Learning The Alphabet Is Basically A Waste Of Time

It can be very confusing for young children when they learn the alphabet. Then when they start to read they have to say the letters

Just a little example, the word “cat.” How can you say the word “cat” just by using the sounds of the letters in the alphabet. That is why I keep away from the alphabet.

I will show them how to say the phonic sound of the letters. This way, at least the letters match the sounds of the words. I prefer to do this while reading a little book that the child wants me to read. I don’t like reading through lists of words to phonically say each letter, so the kid can pronounce the word correctly. I will admit it is a good way to learn. I will do this, but only until the kid gets bored. Then I will go back to reading the story.

I usually forget about learning the alphabet, as the individual sounds of the letters do not always match the way it is spoken. But I do like phonics. If the kid can sound out the word correctly, and they know what the spoken word is, then they know what the written word is. And that is the advantage of phonics.

I don’t go overboard on phonics. I sound out the words and sometimes I will put a pencil stroke between the syllables. So the kids can figure out what each different combination of letters sounds like. Phonics helps to decode a word so the kid can say it. Then once they hear it, they should know the meaning. Phonics ties the language together, so the sound of the words matches what is written.

To find out more about the phonics courses I recommend see our teach reading page.