I didn’t realize the importance of not teaching students the letter names, especially those with early signs of dyslexia. Teaching letter names can slow down the learner by causing confusion.
A better way to Teach Reading
en I used to teach my young students the alphabet, we would have different lessons and discuss the sounds associated with each letter. It seemed like the right approach because that’s how I was taught. However, I now realize that this method had flaws, particularly for children with learning disabilities or signs of dyslexia. Fortunately, I have learned a better way to teach reading, and there are a few key aspects we should focus on to help our children become strong readers.
Today, I want to emphasize why it’s not necessary to teach letter names to preschoolers, especially those showing signs of dyslexia or ADHD. Instead, I’ll share a simple and effective method to teach letter sounds that integrates other foundational skills required for strong reading abilities.
Here are three reasons why we shouldn’t be teaching letter names:
Reason 1: Waste of Precious Learning Time
Teaching letter names can be a time-consuming activity that doesn’t yield significant results. I’ve seen children engage in various activities related to a specific letter only to forget its name shortly afterward. Some children need repeated exposure before concepts stick in their long-term memory.
Focusing on letter names can hinder their ability to learn to read and spell, causing them to fall behind. Even if you homeschool and aren’t concerned about grade levels, it is important to provide children with a strong foundation and proper support for their overall growth and development.
By jumping straight into teaching letter sounds and how to build words, we give slower-processing students the time they need to master how the code works. The more they practice, the more automatic it becomes.
Reason 2: It doesn’t Teach How the Code Works
Reading and writing are skills developed over time, relying on the understanding that words are composed of individual sounds represented by specific spellings. By focusing on the letter sounds and their representations, we help children understand that letters are connected to sounds, forming words when combined.
Learning the English code requires exposure to various letter combinations, from basic one-to-one representations to more complex two-letter spellings and beyond. By eliminating the emphasis on letter names and focusing on the sound-letter relationship, children can develop the skills needed to decode unfamiliar words and discover different spellings associated with specific sounds. This approach allows for meaningful connections and builds a strong foundation for reading.
Why Our Children Cannot Read: And What to Do About It is an insightful book that shares the history of our written language and what research has been revealing for the past 30 years. I do not agree with everything in the book. But I believe there are better ways to equip our kids to read and help support them on the journey.
Reason 3: Causes Interference
Teaching letter names can create confusion during reading and spelling tasks. For example, a child might try to spell the word “hen” by writing the letter “hn,” even though they know the individual sounds of the word. This confusion occurs because many letter names have multiple sound variations, such as “l” with the sound name /e/ /l/ and “m” with the sound name /e/ /m/. This can be particularly challenging for young learners. Avoiding teaching letter names reduces unnecessary cognitive stress for both the teacher and the student.
While teaching letters solely sounds in isolation may be tempting, integrating various reading subskills to create a more meaningful learning experience, especially for struggling readers, is important. By making reading as real life as possible and facilitating connections beyond worksheets and lessons, children can become independent learners and face more significant challenges on their reading journey.
Children need a solid foundation in basic reading skills to develop strong reading abilities. These skills include phonemic awareness, understanding sound/letter relationships, and manipulating sounds to form new words. One recommended activity to foster these skills is word-building exercises, which I discuss further in my blog post “5 Ways to Prepare Your Child to Read.”
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out via email. My goal is to equip parents with the knowledge to help their children become strong readers, enabling them to succeed both in school and beyond.
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