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READING WITH PHONICS
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Q: Hello,
I've been searching the net for a good couple of weeks now finding
different sites on the best order to teach phonics.
I have found yours very valuable.
My only concern is teaching the long vowel after eg. ow as
in cow and au as in Paul.
All other sites recommend the opposite to teach
long vowel first and leave the more complicated to later.
Because my daughter is just turned 4 and not due to start school
until 2003 would I be best in teaching the long vowel first
with basic words and leaving the
ow etc. for her teacher to teach her the correct way.
I would appreciate your imput.
regards,
____
A: Dear ____,
Thank you for your inquiry into our Phonics program.
You are right, most programs introduce the long e rule(s) right after the primary sounds. If these sounds are introduced first, then the vowel blends (ou, ow, etc.) must be taught as exceptions to the rule - the first step in confusing a young child.
I have found that teaching the vowel blends first eliminates the concept of exceptions and rule breakers at this level. If you introduce the blends first, then the long e rule becomes "just another rule".
Of course, no matter which order you teach sounds, there will be exceptions. The order we use is the order the sounds are introduced in our McGuffey's Readers.
I have also noticed that basic words young people learn and read tend to follow blend rules *before* long vowel rules. For instance, if e makes the first vowel long is taught first, a child may try to pronounce "tower" with a long o, rather than with the "ow" blend. Also, there are many words with vowel blends and the silent e, like "noise." Notice the vowel rule is the "oi" blend, not the e at the end making the o long. Vowel blends usually take precedence over e in small words.
Finally, there are so many small words that children would read at a beginning level that incorporate the vowel blends, it simply follows that we should teach them as soon after the primary sounds as possible so they can start reading. For example: cow, plow, toy, boy, etc.
I hope this makes sense. If you have any more questions, please feel free to email us again.
Sincerely,
Michele
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