Every child learns differently. Here’s how we use that in our one-on-one lessons.
Their own way
Every child learns in their own way. Every child deserves guidance and encouragement that fits their learning style. And if you can add other tools to that way of learning, you bring out the best in every child.
Visual support
Most children learn best when a spoken explanation comes with visual support. In other words: pair what you say with an illustration or a short video. Rhymes and songs also help children remember things. After all, who didn’t learn the alphabet with a song?
Linking what we say to what children see
Posters
When we teach the different vowels and digraphs (two letters that make one sound), we say the sounds out loud during the lesson. And we show the sound too: written, typed, or worked into a picture. I often use the illustrations from www.letterslereniseeneitje.nl myself.
Memory tricks
The letters are worked into a picture. Combining a letter with an illustration makes it easier for children to remember that letter, or the order of the letters in a digraph. Take ‘oe’, as in koekje (cookie): first you need the round cookie (the ‘o’), and then you get to eat it (the ‘e’). With a fun memory trick like that, everyone remembers the order!
The bright, cheerful materials on this website are available for anyone to order.
Gestures, songs and videos
A catchy tune
Besides illustrations, we also use gestures in our lessons. A big open mouth for the long vowel ‘aa’, or glasses made with our fingers for the long ‘oo’. There are songs for learning the vowels and the alphabet. You probably know this alphabet song already. Fun, bright illustrations, and a tune that sticks in your head:
Veilig Leren Lezen
When we teach the letters, we can draw on the many YouTube videos from Veilig Leren Lezen, a reading method used in many Dutch primary schools. There’s a video for almost every letter. Each video first explains what the letter looks like, and how you make the sound with your voice and mouth. Then we go looking for the letter in the world around us. Success guaranteed. Here’s an example, the video for the long vowel ‘ee’:
Got an idea?
We try every way we can to connect with our students’ interests and learning styles. Do you have ideas or suggestions as a parent? Please always share them with your child’s teacher.