Phonics is an essential building block of reading skills. It’s also one of the most challenging parts of teaching a first grade. That’s because reading and writing skills develop at different rates in each child. For example, some children learn letter sounds earlier than others. Some take longer to decode words. Some have a harder time following directions. Teach phonics to a child is a challenging, especially for parents who are new to the homeschooling lifestyle. However, with a little preparation, you can make teaching reading skills to your first grader fun and rewarding.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to teach your first grader how to read. We’ll also discuss how to teach them how to read phonetically. Once your child has a firm understanding of it, you can work on teaching them how to read phonetically.

Teaching your homeschooled child how to read is no different than teaching any other subject. You just have to make sure you take the time to teach them. Even if they’re in first grade.

Why Teach Phonics to a Homeschooled Child?

The majority of children learn how to read at a very young age. However, some children learn at a much later age. This can be frustrating for parents and teachers. You might even consider an additional reading intervention. While all of this is certainly understandable, you must remember that reading is a complex skill.

Understanding how your child learns, as well as their current skill level, will help you decide when to introduce phonics to them. You’ll also have a better understanding of how to best teach your child so they can catch up and be on even grounds with their peers.

The advantage of teaching your child phonics at a younger age is that they are more likely to retain what you teach them. Furthermore, it will be easier for your child to “decode” words when they begin to read on their own.

So, why teach your first grader how to read phonics? Let’s discuss.

Help Your First Grader Understand the How

When you start to teach your first grader how to read, you will want to make sure they understand the “how.”. You can do this by explaining to them what reading is and how it helps them become smarter.

Reading is a powerful way for your child to gain knowledge and understand the world around them. Reading, as we all know, is communication. It requires your child to pull from their own experiences as well as the experiences of others.

When reading, your child is decoding written words. This means that they are breaking down the letters into sounds. Once your child can “read” the words, they can use what they’ve learned to make sense of what the words mean.

For example, let’s say your child is reading the word “dog.” They might notice that the “g” in “dog” is similar to the “k” in “kat.” So, your child might make the connection between the “g” in “dog” and “k” in “kitten.”

This is how reading affects your child’s brain. It allows them to build knowledge and store information. It also gives your child something to think about. This will help them stay focused during school hours, as well as improve their attention span.

Teach Your Child the Basics of Phonics

When it comes to teaching your child the basics of phonics, you can’t do it too early. It’s important to have a strong foundation in phonics so your child can better understand how to read.

By teaching your first grader the basics of phonics, you’re helping them break down the code used for reading. This will make it easier for them to decode words when they begin to read on their own.

There are a few ways you can teach your first grader about phonics. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Let’s Begin with the Alphabet: The easiest way to introduce the basics of phonics is to start out with the alphabet. Once your child understands how to write each letter of the alphabet, they can learn how to break down each sound it makes.

Let’s Say the Alphabet Song: Another way to introduce the basics of phonics is to sing the alphabet song. You can sing the alphabet song with your child while they are sitting in their chair or on the floor with a coloring book and a crayon.

Teach Phonics the Right Way

Like most skills, teaching your child how to read phonetically is a process of practice. You’ll need to work at it consistently if you want results.

When you’re teaching your first grader how to read phonetically, it’s important to remember that they don’t understand the meaning behind the words.

You can’t start teaching them phonics by having them understand the meaning behind the words. The meaning will come later. For now, your job is to teach the sounds the letters make.

There are a few ways you can go about teaching your first grader phonics. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Teach Sounds Before Letters

Children learn how to read and write words before they learn how to read letters. You can use this knowledge to your advantage by teaching your child sounds before you teach them letters.

For example, let’s say your 1st grader is learning the “b” sound. You can show your child how to make the sound by saying the letter “b” and clapping your hands together. After showing them how to make the sound, you can work on decoding the word “bicycle.”

Help Your Child Develop decoding skills: Another important step when teaching your child how to read phonetically is to help them develop decoding skills. Decoding is the process of breaking down words into their individual sounds.

For example, you can have your child read the word “cat” out loud and you can break down the letters into sounds. After your child has decoded the letters, you can discuss what the word “cat” sounds like.

Teach the "Sight Word" Strategy

The “Sight-Word” strategy is one of the most effective ways to teach your first grader how to read phonetically. The idea behind the sight word method is that you show your child only one word and give them a cue to help them identify the word.

For example, you can have your child say the word “dog” and then point to the picture of a dog when they say the word. This will help your child associate words with pictures and make it easier for them to read.

Wrapping Up: Teaching Phonics as a homeschooled parent

Now that you know how to teach your first grader phonics, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test. Get ready to launch into a rigorous homeschooling year. Your first grader will be reading at a level much higher than they were last year.