Hey guys,

My DD is in prep, and as such has started learning the alphabet. Last year when DS was in prep they learnt it out of order - i.e. all the counter clockwise shapes (c,a, d, g, q etc), then clockwise (b, p), then u shaped (u, v, w, y) etc. DD is learning them in order (a, b, c, d). I prefer the way DS was taught them. DS also learnt a combination of phonetics (letterland) & sight words. Anyway, I'm interested in the theory's behind different teaching methods, and I'm wondering where I can find out information about the advantages & disadvantaged of different methods & what current trends are in early literacy education.

Ideally I would love to go back to uni & study education, and specialise in special education, but as DS has special needs it's just not practical for our family right now (maybe in a few years I will consider it). So for now I have to be content with doing my own education on how to educate (also as I do a lot of support work with DS so it help to understand this all).

Can anyone point me towards any websites, books (I'm near Monash uni so I can go & do some reading in their library), journals etc?

Thanks