Teach your child to read: A Parent's Guide to Phonics from Udemy

As a parent you want to help your child succeed in life and we know that reading is one of the most valuable life skills your child will ever learn.

So how can you help your child learn to read?

Teachers train for years in order to gain competency in the teaching of phonics yet you're probably still stuck singing the ABC. If this sounds familiar then this is the course for you. I've summarised my many years of teaching experience, early years specialism and phonics leadership into a course designed to help you understanding the teaching of reading.

This is a basic level course intended for parents of children at preschool/kindergarten or in their first year of education, who want to develop their understanding of phonics. Learn and grow confident in the vocabulary and terminology used to discuss phonic teaching.

Understand what teachers are talking about in parents evenings when they refer to phonic learning.
Feel confident to respond to your child knowledgeably when they tell you they've been learning a new digraph at school.
Pronounce each phoneme accurately so that you can support your child's learning at home.
Gain a small bank of activities that support phonics at home without feeling like your forcing 'homework' in your little one.
Learn why sounds are taught in a particular order rather than the old fashioned ABC
Gain an insight into how phonics is integrated into the curriculum

This quick course is designed to allow parents to feel included in their child's phonic learning, by giving them a solid overview of the subject. It will allow parents to understand the building blocks of phonics learning to support reading and writing.

See what other students have said about this course:

"Really interesting course.great explanation of the vocabulary related to phonics."

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the language involved in the teaching of phonics.
Support their child with phonics learning.

Understand the process involved in the teaching of phonics.

Understand the language involved in the teaching of phonics.
Support their child with phonics learning.
Understand the process involved in the teaching of phonics.

Syllabus

Students will be able to understand who this course is for and what it is about.

Find out a bit more about me and what I cover in the course, to make sure it's the right course for you.

Understand the terms phonics, graphemes and phonemes.

Understand the terms cluster, digraph and trigraph.

Understand how vowels and consonants are referred to when describing the complexity of a word.

Gain an understanding of the vocabulary used for reading and writing.

A guide to the pronouncing the 44 phonemes and handouts for further reference.

A more in depth look at how split digraphs work.

Understand how to use sound talk to support phonic skills.

See how letters can be used to start to read first words.

Understand what high frequency/sight words are.

How to use magnetic letters for early writing skills.

How to support first writing attempts.

Understand how the dots and dashes technique can support early reading and writing.

A few activities to support phonics at home.

Gain an awareness of the requirements of the curriculum in relation to Phonics.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides parents with the vocabulary and terminology used in phonics instruction, which can help them understand what teachers are communicating during parent-teacher conferences

Explains why sounds are taught in a specific order, which can help parents understand the rationale behind phonics instruction and support their child's learning at home

Offers a bank of activities to support phonics at home, which can help parents engage their children in learning without feeling like they are forcing homework

Focuses on phonics instruction for early reading and writing, which may not be as relevant for parents of older children who are already proficient readers

Requires parents to pronounce phonemes accurately, which may be challenging for those unfamiliar with phonetics or who have different accents

Teaches the 'dots and dashes' technique, which may not align with current best practices in phonics instruction and could potentially confuse children

Reviews summary

A parent's introduction to phonics

According to learners, this course serves as a very helpful introduction to the world of phonics for parents. It effectively breaks down key phonics vocabulary and provides a solid foundation for understanding how reading is taught. Students particularly appreciate the practical tips and activities offered for supporting their child's learning at home, including a valuable pronunciation guide for the different sounds. While it's a basic level course, it successfully helps parents feel more confident discussing their child's education and assisting them effectively.

Best suited for beginners/new parents.

"This course is definitely a great starting point for parents new to phonics."

"It's perfect if you have absolutely no prior knowledge."

"If you already know some basics, it might feel a bit too introductory."

Offers help with saying phonemes correctly.

"Learning the correct pronunciation of the sounds was invaluable."

"I feel more confident saying the sounds now to help my child."

"The guide to the 44 phonemes is a great reference."

Provides useful ways to help child at home.

"I found the activity suggestions really helpful for home support."

"The course gave me simple, effective ideas for practicing with my child."

"I appreciate the ideas that don't feel like forcing homework."

Helps parents understand key phonics terms.

"The course really helped me grasp terms like phonemes and graphemes."

