What is Phonemic Awareness?
First of all, Phonemic awareness is not phonics. Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds-phonemes--in spoken words. Before children learn to read print, they need to become more aware of how the sounds in words work. They must understand that words are made up of speech sounds, or phonemes (the smallest parts of sound in a spoken word that make a difference in a word's meaning).
Why Phonemic Awareness Is Important
• It improves students' word reading and comprehension.
• It helps students learn to spell.
Phonemic Awareness Can Be Developed Through Activities
• Identify and categorize sounds
• Blend sounds to form words
• Delete or add sounds to form new words
• Substitute sounds to make new words
Examples of Phonemic Awareness Skills
• Blending: What word am I trying to say? Nnnnn-oooo--t.
• Segmentation (first sound isolation): What is the first sound in not?
• Segmentation (last sound isolation): What is the last sound in not?
• Segmentation (complete): What are all the sounds you hear in not?
"One of the most compelling and well-established findings in the research on beginning reading is the important relationship between phonemic awareness and reading acquisition." (Kame'enui, et. al., 1997)
Remember, I will provide a spiral review of ALL letters and sight words throughout the year. We will continue to work and use the information covered in class during: Learning centers, computer activities, Calendar time, language arts lessons, and even Math! The goal is to make what the students learned meaningful!
I often say, "They've been bit by the learning bug!". You will see your child has the "bug" when:
They are finding letters in storybooks or grocery store.
They are doing the rhyming words cheer.
They are locating their rainbow words on worksheets, books, and television.
They ask to do extra school work for fun!
They play school at home.
They are sounding out words or telling you the sounds in words. /c/ /a/ /t/!
They come home excited about their learning day!
