Don't Teach The Names of the Alphabet First

One of the worst things you can do in the process of helping your child become a reading phonics pro is to teach the alphabet first. Children have a hard time learning to read once they learn the names first.

For example, try reading the word "c a t" using the names of the letters. Let's take "c" , its name sounds like "see". Then take a look at "a", its name will not make the sound "a" like in apple in this word. And "t" sounds like "tea". By this simple illustration you can tell how this would be confusing to a child.

So, magic key and tip number one is...teach the sounds of the alphabet first, not the names.

Comments

[Dani]

Wow, that makes a lot of sense! It's funny how quickly we forget how difficult learning to read was...