“Children generally do better on phonological awareness tasks that involve familiar words than they do on tasks with less familiar words (Metsala and Walley, 1998).” ~LETRS for Early Childhood Educators manual, p. 100 

Follow the Science…Refining Our Beliefs

OLD IDEA

Teachers used to think…Phonological Awareness is learning to manipulate word structure, independent of meaning 

NEW IDEA

But now we know…Understanding word meaning is also important to manipulating word structure (becoming metaphonological)

OLD IDEA

Teachers used to think…The  PAST table book and TSG progressions for discrete units of sound, represented the most current research on developmental progressions and age ranges.  

NEW IDEA

But now we know…Children should learn syllables at 3-4 years old, then should progress to initial sound isolation at 4-5 years. (LETRS pg. 111) 

RESOURCE: Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy: Prekindergarten 

Pre-K Essential 4, bullet 1: Creating Variations of Literature (rhyme innovations in small group)

Pre-K Essential 4, bullet 2: Singing Songs to Promote Phonemic Awareness Sample Video

Pre-K Essential 4, bullet 3: Sorting using Sounds Sample Video

Pre K Essential 4, bullet 4: Playing With Sounds Classroom video (intentional transitions)

Pre-K Essential 4, bullet 5: Playing with Sound Segments Sample Video

A Kindergarten Teacher’s Guide to SUPPORTING FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN FOUNDATIONAL READING SKILLS 

Recommendation 1: Academic Language Video Title (book title/nursery rhyme in parentheses) 

• 1.1 Talking While You Read (Bear Says Thanks) https://youtu.be/OEz4Z7w85Tw  

• 1.1 Talking While You Read (Llama Llama and the Bully Goat) https://youtu.be/HtVdIHBpjyM  

• 1.3 Cooking Conversations https://youtu.be/y2uEltffyfM  

• 1.3 Dinner Table Talk https://youtu.be/dt1l51JiXzk  

Recommendation 2: Phonological Awareness and Letter Sound Relations

• 2.1 Syllable Sort https://youtu.be/pcTDCoR-NsY  

• 2.1 Read Aloud and Syllable Practice (Silly Sally) https://youtu.be/n1C4L8y95kM  

• 2.1 Rhyme Time https://youtu.be/BXiWuB6XMfg  

• 2.1 Read Aloud and Rhyme Practice (Green Eggs and Ham) https://youtu.be/hYKzgymUoJs  

• 2.1 Add a Sound to Make a New Word https://youtu.be/RPlxbRF52rM  

• 2.1 Saying Individual Sounds in Words https://youtu.be/SPKRN_sXcVs  

• 2.1 Read Aloud and Individual Sounds in Words (There’s a Wocket in My Pocket) https://youtu.be/NjP0k9p0MpE  

• 2.2 Letter Naming Using a Letter Arc https://youtu.be/QvN70v1QRHI  

• 2.2 Letter Sound Practice Using a Letter Arc https://youtu.be/_MPZ6KAKC9k   

• 2.2 Short Vowel Practice https://youtu.be/EGf2lL9eALg  

• 2.2 Letter Sound Writing ("Humpty Dumpty") https://youtu.be/-jkL7Plx834  

• 2.3 Step Up to Spelling Words https://youtu.be/N0lvwxoNV8g  

• 2.3 Step Up to Writing Words https://youtu.be/j_8DJLn0aPQ  

Recommendation 3: Decode, Analyze, Write, and Recognize Words 

• 3.1 Letter Puzzles https://youtu.be/AOzTD_z-6yM 

• 3.2 Word Family Fun https://youtu.be/5K6WicXvYGs  

• 3.4 Let’s Read Words and Sentences https://youtu.be/Qs4YuoAxrsI  

• 3.5 Memory Using High-Frequency Words https://youtu.be/3W0bBRRdpO4  

• 3.6 Challenging and Important Words (I Want to be a Vet) https://youtu.be/F1h6xPV98JY

Recommendation 4: Fluency and Comprehension

• 4.1 When I Read to You (Bear Snores On) https://youtu.be/i12X8A5giF0  

• 4.1 When I Read to You (Book!) https://youtu.be/4lkFh9y0C1U  

• 4.1 When You Read to Me (Cat Traps) https://youtu.be/LL0uJqW_jwY  

• 4.1 When You Read to Me (This is a Peach) https://youtu.be/pxrcdffJCyw  

• 4.2 Does That Make Sense? (Just Grandma and Me) https://youtu.be/bW7nalwle9U  

• 4.3 Echo Reading (Little Blue Truck) https://youtu.be/vt1Twhs8KiA  

• 4.3 Reading Together (Buzz Said the Bee) https://youtu.be/KCFFqKA85tE  

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