**When you start teaching reading to students you soon find that one size does not fit all**

Now that a phonics based system of teaching reading has been reintroduced to students we might find that the literacy rate starts to increase. The whole mess with the whole language system

has finally changed. The main problem with teaching reading to students is that the good students are going to learn anyway, no matter what system is used.

Also it depends on the parents.

If the parents take an active role in their children’s education and just simply read at home as often as possible then the children will have a head start. But it is the students with learning problems who we are more interested in. These students have trouble learning with a whole language system so you have to bring in the phonics. If the parents are involved ask them to get an online phonics program so they can let the computer teach the child.

If you are in the classroom and you are allowed, bring in a phonics system like synthetic phonics.

That seems to be designed for large group teaching and has been in use for many years. For students who are getting left behind I prefer the Montessori system of sandpaper letters. This system was designed for learning disabled children and it works but it takes time. It is best used in a small group setting. I usually get a student who is a good reader to help teach the kids who are getting left behind. Reading takes time so when teaching reading to students expect some students to have problems

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