Learning to read is hard. There are 26 letters, but 44 phonetic sounds! Then we have digraphs, trigraphs, silent letters, and schwa. Have I lost you yet? Imagine being five years old and trying to learn all of this.
It has probably been a really long time since you’ve learned to read. Most likely, you were taught to read using phonics. The education system moved away from phonics for an – ahem – not research backed approach to reading for the last twenty or so years. I’m not going to say that the whole language approach is the reason there is a literacy crisis, but I’m not NOT saying it.
Schools and teachers are moving back to a phonics (or science of reading) approach. However, if your child is in second grade or higher, they may have been taught the whole language approach and missed the window when phonics is normally taught. Whether they are in higher elementary grades and struggling, or are beginning readers in kindergarten, learning the letter sounds is the most important foundational skill for phonics instruction. If your child is struggling with phonemic awareness, you’ve come to the right place. I am a classroom reading teacher who works with older elementary students who are reading below grade level. I’m sharing my classroom tips that help my struggling readers learn letter sounds, and build foundational literacy skills.
Tips to Build Phonics Literacy Skills
- First, start with the basics. Start with short vowel and primary consonant sounds. For example, when teaching the letter a, use apple as an example, not ate. When teaching the letter c, start with cat. Introduce the second sound (c like cycle) much later. It is helpful to have visual representations of the letter sounds. If you need a resource, check out my beginner sound cards.
- Teach blending with simple CVC (consonant vowel consonant) words. Don’t start with a word like “next,” start with a word like “cat.” Cat is a CVC word. When new readers are beginning to blend, it’s best to stick with VC or CVC words before adding additional consonant sounds. Start slow and simple and build from there.
- If they’re struggling to blend, try using a white board or post-its to swap out consonant sounds with just one vowel at a time. For example, start with the letter “a.” Write a “b” in front of it so that they sound out “ba.” Then, erase the “b” and write a different consonant, like “t” or “v.” As they become more proficient, you can write a vowel and consonant, like “at.” Once they sound out “at,” write a consonant at the front. Have them sound out the whole word “b-a-t.” Keep practicing with different beginning sounds, then move on to other vowels once they’ve mastered it.
- If they can’t remember the letter sounds, it will be difficult to blend sounds. Use letter sound cards. I created these cards that I use in my classroom, which are available in my store. Print the page, cut them into individual cards, and put them together, instead of using a white board.
Reading at this level can be challenging, since few books are written specifically for new readers. Search for CVC or decodable readers to help your child practice. I created a decodable reader for my students, which is also available in my store.
Need more tips on blending? Check out this post.
Leave a Reply