Beginning With Phonics Instruction Written by Mary Joyce Some children are just natural readers. They love to explore different books and are always picking up reading skills just by naturally being involved and around reading environments. Other kids have more difficulty with printed language and need to relate a sound to a particular configuration of alphabet and letters. This will be essence of your phonics instruction. It is these phonics skills that enable kids to sound out words and letters that they see. As a parent, this can be a very effective way to get child started reading. Helping child sound out words and letters that they see... Phonics. Generally within subject of phonics, best place to begin is by teaching child short vowel sounds. The long vowel sounds are just a repeat of alphabetic letter itself. A good way to get and keep child’s interest during phonics process is to use examples (pictures or something tangible around house) of something that interests them. For example, most children will exhibit a high interest in animals. As a general rule, try to keep your phonics examples theme related. The repetition of learning various phonics sounds is reinforced much sooner when examples you are using follow same type of theme. This limits potential for confusion and loss of interest that may occur if you jump all over with seemingly unrelated items. Homeschool Lesson Plans Written by Mary Joyce Homeschool families have an abundance of homeschool lesson plans and programs to choose from. As a homeschooling parent, whether you want a tightly knitted curriculum package or prefer to be able to modify and develop as your personal circumstances dictate, you will find a wide variety of homeschool lesson plans no matter what your preferences. Regardless of direction you take, don’t get tied to hip with your educational program. Seek out hands on real life learning experiences to supplement your homeschool curriculum. Keep you lesson plans as full of real life as you possibly can! Field trips that involve places and business in your hometown are outstanding supplements to any Cont'd on page 2 ==>   ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005 Terms of Use