We all know about the “Three Rs” of education. However, it’s important to understand the key elements that make up the “reading” component. Spelling and dictation combine to allow children to apply the sound-spelling they’ve learned in phonics lessons. Spelling dictation is more than just dictating words and sentences so students can in turn write them down; it’s also not just a test to see if students are spelling correctly. Dictation and spelling are essential tools for teaching, which is why they’re included in the best platforms for teaching phonics online.
WHY DICTATION EXERCISES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN PHONICS LESSONS
Decoding and encoding are two sides of the same coin when it comes to delivering phonics lessons. Decoding involves sounding out words, while encoding involves spelling those same words out on paper. These two skills are part of the best phonics programs, and educators should always find a way to incorporate both together when trying to enhance reading skills in students. Spelling shouldn’t be simply about memorization. Proper spelling has to be engrained and that happens through repetition. Phonics software for kindergarten available from Essential Skills offers many simple lessons teachers can deliver to young students to help tie spelling and phonics together.
There are many different ways a teacher can facilitate spelling lessons through dictation exercises in the classroom. Incorporating Super Phonics, the best online phonics reading program, including “hear and spell” activities for short and long vowels is a great way to do this. Manually preparing a list of five to ten words and one or two sentences you will dictate is another. The sentences should be short and easy to understand. Providing students with a worksheet so they have a record of their efforts is a good idea, and the use of a whiteboard is also a fun way to engage students. After each word has been dictated, it should be written down with the correct spelling so everyone in the classroom can see it. Students can then check their work and rewrite correctly if they had improperly spelled the word. Repeating this over and over will help students develop their spelling skills. One of the great things about using an online phonics reading program is that it allows students to work independently without fear of criticism from peers. Sometimes the stress of feeling centered out can have a negative effect on student performance.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS OFFERS EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE TO TEACH PHONICS ONLINE
When teaching phonics online it’s important to use the best online phonics reading program. Essential Skills Super Phonics is a complete interactive reading skills program that provides systematic and explicit phonics instruction to students at a K-2 grade level. The Super Phonics programs are designed to progress students from learning the alphabet to reading complete sentences. Super Phonics and Super Phonics Level 2 are the best online phonics reading programs available to ensure a solid foundation in early reading skills.
The Super Phonics programs include over 900 auditory, visual, and tactile typing activities to reinforce learning, including 200 exercises to teach short and long vowel sounds. Mastering these skills is critical to developing the kind of reading competency required to be successful in later grades. There are multiple different ways to incorporate the activities, which teach sound blending and word families, and other time-tested phonics and reading skills. The programs can be used by students independently or connected to an interactive whiteboard for group lessons. The software automatically keeps track of each student’s progress and provides a variety of reports for team planning and sharing with parents. Essential Skills educational software is a wise investment that can be shared and incorporated into all classrooms to help students gain competent reading skills. It’s a small investment per student that can have a huge impact on their learning.
The goal of dictation is to help students spell words correctly; however, it can be used as a form of assessment as well. For students with lower degrees of reading competency, word lists are often used. Teachers dictate the list of words and students copy down what they hear. Then, correction is used to help students see where they were successful and which words they need to reconsider. Such dictations help students develop their listening skills and control of spelling patterns. Starting with single sounds, then syllables, then multi-syllable words is a great way to help students progress at a steady level.
Dictations are easy to create and deliver in a classroom setting whether in person or online when teaching in virtual classroom situations. The time it takes to prep such lessons is minimal, and once students get used to the process, dictation is an easy and fast means of assessment. Dictation is a successful strategy because the teacher controls the words that the student is expected to spell correctly. It leads to good spelling habits and encourages students to use spellings learned in class. Ultimately, teaching phonics online is aided greatly through the use of dictation and spelling lessons.
Learn more about Super Phonics and Super Phonics 2 from Essential Skills, and what makes them the best phonics programs to give your students a solid foundation in early reading.
