How your child can learn to read confidently and independently using Phonics.

What is phonics?

I first came across the term ‘phonics’ when my little was in prep. Many scientific studies have proven that explicit systematic phonics instruction is the most effective way to teach children to read. That sounds pretty complicated, but in simple terms: Teaching phonics means teaching children the sounds made by individual letters or letter groups. So, the letter ‘c’ makes a ‘k’ sound. Once the sounds are learnt, the little reader learns to merge - or blend - the separate sounds to make a word. So, the sounds ‘k’, ‘a’ and ‘t’ make ‘cat’. It’s about teaching children to decode letters into their corresponding sounds. Teaching explicit phonics means that children are taught directly about the associations between letters and sounds. Alternative approaches expect children to learn that indirectly. Learning the code is like a journey: you have to start at the beginning. The process starts with simple letter sound rules and then moves on to more complex patterns and rules. It is a methodical, or systematic, process. Poor reading and comprehension will impede your child’s potential. There's nothing worse than feeling helpless if your child is struggling to read. That's why we created Bookbot: a virtual reading assistant that will listen to your child read out loud, helping them as they go along.

Decodable books follow the phonics system of learning to read (see What is phonics?). BookBotKids has a library of decodable books specially created to follow a systematic programme of phonics. The little reader is introduced to letter patterns and sounds and taught to blend them to decode the words: ‘k’ ‘a’ ‘t’ makes cat - that’s why they’re called decodable books. The books introduce new letters and sounds as they progress through the levels. Bookbot’s library of decodable books is growing all the time.

Bookbot is an app that supports your child as they learn to read. When you subscribe to Bookbot, you can download the app and access a library of specially-written ‘decodable’ books. Here’s the magic bit: Bookbot listens to your child as they read the books, helping them as they go. Bookbot will guide your child through their reading journey. If they struggle with a word, Bookbot will highlight it and allow your child to try again or to get Bookbot read it aloud for them. Bookbot will guide your child in this way through the levels until they become confident, independent readers. Try it today free link to pricing page