Hello, parents!
We are excited to share with you some insight as educators so that it will save you some time and expense researching about analogy phonics and how it can do wonders for your kids and hasten them towards learning how to read and even write independently.
Your little wonders have started primary school and are expected to be able to manage their school work which entails spelling, reading, vocabulary building and comprehending. Hence, learning analogy phonics at an early start will provide many benefits for your primary schooler.
Understanding Analogy Phonics in a Phonics Class in Singapore
Generally, phonics as the magic wand that opens up the locked doors into the enchanting world of words for our little ones. It’s a method that teaches our kids to associate sounds with letters and letter combinations, helping them to decode and encode words.
Specifically analogy phonics falls under analytic phonics in which the teacher will have his students analyze phonic elements according to the speech sounds (phonograms) in the word.
A good phonics class should incorporate analogy phonics into their curriculum as the benefits of learning phonics using this strategy is crucial for primary school students.
Its History and Findings
Dating back to the 1600s and across subsequent centuries it was found that many new readers (children and even, adults) find it mentally easier to divide words into onsets (the consonants) and rimes (the phonograms or in other words, the vowel and the consonant sound that follows), /c/ /at/, than individual letters and sounds, that is, /c/ /a/ /t/.
This may be explained by current brain research, which appears to suggest that our brains are more natural “pattern finders” rather than a “rule followers”. What this means is that if one’s brain has a store of learned phonograms and related word families, the brain will automatically search that storage and detect familiar patterns when meeting with unfamiliar words. This cognitive way of pattern detection and pattern application is often more effective and more efficient for new or young readers.
You can enrol your child in phonics course in singapore.
It is also known to improve aspects of reading and writing fluency (accuracy and rate)!
What are the Most Common Phonograms?
Interestingly in 1970, Wylie and Durrell identified 37 high-frequency phonograms that can be found in over 500 words commonly found in lower-level (lower primary school level) texts.
They are:
1. (s) ack,
2. (s) ail,
3. (m) ain,
4. (m) ake,
5. (m) ale,
6. (n) ame,
7. (t) an,
8. (t) ank,
9. (t) ap,
10. (r) ash,
11. (r) at,
12. (r) ate,
13. (r) aw,
14. (r) ay –
15. (b) eat,
16. (b) ell,
17. (b) est
18. (l) ice,
19. (l) ick,
20. (l) ight,
21. (h) ill,
22. (h) ide,
23. (f) in,
24. (f) ine,
25. (w) ing,
26. (w) ink,
27. (d) ip,
28. (d) it
29. (d) ock,
30. (p) oke,
31. (p) op,
32. (p) ore,
33. (p) ot
34. (p) uck,
35. (j) ug,
36. (j) ump,
37. (j) unk
You may want to try testing your primary schooler all the above 37 high-frequency phonograms to see if he or she can read them. One onset (consonant in bracket) has been added to make reading easier and in order to make more reading sense.
Taking one step further, you may want to play around with each numbered word and see how many other new words (by changing the onsets) can be formed under each word family.
Benefits of Analogy Phonics for Primary School Students
So, if you ask, what benefits can my primary schooler gain from learning phonics using the analogy phonics approach, let us just dive into a few benefits.
- Vocabulary Bonanza: Ever heard your child drop a big word and thought, “Whoa, where did they learn that?” Analogy phonics is the champion behind expanding their vocabulary. By grasping word patterns, they can easily understand and use new words, turning them into vocabulary virtuosos.
- Spelling Sorcery: We’ve all been there; how we get the spelling bee jitters. Analogy phonics doesn’t just stop at reading; it’s the superhero of spelling too! When kids can recognize patterns in words, they become spell-check champions. We will then see fewer red squiggles, and more A+ moments!
- Reading for Pleasure: Remember how we once fell in love with a good book and would sit hours reading it until naggings from mummy shakes us back into reality? Analogy phonics turns reading into a joyous experience for our primary schoolers. As they become proficient readers, they’ll discover the magic of storytelling and lose themselves in the wonderful world of books just as we once did.
- Crushing Challenges: Every hero faces challenges, right? Analogy phonics equips our kids with the tools to overcome reading hurdles. Whether it’s a new book or a tricky assignment, they’ll face it head-on, armed with the superpower of word recognition.
- Brain Workout: Flex those mental muscles! Analogy phonics gives your primary schooler’s brain a workout by challenging them to think critically about words. It’s like sending his brains to the reading gym, making him a strong and resilient learner.
- Life Skills Unleashed: Analogy phonics isn’t just about books; it’s a life skill extravaganza. Think about it – decoding information, problem-solving, and effective communication. These are the skills that set our primary schoolers up for success in school and beyond.
Some Phonics Games or Puzzles We can Create Based on the Analogy Phonics Approach
Before we conclude, let us suggest some phonogram games our children can play along.
– Phonogram Bingo
Make copies of this 4 x 4 Bingo card. Students write one word in each box from 2-4 known word families. The adult calls out words and the student marks matching words. If there should be more players, then things can get more interesting and fun. The one who covers three words down, across, or diagonally wins!
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– Phonogram Find
Write up to eight taught phonograms in the shaded boxes. Your child rereads a passage, article, story, or even book chapter and writes all found word “relatives” in the unshaded boxes. This activity increases excitement about phonograms because it reinforces their connection to accurate word recognition within text and makes it all the more meaningful!
PHONOGRAM | WORD FAMILY RELATIVES |
Conclusion
There you go, parents! You’re now armed with all you need to know about analogy phonics, one approach out of the few approaches of phonics teaching that will prove most beneficial for your primary schooler. Just remember, this is a magical journey, and you get to be a part of it. So, fold up your sleeves and be your kid’s partner-in-learning. Create simple phonogram games which you and possibly more participants can join in to also enjoy the ride.
Best of luck, and here’s wishing you good success in nurturing your little loved one into an avid reader!