Helping Jo to read and write (3)

Heart In The Write Place (see Jesus Life: issue 89)

See previous two blogs: helping Jo to read and write (1 & 2)

 Well done! You’ve really got going, helping Jo to read and write. You are both really pleased with his progress. I bet he’s telling you that he’s started picking out and reading words he’s never recognised as he’s walking round town, sitting on the bus etc.  Moving on to the next phase now ….

1.      Go over with Jo what he has learned at the beginning of each session.
2.      Gradually introduce more words that don’t carry much phonics logic e.g. ‘who’, ‘said’ - especially ones that are useful for Jo’s life.
3.      Begin to introduce letter combinations like ‘ee’, ‘ea’, ‘or’, ‘er’ (called digraphs.)
4.      Teach Jo the order of the alphabet (just make some small cards with the letter on them.)
5.      Begin to introduce UPPER CASE letters and explain they are used as the first letter for names of people, places and the pronoun I.  
6.      Combine learning to read and write with learning computer word processing.
7.      Encourage independence: e.g. leave Jo for a few minutes to write a sentence. 
 8.  Finally – don’t get discouraged. What Jo learns one week may be forgotten by the next. Keep going over what he has already learned.

Well, that’s a start. There’s plenty more to learn but, like a building, good foundations make for a solid structure that will stand the test of time.   Jo has a good foundation now to build on.  He has some essential skills, the door has opened and his life will never be quite the same again. Your positive input has made a huge difference – not just to Jo’s reading and writing skills but to his life in general.  I have heard great stories from folks saying that learning to read has given them new social confidence: now they can speak in public, look people in the eye etc.

Well done! What you have done has made a huge difference to Jo – and probably to you too! Keep going!

Resources:  (You don’t need many – almost all mine are home-made)

Useful books:

Alpha to Omega: A. to Z. of Teaching Reading, Writing and Spelling: Beve Hornsby, Julie Pool, Frula Shear  

Toe by Toe: A Highly Structured Multi-sensory Reading Manual for Teachers and Parents by Keda Cowling and Harry Cowling  

 Spotlight on Words: Phonic Wordsearch Puzzles and Activities to Help the Development of Spelling Skills by Gillian Aitken.  Robinswood Press