Phonics - The Easy Way by Annis Garfield is a clear and comprehensive guide to the most up-to-date methods for teaching your child to read. It is the only reading guide for parents that follows new government guidelines and ties into the National Curriculum.
‘Synthetic phonics’ is considered the traditional method of teaching a child to read; teaching children letter sounds, breaking down words into components and blending letters to read a whole word. This method was ousted by schools in favour of child-centred experiments in reading, which has led to a steep decline in reading standards and an onset of dyslexia. Surveys, reports and scientific evidence over the past ten years or so, and most recently a government review, have put this reading failure down to faulty teaching methods and cite phonics as the solution.
Phonics is now compulsory in all schools and further recommendations and changes are being brought in by the government towards the end of the year. Phonics: The Easy Way is the only clear and comprehensive book for parents that includes and explains these new government guidelines in detail.
Annis Garfield, the author, is dedicated to a return to phonics and provides a core guide to help teach your child to read using phonics. Following the latest recommendations of the DFES and Primary National Strategy and reflecting the new, changed teaching guidelines, the book is also fun and has vibrant illustrations to keep the interest of the child as well as being clear and informative to the parents.
Phonics: The Easy Way includes:
 Guidelines on teaching children the alphabet – to recognise each letter, to call it by its name and to sound out the first sound it makes.
Thorough guidance on the blending of phonemes (i.e. how to blend c-a-t into cat)
Step-by-step instructions on how to teach each sound pattern and letter combinations that can make different sounds as well as diagrams and explanations of how to write each letter.
Games and activities for you to play with your child
Stories and charming colourful illustrations to make the book fun and accessible for the child.
About the Author
Annis Garfield was educated at Cambridge University and was a GCSE and A Level examiner in English Literature and Classical Studies for nearly 30 years. In 2003 Annis caused controversy when she exposed the alledged A-level mark fixing fiasco for which she lost her job as an examiner. Also the author of the successful Teach Your Child to Read, which sold over 21,000 copies, she is now a regular on television and radio and writes for national newspapers on her passion for literacy and continually campaigns for a return to phonics. | 
30 Something and the Clock is Ticking
