completely different word? That is because they don’t have a strong understanding of phonics, and they are trying to guess their way through a text, instead of taking their time to read it.

Signs your child may be struggling with phonics

If you are concerned that your child may be struggling with phonics, there are some signs you can look for. These include:

• Struggling identifying letters
• Issues with blending sounds
• Cannot segment words
• Struggles with reading simple words
• Difficulty reading grade-level text
• Guessing words
• Using pictures to read words
• Reading fast and inaccurately

What you can do to help your child with phonics

There are many things you can do to help your child with phonics. These are some of the most beneficial tips:

Read to your child every day

These can be physical books or digital books. If you are too tired or don’t have time to read, try getting a physical and audio version of a book and letting the audiobook read to the child while they follow along. Ensure they are pointing to each word to mimic the correct sounds of each word. If you have a struggling reader or a reluctant reader, use these tips to help your child engage with texts more and begin to fall in love with reading. Make sure you engage your young reader with relevant and interactive texts. I have a list of a few of my favorites here.

Cover up the pictures.

This may sound strange because if you have little ones, their books are literally called “picture books,” but trust me on this. Some kids can fool themselves and their teachers because they have fantastic inference skills. I encourage you to tape a sheet of paper over each picture so the child only gets their cues from reading what is on the page instead of what is being presented through images.

Focus on the phonics, not the words.

Make a space where a child is comfortable with sounding out the sounds in words. Do not rush them. Be patient, and make space for them to look and think. If reading is an area they struggle in, they need space to feel like it is OK for them to make mistakes. Allow them to sound out different words, give them cues on the SOUNDS and have them put it together. I see many parents get frustrated and read the word out loud to them to maintain the fluency and pace of the story. Stop that. Give them the sounds, not the words.

Play games that focus on sounds and letters.

This is how The Innovative Learners incorporates phonics. We make it engaging and fun. Everything we do here at The Innovative Learners cannot be replicated at home; however, you can make bingo games and incorporate movement with sound-letter flashcards. For my older kids, I encourage them to create and write down raps because they have to integrate words with the same sounds to rhyme together. My later elementary and middle school students truly enjoyed that activity.

Work with a tutor or other qualified professional.

Parents have a lot on their plates. Many parents have a strong start when working with their children, but helping with reading gets pushed aside when other things in their lives arise. The biggest enemy of progress is inconsistency. That is the benefit of working with a qualified teacher who can work with your student consistently in the comforts of your own home. We are one of the only tutoring agencies that employ experienced teachers, write our curriculum based on the Wilson model, and allow our students to interact with other students from all over the country through our small virtual groups.

If you are concerned that your child is struggling with phonics, it is vital to seek professional help. The sooner, the better. I often hear parents say they are waiting for their child to be tested or waiting to switch a school, etc. The longer you wait, the worse the problem becomes. No one is going to advocate for your child more than you.

Also, an IEP will not help your child learn phonics; an IEP gives you access to accommodations, not solutions. The goal of an IEP is to graduate from it. So, it is best to reach out to a qualified professional who can assess your child’s reading skills and provide you with specific recommendations for helping your child improve.

Benefits of Working with The Innovative Learners

Experienced Educators

We are a team of qualified, experienced teachers who taught during the pandemic and understood the gap it created. Our teachers relate to students while ensuring they are engaged by creating a safe, welcoming learning environment.

Culturally Relevant Lessons

Our curriculum team consists of curriculum writers of color who ensure the lessons are culturally relevant and rigorous for the students. We select our books by hand and choose narratives that relate to the demographic of our students. We also have different curricula based on the student’s needs for different reading levels.

Pre and Post Assessments

To ensure your child gets the curriculum they need, we will asses them at the beginning of the program to ensure they receive a personalized curriculum accessible to them while promoting growth.

Parent Relationships

We value our parents by promising transparency and open communication. When onboarded, they will be informed about tutoring, what to expect, and best practices to ensure their child succeeds. We will also add each parent to our parent portal, where they will have access to the live class recordings and text reminders an hour before each student’s designated class time. Hear from some of our parents here.

Monthly Reports

Your child will receive a monthly report from their teacher indicating their current performance and goal progress based on the initial reading goal set at the onboarding.

Flexible Hours

We have one-on-one and group tutoring available after school hours and even on weekends. If you are a homeschool parent, we also have availability to tutor during school hours if you prefer.

Flexible Pricing Options

We offer payment plans, and parents can get started with a deposit to go toward their overall service amount. Parents who purchase more sessions upfront are incentivized with a percent discount. See examples of our most popular options here, and if you have specific questions, please contact us here.

Conclusion

Learning to read is a complex process, but it is one that all children can master with the proper support. If you are concerned that your child may be struggling with phonics, there are many things you can do to help. Be sure to talk to your child’s teacher or another qualified professional for more information and support.

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