Children develop an awareness of the sounds of our language naturally. This awareness is enhanced or reinforced when a parent or teacher highlights letter sounds for a child, for example, when reading a book together or noticing a sign on a store. Lessons that isolate letter-sound relationships usually go in one ear of the child and out the other. In order for children to remember letter-sound relationships, instruction should be based in something real and personally meaningful to them. Children should learn phonics as part of many activities based on their individual needs.
Different books help children learn particular skills.
You can't catch me. Rhyming books or poems help children learn word patterns and sounds. Children are more likely to become enthusiastic readers when they actively read, write, listen to others, and talk about ideas and language. Their interest may be lost if they are required to learn letter sounds as a prerequisite to reading, or spelling as a prerequisite to writing. There may be insufficient time for reading interesting literature and talking about the ideas in books.