Phonological Awareness

Phonological Awareness, Phonemic Awareness and Phonics – Oh My!

Phonological awareness is essential to learning how to read. In fact, researchers have shown that it is the most potent

predictor of reading success.

It therefore plays a very important role in our Kindergarten program. Below, I have provided some definitions that I hope will

help you develop a better understanding of this important skill.

Phonological Awareness: is a broad, umbrella term used to describe a person’s awareness of the sound structures of language.

It is a listening skill that includes the ability to hear rhymes, syllables, and sounds in words.

Examples: Do the words, “bat” and “cat” rhyme?

What word am I saying?... but-ter-fly = butterfly”

What is the first sound in the word,“bed?”

Phonemic Awareness: is the ability to identify and manipulate sounds in words.

Examples: Blending – What word am I saying? “c-a-t” = “cat”

Segmenting - What sounds do you hear in the word,“dog?” dog = d-o-g.

Manipulating - If you take the last sound off the word cart, what word would you have? “car”

The great thing about phonological and phonemic awareness is that they are auditory skills and can be developed without

students having to have any knowledge of the alphabet!

Phonics: requires students to know and match letters or letter patterns with sounds.

Examples: “m” spells the sound, “mmmmm”, “s” spells the sound, “ssss”.