Teaching letter names before letter sounds.

[Parents-Aboard]

I posted this article- 'Teach Your Child to Read- 10 Must Do Steps' -
as sent from a Parents Aboard subscriber.
I found it useful- however I do not agree that letter names should be
taught before the sounds they represent.

Let me show you why.

Here is a list of letters. I have created my own alphabet / letters
otherwise you are so used to the English alphabet you will not
remember what its like as a new learner. Unfortunately I am limited in
using symbols from my computer keyboard!

I have created new letters and new letter names.
So instead of using 's' and giving it the name 'ess' let's
use.........

& - letter name sepha
$ - letter name mapi
^ - letter name fitta

Now spell the word 'hat'

Can you?

No- of course not. You only know how to connect the symbol for the
letter with the name of the letter
(like when we ask children to connect 'p' with the name 'pee')- and do
not yet know the sound it represents.

So let me help you - by telling you that:

& is used to represent the sound 'a' (as in at)
$ is used to represent the sound huh (as in horse)
^ is used to represent tuh' (as in tan)

Now can you spell and read hat ?

$&^

How did you do this?

Because you can hear the 3 sounds in the word 'hat'- and need to know
which symbol represents the parts - h+a+t.
If we only know them as mapi sepha fitta (in our english alphabet the
letter names would be ayche, ay, tee) we cant spell the word without
knowing the sounds they also represent.

So teach letter names alongside if you want to- but not before. Not if
your goal is to help children learn to read and spell with confidence
as logically, quickly and simply as possible. I personally do not
teach letter names until the children are already understanding how to
read and spell single letter words - eg cat, hits, man etc. I might
with my own child as I am with them alot and can really reinforce
this- but when teaching children in schools (and especially in day
care centres) I focus on helping them to link the letters with the
sounds- because they can then read and spell simple words. I prefer to
keep it as simple as possible so that the greatest number of children
are succeeding quickly. If you feel that you child can cope with
linking the symbol with the sound- and also learning the name- then go
for it. Many children are able to do this. But please don't teach
letter names first.

Link to video explaining this uploaded shortly.

Emma