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Phonics is an integral part of Early Child Care and Education in India and across the globe. It is not just a subject but a skill that is significant for learning all subjects. It develops reading and writing readiness during the early literacy phase of a child. Phonics has been there since the inception of languages; however, a structured approach of Phonics training for teachers ensures mitigating all the gaps that have arisen over the years.
This blog will give you quite a deep insight into the importance of phonics, Eligibility, and the process to become certified, making the right choice of institute, career opportunities, and fee structure.
What Is Phonics and Why Is It Important?
Phonics develops sound awareness of a language in children. It also helps letter-sound association easily and helps them in reading and writing fluently and on their own. This is the primary skill that children require to become ready for their formal education.
Children were earlier victims of rote learning that led to mispronunciation, spelling errors, staggered fluency, and unstructured learning. A lot depended on the environment and exposure. Moreover, the mother tongue influences the language, which stands as a huge barrier to getting the correct pronunciation.
With a more structured approach now, children can read and spell on their own and pronounce words with a more neutralised diction.
This is extremely crucial in today’s generation as it gives immense confidence to present themselves on a global stage.
Children do not get enough assistance from their parents, as both parents are working, and more often than not, they feel the need to study on their own. Phonics prepares them to do so with a lesser scope of errors.
Though preschool teachers claim to know phonics, a structured approach ensures consistency, and certification adds credibility. Schools, hence, look for preschool teachers who have ECCEd and Phonics certification from reputed institutes.
Who Can Become a Certified Phonics Teacher? (Eligibility Criteria)
Anyone who aspires to become a certified phonics teacher should have a minimum qualification of 10th grade. It is also suitable for existing preschool and primary teachers, parents, aspirants planning to start their phonics classes, and learners who are willing to improve their pronunciation and spelling. Phonics training for preschool teachers, online or offline, can be considered a good choice before starting your career as a teacher.
What Do You Learn in a Phonics Teacher Training Course (Syllabus Overview)
Phonics teacher training course broadly covers the following
- Phonemic awareness
- Blending and segmenting
- Decoding and encoding
- Digraphs, trigraphs, blends
- Long and vowels
- Sight words
- Spelling patterns
- Lesson planning and classroom strategies
- Differentiated instructions
Duration of Phonics Course for Teachers
The duration for Phonics training for teachers typically depends on the objective and the curriculum coverage that the course has to offer.
Short-term phonics courses for teachers, for around 2 to 3 days, give an overview. This is suitable for already phonics-qualified teachers who need a refresher course.
Regular courses (most preferred) might take around 12 to 15 hours and will ensure proper understanding with more practical insight. This is suitable for everyone, be it a beginner or an existing teacher who wishes to upgrade their skills and widen their opportunities.
Long-term courses that last for more than a month are categorically meant for Language teachers. These are quite target-oriented and are not confined to preschool teachers. They go much beyond phonics with the prime objective of upskilling and not exploring career options.
Fees for Phonics Teacher Training in India
- Short-term phonics courses for teachers cost around 3000 to 4000
- Mid-term phonics courses for teachers are around 5000 to 7000 (most popular). These courses work a lot better when combined with a preschool teacher training course.
- Long-term phonics courses for teachers are around 18000 to 22000
Career Opportunities After Phonics Courses for Teachers
- Preschool teacher with phonics training skills
- Freelance phonics trainer
- Starting your own phonics classes
How to Choose the Right Phonics Training Institute
- Credibility in terms of legacy
- Experience and faculty background
- Curriculum quality
- Hands-on teaching
- Reviews and testimonials
- Study materials, including worksheets and teaching aids
- Options for phonics courses for teachers in hybrid mode
National Academy provides comprehensive phonics training to teachers alongside the ECCEd course, which has helped thousands of teachers get placed with renowned schools in India and abroad. Many alumni have started their own classes and have been successfully running them for years. If you are considering teaching, Phonics is a great place to start as a standalone course and also a course in combination with ECCEd.
Common Questions About Phonics Courses for Teachers
Is phonics training necessary for preschool teachers?
Yes, phonics training for teachers increases the probability of working with ‘A’ list schools
Which is better: an online or an offline phonics course?
There is not much difference between the two, provided the online course offers live sessions.
How long does it take to become a certified phonics teacher?
It takes Less than 10 days to become a certified phonics teacher
What age groups can I teach after certification?
3.5 to 6 years after completing phonics training for teachers. Sometimes, older children might be interested where a curriculum that can be customized as per requirements.
Can I teach phonics independently?
Yes. Teachers who have completed the phonics training prefer doing so.
What salary or income can a phonics teacher expect?
As an edupreneur, phonics teachers can start from 250 to 1000 per hour, depending on their skill, experience, and location.
