Phonemic Awareness
Phonemic Awareness is the understanding that words are made up of sounds. Phonemes are the smallest units that make up our language. English consists of about 41 phonemes.
Phonemic Awareness involves speech sounds rather than the letters that represent them. Research has indicated that phonemic awareness is one of the best predictors of early reading success.
Below, please find some links with ideas/activities for further practice in Phonemic Awareness:
These Phonemic Awareness activities are easy for working on at home, they can be done around the dinner table, in the car, or waiting for the dentist!
http://www.sightwords.com/phonemic-awareness/ This is a website is packed with games, activities, and tools to help parents (and educators) prepare children for learning to read. The free and printable materials include a curriculum, lessons (with "how-to" videos), printable picture cards, word lists, and game boards, as well as teaching tips for how to tailor games specific to the needs of your student.
www.phonologicalawareness.org details the hierarchy of phonological awareness skills, from easiest to most complex. Each level has a list of many games that you can play with your kids to help develop their 'ear' for hearing sounds and rhymes.
This Reading Rockets page has a more detailed description of Phonemic Awareness, and includes many activities and tips for working with your kids on all things phonemic!
The Advance Ability website has a great list of games and activities that are divided into those that can be done "on the go," and another set of games that are played with colored cubes at a table or on the floor.
The following links contain lists of books that promote Phonemic Awareness:
