One of the most important abilities that a child develops in their life is learning to read. In the world we live in, literacy skills are paramount to success. Many parents and teachers are worried when a child doesn’t develop reading skills. They assume that the problem lies in their teaching methods. 

However, the pace at which a child picks up the reading habit depends on the individual child, irrespective of the right books we buy and the best methods we adopt. No two kids will master reading skills at the same pace and level. As parents, we should be extremely patient and persevering, especially with kids who have learning troubles or difficulties. 

This article gives important tips to parents of students studying in the best kindergarten in Kuala Lumpur to teach their kids the art of reading. 

How do kids studying in an international school in Malaysia learn to read?

It has been shown that kids in the best kindergarten in Kuala Lumpur learn reading by identifying various letters and combinations thereof and then connecting those letters to their respective sounds. Of course, there are other things to it, such as understanding the meanings of those words and phrases. Nevertheless, awareness of phonemes  (the sounds of spoken words) and phonics (sounds of printed letters) are the vital first steps kids take on their path to becoming readers. 

Children who are unable to master phonics could find reading difficult. Hence, researchers stress the importance of systematic instructions in phonics. Teachers in an international school in Malaysia should guide the students in every step, using definite sequences of letters and sounds. 

Some children pick up phonics far easier than others, especially as they age. However, experts opine that phonics instruction could be essential for little children and those struggling with reading. Once the kids understand how to decode words, they can apply that knowledge to more difficult words and learn to read fluently. 

Tips to teach your kid attending the best kindergarten in Kuala Lumpur to read.

1 – Start with teaching uppercase letters

Understanding letters and learning how to differentiate them is easier when they look unique. Hence, it is vital to start by familiarising uppercase letters with children who haven’t begun formal schooling yet. 

It is easier to tell uppercase letters from one another and identify them, even though lowercase letters are the most commonly used in any literature. 

Using the sense of touch can help your child learn uppercase letters. Consider cutting shapes of the letters from textured papers, and with the kid’s hand behind their back, hand them the textured paper and ask them to guess the letter they are holding.

2 – Include phonics for your kid studying at the best kindergarten in Kuala Lumpur

Kids studying in the best kindergarten in Kuala Lumpur who have a good hold over their phonics (how sounds and written letters relate to each other) generally tend to become better readers in the long run.

A child understands the way of going from letter to letter, and through sounds, using the phonetic method, how to blend sounds along the way, to read words they have not memorised. 

Once the kids can achieve that automatically, they can read out words rapidly and only need to decode lengthy words. 

3 – Blend in phonics and sight words

Another important aspect of teaching your child to read is familiarising them with sight words. These are commonly used words but not spelt the way they sound and hence can’t be sounded out. 

Sight words need to be memorised, or it could undo the child’s progress in learning phonics. However, remember that many young children find it challenging to learn sight words.

Hence, to prepare your child for their foray into reading, you should devote most of your time building and reinforcing the skills and abilities required to sound out words. 

4 – Do not make it burdensome

You must ensure that your child doesn’t feel like it is a tedious chore when it comes to reading.

For a child, reading should be about enjoying the process, having fun, and discovering the world, both real and make-believe, using text, illustrations, and images. 

Children grasp what they are reading better when they are relaxed and attentive rather than when put through a demanding session at the end of a tiring day at an international school in Malaysia.

5 – Make the reading interactive.

As you read with your child, get them to repeat the words or sentences while you run your finger along with the words. 

If the child finds a particular word hard to read, rather than stopping reading completely, keep the session by simply reminding them how it is pronounced or its meaning. 

Another way is to split read-aloud time with your child. For beginner readers, reading one line and asking them to read the next is appropriate. You can read one page with older children and let them read the next. 

Such activities can improve their confidence levels and make them feel capable, which can help their reading in the long run. 

Conclusion

Finally, it would help if you understood that there is no one way to teach a child how to read. What works for one child might not work for yours. Patient understanding, practising a bit every day and following the exercises that encourage participation and enjoyment are important. GIIS is an international school in Malaysia that incorporates the best teaching techniques to prepare kindergarten children for their academic journey. 

Aaronwatson