When Is the Letter Y a Consonant? (and Other Tricky English Letters)
Y can be a consonant predominantly when it is found at the beginning or onset of a word or syllable. Words such as /yes/, /yellow/, /lawyer/ and /kayak/
ESL | Phonics | Teaching | Teaching English | TEFL
How to Teach a Child to Read Long Words (tips and Ideas)
An effective strategy to teach children to read long words in English is to teach a variety of reading skills. Segmentation of words, phonics, awareness of prefixes and suffixes
ESL | Teaching | Teaching English | TEFL
Why Do English Words Have So Many Meanings
The English Language has been added to in both number and meanings of words by immigration, colonization and the adoption as a lingua Franca.
ESL | Phonics | Teaching | Teaching English | TEFL
Why is English Hard for Russian Speakers? (And Teaching Tips)
Slavic languages such as Russian can have vastly different tongue and mouth positions when compared to English pronunciations
How To Teach Order Of Adjectives ( with Teaching Resources)
Adjectives are one of the most enjoyable vocabulary items to teach to English learners, the sudden ability to add meaning and variety to their communications is a great motivator. While the introduction of these vocabulary / grammar words is both relatively easy, the order of adjectives in sentences is not. There is often confusion about…
Phonics | Teaching | Teaching English | TEFL
Do Spelling Tests Improve Spelling? ( and Alternatives)
Spelling tests should be about more than rote memorization. You can test a student’s ability to spell through specific activities and authentic sources.
Do Adverbs Always End in -ly?
The majority of adverbs do end in ”ly” but it is not a set rule. There is more to consider than just the ending spellings of words to determine what meaning to apportion to them
Phonics | Teaching | Teaching English | TEFL
Should You Teach Vowels Or Consonants First?
It is not recommended to teach vowel and consonant sounds in isolation. Many phonics instruction methods introduce a mix of common vowel and consonant sounds
Do Teachers Actually Check Sources?
Although the verification of sources is more common at university level than in high school it does occur in both. Teachers and professors are often familiar with subject literature and if sources are from alternative material outside of reading lists it is more likely they will be checked for legitimacy
Does Tracing Improve Handwriting? (And Free Resources)
Handwriting can be practiced by tracing letters; however, tracing mazes and shapes are better suited to practice handwriting