https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 30 May 2026 07:44:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive/page/2#post-1973771 Sat, 06 Dec 2014 18:19:57 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 1973771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: Thanks :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive/page/2#post-1973763 Sat, 06 Dec 2014 18:03:19 +0000 Jess1483 1973763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Confetti: Endless alphabet. There are a couple issues I have with it (as a former teacher), but it's been great. It's only capital letters (although Endless Reader has lowercase), and some of the letters are weird pronunciations (you really should teach that L says /l/ and not /la/, but it's great for littles). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive/page/2#post-1973757 Sat, 06 Dec 2014 17:57:05 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 1973757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: What app did you like for teaching the abc's? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive/page/2#post-1969924 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 21:37:56 +0000 sarac 1969924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that teaching the letter sound makes more sense, but most people don't think of that, and do the name. And some how, we've all managed to learn our letters. </p> <p>How rude of them to tell you you're doing it 'wrong'. Not their way, perhaps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969698 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 17:52:02 +0000 Astro Bee 1969698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CherryBee: I'd feel the same way were I in your situation. I learned the alphabet names first, then the sounds. And was reading well before I went to kindergarten. I didn't go to pre-school but had a great older cousin that babysat me during the day. She wasn't around when my brother was a toddler so he waited until school to learn to read. Both my parents worked full time, and there was only so much time they could spend on teaching in the evenings. He was in the first year after our school transitioned to phonics, and it really affected his reading/spelling ability. Plus he also never picked up the love of reading that I did. I realize this is all anecdotal, but I plan to teach my kids the same way I learned. </p> <p>Also, parents' wishes should trump grandparents' any day. I think it's great that your in-laws are able to help out in caring for your child, but it seems a little insulting that they don't seem to think you're providing for your child's clothing needs. But then again, maybe I'm being a little sensitive myself! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969644 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 17:19:23 +0000 Snowdrop 1969644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know you are in England and DH teaches primary here. They will learn phonetically at first and use that to help them learn to read especially if your school uses phonics for teaching. Saying that, I learnt my letters in French and English at the same time so I'm sure she could learn both letter names. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969540 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 15:52:56 +0000 pregnantbee 1969540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: Haha! We have the same thing, so the song is now stuck in my head. Just me, or are some of the letters hard to identify if you're not looking at the letter? LO has taken to pushing the button and listening to the alphabet song on repeat. Kid LOVES that song. He learned the names of the letters first, and now we're working on the sounds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969513 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 15:44:44 +0000 Mrsk 1969513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a teacher and it's great if they know the letter name and the sound, you could say this is A /ay/ it says and /ah/, this is B, it says /b/ and so on. Honestly I don't think you're taking it to personally at all, I would feel the same way! It's your kid, it would be one thing if he suggested also adding the phonetic sounds but to outright say "you're wrong" is over stepping I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969496 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 15:37:15 +0000 bunnylove08 1969496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Endless alphabet really taught my DD. She recognizes the letters by their sounds and we are trying to get her to learn the names. </p> <p>I would definitely be annoyed if someone corrected the way I was teaching DD even if both ways are correct. I think when I learned letters I learned them by name and not sound. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969467 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 15:22:53 +0000 Cherrybee 1969467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Yeah, very true. It has also closely followed them buying her a coat to wear when she's with them, because the one we bought "wasn't suitable for splashing in puddles" - and she prefers that coat and cries for it! And they bought her some shoes to wear when she's with them, in the next size up, and keep commenting that her boots are too small now (they're not). I know it's all minor stuff but it builds up I guess. I need to just get over myself! :wink: </p> <p>@JoyfulKiwi: That's really useful info, thank you.<br /> @Mrs. Jacks: I will look that up, thank you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969460 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 15:16:11 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1969460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think your in-laws need to pick their battles. I don't understand why they think it's a good idea for making a big deal out of it. Plus, there really isn't a right and wrong way. I think the world has changed in a lot of ways since they were young (my go-to logic when it comes to difficult older folks)!</p> <p>I'll teach my LO the aye-bee-cees to match the song. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969443 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 15:06:09 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1969443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: there is a great phonics song on you tube that helped both my girls learn the sounds the letters make easily. Just teach it however you want, kids sort it all out miraculously.</p> <p>Search for "phonics song 2" on You tube by AJ Jenkins. Little one will have it down in no time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969430 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 14:58:37 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 1969430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been in the early childhood field (birth to 2nd grade) for over 10 years and have seen in all sorts of ways! Personally, I think the most logical way is to teach lower-case forms and most common sounds first (so not the "extra" sounds for vowels, g, c, etc). I've seen this method give kids a boost when learning to write and read. The English language is ridiculously confusing and difficult to figure out &amp; I think that method gives kids the "base" knowledge to build on. </p> <p>That said, I don't think doing upper-case, letter names first is "wrong". It certainly won't damage your child! I can see how you'd be sensitive to your in-laws given the situation you described. I'm sorry he made you feel bad!</p> <p>Finally, I am certified to teach Montessori and my training (although training programs can vary) stated that lowercase letters are used because they are the most often seen/used letters in writing. Sounds are taught first because that is the "important" part of a letter when you are reading or writing. My Montessori does expose uppercase letters, the alphabet song, and names to children but it's not the focus and usually comes after solid sound knowledge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969376 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 14:23:47 +0000 pui 1969376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if it's a huge deal, but I've read when first teaching letters to teach what they sound like before their "names". Also I read that you should introduce lower case letters first. I'm no where close to teaching letters yet so I haven't done that much research. