Part 3: Teaching Reading in the First Year of School

In this enlightening episode (Part 3) of the " Teaching Reading in the First Year of School" podcast, literacy education expert Diane Snowball dives deeply into the often overlooked yet crucial aspects of teaching reading in schools. She stresses that while phonemic awareness and phonics are essential, comprehension and vocabulary instruction must also be prioritised. Diane highlights a common issue: some schools focus so heavily on phonics that they leave little room for students to practise reading and develop comprehension strategies. This imbalance can hinder students' overall reading proficiency.Diane shares a poignant example from her teaching experience. A young girl inferred that it must be summer in a story because the shop displayed sandals, not boots. This story illustrates how children can use illustrations to enhance comprehension, underscoring the importance of teaching students to use various cues and strategies to understand texts.Diane discusses the necessity of teaching multiple reading strategies beyond phonics. She emphasises the value of teaching children to use context clues, syntax, and self-correction to decode and comprehend words. She explains that understanding the role of morphemes and rimes (e.g., recognising that 'lay' and 'day' share a common ending sound) can significantly enhance a child’s reading skills.The conversation also covers the broader implications of focusing too narrowly on one aspect of reading instruction. Diane argues that while phonics is important, it should not overshadow other vital components like comprehension and vocabulary. She criticises the trend in some educational policies that overly emphasise phonics at the expense of a well-rounded approach to reading.Diane advocates for a balanced, comprehensive approach to reading instruction that includes phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension, and vocabulary. She calls for professional development for teachers to ensure they are equipped to teach these multifaceted aspects of reading effectively. Diane’s extensive experience and insights offer valuable guidance for educators seeking to foster robust reading skills in their students. This episode is a must-listen for educators, school leaders, and anyone interested in the nuances of comprehensive reading instruction.NEW TEACHIFIC RESOURCESThe Comprehensive Reading Curriculum 2024Helping Children to Learn High Frequency Words F-1, 2024Learning About Letter-Sound Relationships to Read Words F-1, 2024The Usefulness of Onsets and Rimes When Reading and Writing F-2, 2024Comprehension in Foundation - Strategies, Instruction, Assessment F, 2024TEACHIFIC RESOURCESCourse: Understanding English OrthographyPicture books for 5-6 year oldsAlphabet books for 5.6 year oldsNursery Rhymes and SongsJOIN TEACHIFIC NOW AND SAVE!Join Teachific  today. Access thousands of resources and a growing number of 'anytime' courses within your membership.FURTHER INFORMATIONTune in to "Teacher's Tool Kit For Literacy," a free podcast where accomplished literacy educator Sharon Callen and her team share valuable insights and tips. With over 30 years of experience, they provide strategic learning solutions to empower teachers and leaders worldwide.  Subscribe on your favourite platform for exclusive literacy learning content.  Apple, Spotify,  Google, YouTubeRead our insightful blogs, which make valuable connections between resources, podcasts and courses.Visit our Cue Learning website and sign up for the Teacher's Toolkit Weekly newsletter to stay updated on resources, events and discover how Cue can support you and your school.Explore Teachific, our vast collection of PDF resources, to enhance your teaching toolkit. And get even more support from our growing number of 'anytime' online courses.Connect with the latest news and other educators by joining our Teacher's Toolkit Facebook groupExplore upcoming live or online webinar  eventsHave questions or feedback? Reach out to us directly at [email protected].