Identifying and Focusing on Specific Phonetic Sounds
Research shows that focusing on specific phonetic sounds that a child struggles with can lead to rapid improvement in reading. For example, if a child has difficulty with consonant blends like ‘tw’ in ‘between’ or distinguishing between long and short vowels, targeting these sounds can transform their reading ability. Instead of following a generic curriculum, parents and educators should identify the exact sounds a child finds challenging and dedicate time to practicing those.

Building on these insights, it’s crucial to tailor reading practice to the child’s needs. For instance, if a child struggles with the ‘ig’ sound in words like ‘high’ and ‘sigh’, creating a list of words with this sound and practicing them can help the child ‘code’ the sound, making it easier to recognize in future reading. This focused approach not only enhances reading skills but also boosts the child’s confidence and motivation to read.