**There are only two main methods of teaching reading but of the two only one is very effective**

I think Phonics is possible the best method for teaching reading mainly because it has been around for well over 100 years. And it is now making

a serious comeback after it has been decided that the whole language method is not it is all cracked up to be.

This situation has happened before but we always return to phonics.

The main problem with trying to find out which reading method is the best - is that the best students will learn to read no matter what method is used. So we have to look at the problem readers and find out what method is best suited to them. And phonics usually comes up on top because phonics are a roadmap to reading. They give you a code to follow so you can say the written word the same way that it is spoken. Then after you hear yourself read the word correctly you know the sound of the word then you know the meaning.

That is the basics behind phonics, but it not that simple.

Your child has to learn all 44 phonic sounds then the combinations. Problems do arise when one phonic sound is the same in many different words that are spelt differently. So writing becomes a problem. I prefer to use the Montessori approach to reading with phonics and sandpaper letters because when you child is tracing the sandpaper letters she is actually writing. Then you will suddenly find that your child will start to write by herself. How accurate her spelling is depends on how many sandpaper words she has mastered, so keep adding more and more sandpaper letter words for your child to read.

For more information about phonics courses I recommend including a Montessori course see our Teach Reading page.