If you want to know how to improve english for your kids, check out S.A.E. Hougang page. But it you want to understand about understanding phonics dyslexia, read on.
Now, if you’ve been noticing that your young child is struggling with reading, it’s essential to explore the possibility of phonics dyslexia, which can occur under a spectrum condition, ranging from mild to severe. But don’t worry, we’re here to offer simple suggestions one can help in order to encourage the love of reading among kids. Dyslexia is a common learning difference that affects how a child’s brain processes language and undertakes reading. “Phonics dyslexia”
simply means that it specifically impacts a child’s ability to understand and use phonics, which are the building blocks of reading. Let’s dive in and explore what this means and how you can help your little ones thrive!
What’s Phonics Dyslexia?
Phonics dyslexia or phonological dyslexia is like a small bump in the road of reading. It affects how your child connects letters to their sounds and how they use those sounds to read words and from words to phrases and hence to sentences. While most kids learn to do this naturally, dyslexic kids might find it a bit trickier to manipulate the basic sounds of language as they find difficulty to break apart language sounds. They might struggle to sound out words or mix up similar-looking letters like “b” and “d”. Translating the sounds of |th|, |i|, |nk| into ‘think’ rather than ‘thick’ or ‘thank’ or even ‘kith’ may seem like the common problem. But remember, this doesn’t mean they’re not smart or won’t succeed—it just means they need some extra support and patience.
Phonics Dyslexia Signs to Look Out For
As parents, it’s essential to spot the signs as early on, so you can help your child get the help they need. Some common signs of phonics dyslexia include:
Difficulty sounding out words: Your child might have trouble breaking down words into their individual sounds and blending them together.
Mixing up similar letters: They might confuse letters like “b” and “d,” “p” and “q,” or flip them around.
Difficulty in sounding unfamiliar words (decoding): They struggle to read almost similar-looking letters or groups of letters as they are unable to apply the decoding principle like the word ‘fake’ when they have already learnt the words ‘make’ and ‘bake’.
Difficulty recognizing familiar words in new contexts: This could prove a challenge in reading comprehension at higher levels.
Struggling with rhyming: Some kids may find it challenging to recognize words that sound alike.
Reading slowly and hesitantly: They might take longer to read sentences or stumble frequently while reading.
Poor spelling: Spelling might be a bit of a puzzle for them, and thus make frequent mistakes and repetitive ones.
Avoiding reading: If your child seems to avoid reading or gets anxious about it, phonics dyslexia might just be one contributing factor.
At What Age do Phonological Processes Disappear?
As a short digress, the first observation a parent should make is the awareness of children with a phonological disorder, children who keep using incorrect speech patterns past the age they should have stopped using them. Incorrect speech rules or patterns include dropping the first or last sound of each word or replacing certain sounds for others.
In younger children, such ‘baby talk’ are sometimes developmentally appropriate. However, some of them should disappear by age 3, and all of them should disappear by age 7.
If it is reduplication, an example will be replacing the word ‘baba’ or ‘bobo’ for ‘bottle’. If it is an unstressed syllable deletion, it may sound like ‘nana’ for ‘banana’. Other errors could be ‘tookie’ for ‘cookie’. Or ‘kool’ for ‘school’. Or ‘wun’ for ‘run’. All such issues should disappear by age 7.
What Can You Do to Help Our Children Overcome Phonics Dyslexia?
Let’s come back to the issue of phonics dyslexia. Let’s explore some ways we can support our children as they conquer phonics dyslexia and the ‘reading barrier’.
Be patient and positive: Remind your child that it’s okay to make mistakes. Be patient and encourage them to keep trying—it’s all about process and step-by-step progress, not perfection!
Read together: Share the magic of reading by reading aloud together. Take turns reading and make it a fun bonding experience! Dramatizing and even exaggerating certain words or phrases may help a child remember better.
Use multi-sensory activities: Engage your child’s senses by incorporating activities that involve seeing, hearing, and touching letters and words. Children learn better initially when things are more concrete and real.
Play word games: Turn learning into playtime! Try word puzzles, word scavenger hunts, or even create your own silly stories together. Make up new introductions and change story endings. Discuss characters and make-believe, we, the readers, are inside the story.
Use visuals: Visual aids like colorful flashcards or posters can help reinforce letter sounds and words. Get the children to draw, to cut or to paste and to color these visuals so they are not outsiders looking in but participants playing the role and taking ownership.
Talk with teachers: Stay in touch with your child’s teacher. Share your observations and work together on strategies for their success.
Here in S.A.E. (Seriously Addictive English), we join hands with parents and teachers to proactively guide your children in their learning journey, making it fun and meaningful.
Embrace technology: There are fantastic apps and educational games designed to support phonics skills. Sites like Splash Learn and Phonics Bloom offer good interactive phonics on-line games for an engaging experience for young learners. Just be sure to monitor screen time!
Celebrate progress: Praise their efforts and celebrate their achievements, no matter how small. In fact, more time should be focused on such small victories rather than focusing on correcting and remedying mistakes. Every step counts!
Conclusion
With our emphasis on a structured phonics approach, integrated literacy skills curriculum, individualized learning plans, and guided and independent practice, our Seriously Addictive English (S.A.E.) program equips children in Singapore with the necessary tools for success. Through this S.A.E program, children are armed with a solid foundation in English and essential critical thinking skills that will serve them well in their educational journey and beyond.
Check us out at Blk 553 Hougang St 51 or call (or text) 8818-1891. Book our S.A.E. English Hougang complimentary diagnostic assessment and chat with us with regards any queries and apprehensions you may have with respect to how to nurture your child to learn to master the language and to love reading and writing in the English language. It all starts with phonics.
Phonics dyslexia might seem like a challenge, and no parent wants to find out if their kid has reading challenges. Just remember, you and your child are a super team! With your love, support, and the right tools, they can conquer any reading roadblock. Embrace their unique learning style, while we together unlock the wonders of reading. Keep cheering them on, and watch as they flourish into confident readers who can take on the world—one word at a time! One phrase at a time! One story at a time! We’ve got this!