When you send your child to school to learn to read, he will be taught using one of two philosophies. Either the teaching will center around sight words, which is a philosophy known as “whole word” reading instruction, or he will learn to decipher the sounds within the words, a philosophy known as “phonics” reading instruction. Some teachers will use a combination of the two philosophies. However, the best way to ensure that your child is learning to read properly is to make sure he is learning phonics.

Phonics activities are beneficial to young readers for a variety of reasons. First, phonics appears to help all readers learn how to read, no matter if they have learning disabilities or not. Child development experts feel that phonics works well because children enjoy working with letters and sounds, and as a result, they quickly pick up on the combinations of letters and sounds that make words.

By teaching your children phonics, you will help them to be able to decode almost all words they come across during normal reading. Without phonics, children will learn to read with rote memorization. This requires them to literally learn all of the words in the English language, one at a time. With phonics, children can “sound out” words they have never seen. This makes it a far more practical form of reading education.

Finally, learning to read with phonics helps children with learning to write as well. The two skills are used interchangeably in a phonics based reading instruction model. This ensures that children can write and spell well and accurately.

Child Font is a good program to use to supplement what your children are learning in your home school or their traditional school. This home schooling reading instruction program provides a solid phonics foundation for children of all ages. This will help children learning how to read to be successful, thus preparing them for future success in school.