How to Teach Your Child to Read Using Phonics and ASL ABCs

Using phonics to teach a child to read is incredibly beneficial. Phonics instruction focuses on the relationship between letters and their corresponding sounds, equipping children with the essential decoding skills they need to read words accurately and fluently. By understanding the building blocks of language, children can break down unfamiliar words into individual sounds, allowing them to unlock the meaning. Phonics also enhances spelling abilities, as children learn to apply their knowledge of letter-sound relationships to spell words correctly. With phonics, children gain the tools and confidence to become independent readers, opening up a world of literacy and empowering them to develop strong reading comprehension skills.

When I taught my daughter how to read I used the ASL alphabet. She was more interested in learning those letters than she was in learning the written ones. When I first started teaching her the ABCs this is the process I used:

I started by just singing and signing the ABCs to her. When I saw that she was singing along with me and trying to sign it then I taught her how to identify each letter. This was a long process as you have to really take your time and not push the learning. You need to make sure your child is interested, ready and having fun.

I started by showing her the ASL letter A and I’d ask her, “what is this?” and she’d say, “A”. Then I would move on and add B. I’d hold up the letter B and ask her what it is. I didn’t add C in until I saw that she truly understood what B was. I would go back and forth asking her A and B. Then I’d add C. I wouldn’t move on until she knew what C was. I’d go from A to B to C asking her to identify the letters. We only played this game when she was ready to, she enjoyed being quizzed and was so proud of herself. When we finally reached Z and she knew all of her letters down pat I then started asking her to identify them out of order. Many kids know what letters come next in the alphabet (they’ve memorized them) but they might not know them out of order. Once she knew them out of order then I introduced the sounds of the letters. I did this in the same way as teaching her the letters. Keep your process slow, don’t rush or your child won’t pick it up. Make it fun!

Finally, once my daughter knew all the sounds of the letters I would then start putting them together. I would show her the letter C then A then T and she would make the sounds as I held up the letters. I would go faster and faster until she realized she was reading the word CAT. This is a really fun game for kids to play. It is especially useful in waiting rooms or at restaurants when you need to keep your child entertained.

Here is a phonics video we made that you might find useful

Phonics helps children develop strong decoding skills, enabling them to sound out and recognize words. By understanding the relationship between letters and their corresponding sounds, children can decode unfamiliar words and build their reading vocabulary.

Phonics instruction helps children develop word recognition skills, allowing them to identify and read words accurately and fluently. By breaking words down into their individual sounds, children can quickly recognize and read words they have encountered before.

Phonics instruction also supports children in developing their spelling skills. When children understand the sounds and patterns of language, they can apply this knowledge to spell words more accurately. Phonics instruction provides a foundation for understanding spelling rules and conventions.

Phonics empowers children to become independent readers. Once they have grasped phonics principles, they can read words on their own, without relying solely on memorization or context cues. This independence boosts their confidence and motivation to read.

Phonics instruction promotes phonemic awareness, which is the ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken language. This skill is vital for reading and spelling success, as it helps children understand the sound structure of words.

Phonics instruction provides children with transferable skills that extend beyond reading. The ability to break down words into sounds and recognize patterns supports their understanding of new vocabulary, improves their pronunciation, and enhances their overall language skills.

Phonics instruction contributes to vocabulary development by helping children understand the sounds and meanings of words. As children learn to decode new words using phonics principles, their reading vocabulary expands, allowing them to comprehend a wider range of texts.

Phonics lays the foundation for reading comprehension. When children can accurately and effortlessly read words, they can focus more on understanding the meaning of the text. Phonics is a crucial component of building reading comprehension skills.

Phonics instruction can boost children’s confidence in their reading abilities. As they successfully decode words and comprehend texts, they become more motivated and engaged in reading, leading to a lifelong love of books and learning.

Phonics instruction provides a systematic and structured approach to teaching reading. It introduces letters and sounds in a logical sequence, gradually building upon previously learned skills. This structured approach helps children develop a solid foundation in reading.

While phonics is a valuable method, it’s important to note that a balanced approach to reading instruction, incorporating other strategies such as comprehension skills and exposure to a variety of texts, is also essential.