Hyena Ballerina (Usborne Phonics Readers)

Usborne Phonics Readers make learning phonics fun. Each title introduces beginner readers to a wide variety of phonemes in a lively, rhyming tale.

Learning to read using phonics is quite straightforward for most children, which is why it has become such a popular method in schools. It’s all about identifying the sounds in the written word, and putting them together or blending to read the word. This can be as simple as the c-a-t sounds in ‘cat’, or the more complicated patterns in words like ‘teacher’ or ‘school’. Phonics teaching methods start with the simplest words and help children to practise those. Gradually they learn to read simple words more fluently, and to tackle longer and more complicated words.

How can you help?
The very best thing that you can do is to take an interest in your children’s reading. Ask them to show you what they can already do, and to explain how they use phonics to tackle new words. Let them read to you, and give them plenty of encouragement and praise when they do well. If they make mistakes, suggest that they go back to problem words and try them again. Always give them the opportunity to correct themselves before you help, and if they are still struggling, do help them to sound and blend the word before you tell them what it is.
Mairi Mackinnon
Mairi Mackinnon has lived in England, Scotland, France, Italy and Spain, and worked as a teacher, translator and tour manager before joining Usborne. Over the years she has written and edited Usborne books in sixteen languages, from Arabic to Welsh. She lives in a house full of teenagers, books and curious musical instruments.