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969220 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 13:23:20 +0000 looch 1969220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My view is that is never a "right" way to teach a child a specific thing, you recognize strengths and weaknesses and design learning plans around the abilities of the children. </p> <p>As for being sensitive, I do think you're being sensitive, but it's not a bad thing. It's the reality of your situation that your inlaws watch your child. I get it...my parents are with my son for more awake hours during the week than my husband and I. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969211 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 13:20:29 +0000 JennyG 1969211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: I know the exact youtube video you speak of. We watch it all the time on our Apple TV. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969202 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 13:16:14 +0000 Mrs.KMM 1969202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Every little kid I know has learned the letters before the sounds. You know, like the alphabet song. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1969157 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:53:55 +0000 matador84 1969157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's not a big deal. I think it's silly he said you need to align your teaching to the school, it's not going to make that big a difference right now. </p> <p>We teach letter recognition first if kids come to is in pre-k or kinder not knowing their letters. First lowercase, then uppercase. However, it's not like we isolate those skills-teachers are still including phonics in their daily instruction, typically starting with vowels and y, then moving to consonants. </p> <p>Doesn't matter much, but we say "a" like ah ah ah apple. </p> <p>I would have just said its my child, I can teach th how I want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1968986 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 11:22:58 +0000 Andrea 1968986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aww I'm sorry they made you feel that way! DD learned her letters first and she started reading at 3.5 so I don't think we messed her up. You are doing great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1968983 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 11:20:01 +0000 ShootingStar 1968983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is a little younger, but he makes a lot of letter sounds, like "buh buh buh" so I repeat the B sound and say, "buh buh B. What starts with B?" And then I list off a words I can think of that start with B. And so on for whatever letter he happens to like saying at the moment. I would never think to teach him "ah" instead of "ay". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1968905 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 10:48:19 +0000 808love 1968905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO picked up the alphabet super early before I really taught her too much. I give credit to YouTube's visual and engaging Phonics Song. It goes B is for Ball bbbb ball. C is for cat ccc cat. So I think combination in context is the best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1968829 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 10:00:58 +0000 photojane 1968829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Sadie's the same! Not sure if you're into screen time, but if so, I like the endless alphabet and reader apps, and the Leapfrog Letter Factory short movie! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1968817 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:53:11 +0000 mediagirl 1968817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: I love that toy!! </p> <p>We teach A (ay) B (bee) etc. She's only 2. I want her to learn the letters first. Then the sounds. That's how *I* am doing it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1968808 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:46:36 +0000 Cherrybee 1968808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@photojane: Thanks :grin: . I'm clearly just a really pushy parent.... I was singing the periodic table to her when she was a newborn! :silly: Nah, it's all her driving it to be fair - she LOVES books, bless her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1968802 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:42:36 +0000 Cherrybee 1968802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I know my FIL used the "Letterland" resources because he told me he used to dress up as "Hairy Hat Man" to teach it! </p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterland" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterland</a></p> <p>The World Literacy Foundation reports that nearly 8 million adults in the UK are illiterate. That's 1 in 5. So it's working well, huh?! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1968801 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:42:27 +0000 photojane 1968801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Montessori teaches letters in a way that allows the most used letters to be learned first and together. This is supposed to allow them to start reading and creating words earlier. I never taught this way... I think it's important to build the foundation first. But, I'm not a Montessori fan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1968793 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:39:06 +0000 jetsa 1968793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: my MIL has been singing this song for months I wondered where it came from. We don't have a leapfrog </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1968791 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:36:00 +0000 photojane 1968791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a degree in early childhood education, and I think it's important that they learn both. Recognition is more important when they're little though, so you're doing the right thing. Nearly all children will learn their ABC's before learning phonetics, and we all learn to read! You're doing great by her for even introducing the alphabet this early. Many children come to kindergarten with very little knowledge about the alphabet. </p> <p>I'm doing a weekly project with Sadie that introduces letter names and sounds, but she is really only interested in the letter names at this point, which is totally normal. You can never give too much information to a toddler. They might not pick it up right away, but it is filed away. The more they hear it, the better of a foundation you're building for future learning. </p> <p>As an example, if we're doing a puzzle or something I will always say, "This is the letter 'M' -it sounds like 'm'... like moon!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1968786 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:33:10 +0000 mrbee 1968786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I think it's fine to learn the letters first, and then the sounds!</p> <p>Is it possible that your parents learned and/or taught using Jolly Phonics? According to Wikipedia, it was once used by 68% of UK primary/elementary schools!</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolly_Phonics" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolly_Phonics</a></p> <p>I bought it earlier this year (was doing some research) and didn't love it. They have a pretty decent app though that might be a good segue from letters to sound! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-letters-letter-name-letter-sound-or-a-combination-also-am-i-being-over-sensitive#post-1968784 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:32:07 +0000 Cherrybee 1968784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Yes, apparently they teach phonics in the schools here. My FIL only retired from teaching earlier this year. :meh: But surely it's okay to learn one way at home and one way at school! It's not *that* confusing, surely?? </p> <p>@loki: Aaw, thanks. That helps! :heart: </p> <p>@Ree723: I'm going to sing that song to E! (to the tune of The Farmer's In his Den!) </p>