"I finally understand what teachers mean when they talk about digraphs."

"It made the complex language of phonics much easier to understand."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Teach your child to read: A Parent's Guide to Phonics with these activities:

Review Letter Sounds

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Reviewing letter sounds will help you accurately pronounce phonemes and support your child's learning at home.

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Review the pronunciation of each letter of the alphabet.
Practice saying simple words by sounding out each letter.

Read 'Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons'

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Reading this book will provide a structured approach to teaching reading using phonics, complementing the course material.

View Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons:... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons'.
Follow the lessons sequentially, adapting to your child's pace.

Create Flashcards for Sight Words

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Creating flashcards will reinforce your understanding of high-frequency words and provide a practical tool for teaching your child.

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Identify a list of common sight words for early readers.
Create flashcards with each word clearly written on one side.
Use the flashcards regularly with your child for practice.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Practice Sounding Out Words

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Practicing sounding out words will improve your ability to support your child's phonics learning and reading development.

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Choose a set of age-appropriate books for beginning readers.
Select words from the books and practice sounding them out.
Record yourself and listen to your pronunciation.

Explore 'Letters and Sounds: A Phonics Guide for Parents'

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Exploring this book will provide a deeper understanding of phonics phases and offer practical activities to support your child's reading.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Letters and Sounds: A Phonics Guide for Parents'.
Review the different phases of phonics learning.
Implement the suggested activities with your child.

Tutor a Child in Phonics

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Tutoring a child will solidify your understanding of phonics principles and improve your ability to teach reading effectively.

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Volunteer to tutor a child who is learning to read.
Assess the child's current phonics knowledge.
Develop a tutoring plan based on the child's needs.
Provide regular tutoring sessions, focusing on phonics skills.

Develop a Phonics Game

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Developing a phonics game will challenge you to apply your knowledge creatively and create an engaging learning tool.

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Brainstorm ideas for a phonics-based game.
Design the game mechanics and rules.
Create the game materials, such as cards or a game board.
Test the game with children and refine the rules as needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Teach your child to read: A Parent's Guide to Phonics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Homeschool Teacher

A homeschool teacher guides a child's education within the home environment, tailoring the curriculum to meet individual needs and interests. This course is useful for any homeschool teacher that is teaching a child to read. The course offers a structured approach to phonics instruction, equipping parents with the knowledge and tools to effectively teach reading at home. Learning about phonemes and graphemes, and how to teach them to one's child can be invaluable. Additionally understanding how to use sound talk to support phonic skills, and activities to support phonics at home can provide practical guidance for creating engaging lessons.

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Reading Interventionist

A reading interventionist provides targeted support to students who struggle with reading, helping them develop essential literacy skills. This course helps reading interventionists build their understanding of phonics-based interventions. The detailed look at how split digraphs work, and how phonics supports early reading sets up a reading interventionist to provide appropriate help and support to students. Learning more about high frequency sight words, and using magnetic letters for early writing skills can help boost the efficacy of an intervention plan.

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Educational Therapist

An educational therapist provides individualized interventions to students with learning disabilities and other academic challenges. This course may be useful for educational therapists who need to support students with reading difficulties. Detailed knowledge of phonics and reading, along with techniques like dots and dashes and magnetic letters supports educational therapists. Understanding how vowels and consonants are referred to, and how split digraphs work also helps.

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Elementary School Teacher

An elementary school teacher shapes young minds, fostering a love of learning and building foundational skills. This course may be useful for prospective or current elementary school teachers, especially those new to teaching reading. The course offers insight into phonics instruction, covering essential vocabulary, pronunciation, and techniques for supporting early reading and writing that could be integrated into classroom activities. Understanding how phonics is integrated into the curriculum can help a teacher create more effective and engaging lessons. Particularly beneficial is the section on pronouncing phonemes accurately, which helps build a foundation for literacy instruction.

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Parenting Coach

A parenting coach supports parents in developing effective parenting strategies, promoting positive child development and family well-being. Many parents seek guidance to help teach their children to read. This course gives a parenting coach the phonics terms to understand the curriculum. It is useful when working with families facing challenges in literacy development. Learning how phonics supports early writing, and how to use sound talk to support phonic skills helps a parenting coach advise their clients.

