Glifing Method To Learn To Read: What It Is And How It Works
There are different methodologies to help children acquire the ability to read, some being more effective than others.
One of the most innovative is what is known as the Glifing method We will dedicate the following paragraphs to analyzing this system in order to know its main characteristics and also be able to establish some conclusions regarding its effectiveness.
The Glifing method is a methodology that serves as support for those children who are experiencing difficulties in learning to read fluently The basis of this method is the use of a digital medium, that is, a computer or a tablet, to carry out a series of activities that help in this learning, always in a playful way.
In other words, the Glifing method It is presented to the child as a video game, to create a fun and motivating atmosphere that encourages the child’s participation and thus achieves the objective which is to provide you with the tools so that you can overcome the difficulties you have experienced and thus learn to read correctly.
The importance of good reading ability is vital, since whether the child has the necessary skills to overcome successive milestones will depend on this educational milestone. Therefore, if a child who is learning to read begins to show signs of having difficulties acquiring this skill, beyond the usual ones, and nothing is done to remedy it, he or she may have problems in other areas of learning in the future. .
Precisely, the objective of the Glifing method is to avoid this possibility. What this methodology aims to do is correctly lay the foundations for good reading skills, not only because of the importance of that skill in itself, but also because of how necessary it is in order to acquire new ones which necessarily require a good level of reading and writing.
Characteristics of this method to learn to read
As we have already mentioned, the Glifing method is based on the use of a digital platform to perform exercises as if it were a video game. But before getting to that, it is necessary to start by visiting a consultant specialized in this methodology. This professional will attend to the case to adapt the system and create a personalized program.
This will be when you will be given remote access to the Glifing method platform so that you can participate in the activities, which will be tailored exactly to the level of demand you need to experience improvement. This point is important, because a level that is too easy would not be giving you anything, while one that is too difficult could frustrate you and make you lose motivation.
In fact, One of the advantages that this type of methodology provides is the ease of accessing the system from anywhere so the student will be able to work with the Glifing method from their own home or from wherever they are, without having to go to the academy.
Generally, an activity program is scheduled that includes a quarter of an hour of use of the application, for four days a week. The number of weeks necessary to achieve the stated objectives will depend on what the professional consultant proposes depending on the characteristics of the student, as well as the student’s use of the course.
As they are short sessions, there is no risk of falling into monotony and thus boring the child. On the contrary, the Glifing method is accepted for what it is, a game, which at the same time acts as a teaching method, thus uniting recreational and didactic objectives, which generates great effectiveness.
Another feature of this product is that It has a system of scales to be able to place each child at a certain level and thus be able to check their evolution This is also motivating for the student, since he himself is able to observe the progress he has made, which encourages him to continue practicing to increasingly perfect his reading technique.
What is known about its effectiveness?
To verify the effectiveness of the Glifing method, statistical analyzes have been carried out. This work, carried out by the University of Barcelona, used a sample group of children who suffered from dyslexia. Their reading abilities were studied before and after following a program with this methodology. Likewise, there was a control group to establish a comparison between them.
The experimental group carried out the corresponding sessions using the Glifing method, while the control group used only the educational guidelines dictated by the corresponding school or the programs that the parents themselves had assigned to them to treat their dyslexia.
Both groups were evaluated before and after, in order to statistically compare the performance of all of them. The measurements that were taken into account to carry out the analysis were the number of words that each child was able to read over one minute, also taking into account the number of errors that she made during that time.
To carry out the control, the PROLEC and TALEC tests were used, as well as the Glifing method platform itself. The time between pre-application and post-application was 5 months.
The conclusions of the study were very satisfactory in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Glifing method. And it is that, In the group that received this program, that is, the experimental group, the average percentage of improvement in the number of words read in one minute was 26.53%, going from an average of 82 to 104 words over 60 seconds. Furthermore, the percentage of errors committed decreased, from 2.33 to 1, that is, a 57% decrease.
In the case of the control group, the improvement in the number of words read was established at 7%, increasing from the initial 77 words to the final 83. Regarding errors, there was also a decrease, but not as marked. The percentage decrease was 15.5%, going from 3.47 errors per minute to 2.93.
The conclusion, therefore, is that the Glifing method It is effective and useful in helping children with dyslexia or other difficulties improve their reading skills
Possible psychological consequences
When we talk about the consequences of reading difficulties, we must keep in mind that they are not only at an academic level. And it is that The child may also suffer certain psychological consequences when he is involved in a dynamic that surpasses him and against which it does not have the appropriate management tools. Hence the importance of the Glifing method, to avoid these problems.
The frustration that this represents for the child is the most obvious sign. But it’s not just about frustration. This situation can anger him and make him feel sad, because he would like to have a higher reading ability and thus be able to meet the objectives that the school imposes on him. By not having this, he may feel rejection and even aversion to studies, putting his educational success at risk.
This can in turn generate a drastic drop in their motivation and even trigger a series of rebellious behaviors in the classroom. The philosophy of the Glifing method precisely shows that some children classified as rebellious or bad students may have this type of problems behind them, and if they were acted upon, they would be provided with the resources they need to get out of this negative dynamic.
The case of dyslexic students is also especially dramatic And these children, often having some problems pronouncing certain phonemes, report being the object of ridicule by their peers, which is an absolutely unacceptable situation but one that, unfortunately, continues to occur today in many places.
Obviously, the culprit of this behavior is the one who mocks, not the one who receives the mockery. But helping him overcome dyslexia, whether with the Glifing method or other techniques, can be tremendously rewarding for the child, as he will regain self-confidence and will also have the ability he needs to overcome the requirements of the school year. , which from the beginning are based on reading and writing.
The role of parents throughout this process will be fundamental. Not only by giving them access to the Glifing method or other methodologies, but by being constant support for them and creating a space in which they can express their concerns and frustrations. It is the best way to help them overcome possible difficulties they may have.
