You might feel silly... but phonemic awareness is just a fancy word for WORD PLAY! So, have fun!

What is phonemic awareness?

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and manipulate sounds (phonemes) that make up words. Phonemic awareness does not utilize visual letters. It is done completely through listening and speaking, and gets stronger with lots of practice.

Why is phonemic awareness so important?

The National Reading Panel’s research found that phonemic awareness is one of the best predictors of future reading success.

What should my kindergartener be able to do?

Phonemic awareness (PA) is a continuum of skills. The skills build on one another and become more difficult as they progress. Make sure your child is using the letter sound, not the name. For example, he/she should be using the /s/ sound instead of the letter name “s.”

• Recognize rhyming words (Cup – cat. Do those words rhyme?)

• Provide the first sound in a word (“what is the beginning sound in “fish?”-/f/

• “Clap out” words for syllables (po – ta – to)

• Blend two words to form a compound word (“foot” and “ball” make “football”)

• Tap/clap and count words in a sentence (“I have a dog.” has 4 words)

• Provide a word that rhymes with another word (cat – bat, phone – cone)

• Count the number of syllables in words (pen – cil has 2 syllables)

• Match/identify initial sounds in words (Do sun and swing start with the same sound? What sound?)

• Blend onsets (initial sound) and rimes (ending part) to form words (/c/ - /at/. What word does that make?)

• Match/identify final sounds in words (What sound is at the end of cup? Is it the same as hat?)

• Blend individual phonemes (sounds) to form words (/d/ - /o/ - /g/ What word does that make?)

• Segment individual phonemes (sounds) in words (map is /m/ - /a/ - /p/)

How can you help?

• Say the names of the letters in your child’s name.

• Practice the alphabet by pointing out letters wherever you see them (signs, cereal boxes, and newspapers) and by reading alphabet books.

•Pick a letter and name everything in the room that begins with that sound.

•Play “I spy” with beginning sounds of words “I spy something that begins with /t/”

•Read books and poems that focus on the rhythm of language and rhyme. Nursery Rhymes and books such as “Hop on Pop” or “Sheep in a Jeep” help children pay attention to sounds in words.

•Play simple rhyming games, such as taking turns coming up with words that rhyme.

•Make up silly sentences with words that begin with the same sound, such as "Nobody was nice to Nancy's neighbor". (Alliteration)

•Play words games such as “Guess My Word”. “I’m thinking of a word that rhymes with ___. Can you guess my word?”

•Have a sound scavenger hunt. Give your child a bag and ask him/her to find as many things around the house that begin with a certain sound.

•Have your child guess a word that you sound out slowly (sssssuuuuunnnn).

•Give your child 3-5 blocks, beads, bingo chips or similar items. Say a word and have your child move an object for each sound in the word.

•Play Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes with sounds. Say a word and have your child touch his/her head for the first sound, shoulders for the second sound, and knees for the third while saying each sound.

•Jump for Sounds. Say a word and have your child jump for each sound in the word while saying the sound.