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Preschool Teacher

Preschool teachers play a crucial role in early childhood development, preparing children for kindergarten and beyond. For those in the field of preschool teaching now, or who wish to enter it, this course arms educators with strategies for pre-literacy instruction. The course introduces the terminology of phonics, and the pronunciation of phonemes, which is essential in pre-school education. The understanding of digraphs, trigraphs, vowels and consonants, and high frequency sight words all help a preschool teacher understand the curriculum.

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Early Childhood Educator

An early childhood educator is a professional who works with young children, typically from infancy through age eight, in various settings such as preschools, daycare centers, and early intervention programs. This course can help the educator understand the process of phonics learning, and the terminology of phonics. The guide to pronouncing the 44 phonemes, and learning what sight words are will help an early childhood educator in their instruction and lesson planning.

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Literacy Coach

A literacy coach supports teachers in improving their literacy instruction, providing professional development and guidance. This course may be useful for literacy coaches who are working with teachers on implementing phonics-based reading programs. The course could help inform the literacy coach about the terminology, methodology, and activities to recommend to the teachers. See the section about first writing attempts and the awareness of curriculum requirements which can help a coach work with elementary school teachers.

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Special Education Teacher

A special education teacher works with students who have diverse learning needs, adapting instruction to promote academic success. This course may be useful for special education teachers who are looking for ways to support students with reading difficulties. The course's explanation of phonics terminology helps them understand the building blocks of reading. Learning about techniques like magnetic letters for early writing skills and supporting first writing attempts can help teachers tailor their support for kids with diverse needs.

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Educational Consultant

An educational consultant works with schools and organizations, offering expertise in curriculum development, instructional strategies, and school improvement. This course equips educational consultant, particularly those focused on early literacy, with a deeper understanding of phonics instruction. The consultant can incorporate the course's insights into phonics terminology and teaching methodologies. Use the activities that support phonics at home to support struggling students. This knowledge helps inform recommendations for improving reading instruction within schools.

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Curriculum Developer

A curriculum developer designs and creates educational materials, ensuring alignment with learning objectives and standards. This course informs curriculum developers, especially those working on early literacy programs, about phonics-based approaches to reading instruction. The course provides a solid foundation in phonics terminology and teaching strategies, which can inform the design of effective and engaging reading materials. The section on the curriculum and phonics learning in particular is helpful.

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Adult Literacy Tutor

An adult literacy tutor works with adults to improve their reading, writing, and numeracy skills, empowering them to achieve their educational and personal goals. This course is useful for adult literacy tutors who can use the course to understand the teaching of phonics. Pronouncing phonemes accurately supports the tutor in working with adult learners. It would also be useful to understand the expectations of phonics learning within early education.

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Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech language pathologists assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent speech, language, cognitive, social communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults. This course may be helpful for speech language pathologists. The course may help to identify and address underlying phonological awareness deficits that impact speech and language development. Learning about phonemes, graphemes, digraphs and trigraphs may be particularly helpful.

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Instructional Designer

An instructional designer creates engaging and effective learning experiences, often using technology and multimedia tools. This course may benefit instructional designers who are developing resources for early literacy or phonics instruction. The course provides a basic understanding of phonics concepts and teaching methods. Learning how to pronounce the 44 phonemes and the use of sound talk to support phonic skills can provide a good foundation for those developing learning experiences.

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Children's Librarian

A children's librarian fosters a love of reading in children, providing access to books and resources and leading literacy programs. The information in this course can help children's librarian understand the process of phonics learning. The librarian can use this knowledge to better advise parents and teachers. In particular, a good understanding of the different vocabulary used in teaching phonics can help a librarian make recommendations.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Teach your child to read: A Parent's Guide to Phonics.

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

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Provides a structured, step-by-step approach to teaching reading using phonics. It popular resource for parents who want to actively participate in their child's reading education. The book's systematic approach aligns well with the course's goal of empowering parents with phonics knowledge. It offers a practical framework for implementing the concepts learned in the course.

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons:...

Paperback

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Offers a comprehensive guide to phonics, specifically designed for parents. It covers the different phases of phonics learning and provides practical activities to support children's reading development. While not a core text, it serves as a valuable reference for understanding the UK's Letters and Sounds program, offering additional context and activities.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Paperback

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Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

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