Focusing on letter sounds to help your child succeed

​As a mother, and an SLP with a passion to see children with Down syndrome succeed, I focus heavily on speech sounds. The speech sound system is often a confusing puzzle to children with Down syndrome. Hearing, distinguishing, and producing speech sounds can be challenging. Identifying individual sounds in words, and matching them with letters is a foundational literacy skill, that is also challenging. However, the way we approach instruction about speech sounds can make a huge difference not only for articulation, but for reading and spelling success.

I have long advocated the importance of targeted, intensive practice to develop our children's articulation accuracy. And in tandem, I have long advocated focusing on letter SOUNDS, and explicitly not teaching letter names to beginning readers.

I have just come across two blog posts that explain the importance of teaching letter sounds, and not letter names. I'll put links to both blog posts here:

https://theliteracyblog.com/.../sounds-or-letter-names.../
https://theliteracyblog.com/.../advocating-the-teaching.../

I welcome your comments, and hearing about your experiences.