Phonics
"Oh, magic hour, when a child first knows she can read printed words!" — A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1943
Ph
What is phonics?
Why is phonics important?
Phonics is the understanding that the sounds that make up words are represented by letters or groups of letters. For example, when your child learns the sound of /s/ is represented by the letter S or that -tion sounds like /shun/, your child is learning phonics.
Phonics is a critical foundation skill for reading. Learning phonics is necessary for your child to learn how to read and spell. Children who learn how to "crack the code" of the English language enjoy the lifelong benefits of becoming proficient readers, writers,and spellers.
Watch distinguished professor, Dr. Louisa Moats, describe the critical difference between letters and sounds.
Activities to Support Phonics Acquisition
Unlike phonemic awareness (which only requires knowing sounds), phonics instruction includes the connection between sounds and print. Both skills are closely related and provide young readers with a solid foundation for reading and writing success. Below are a list of activities you can do with your child to build his or her knowledge of how letters and sounds work together. (Activities credited to Sight Words.com)
Letter Fly Swat!
Materials
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Plastic Fly Swatter
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Letter Fly Cards (see below)
Directions
Set up the game by placing the fly cards out on a table, well spaced out, and letter side up. The adult calls out one letter (or sound) at a time. The child must find the letter among the fly cards on the table and then “splat” the word with their fly swatter while repeating the letter.
For a child that is just starting with letters, you will begin with around five fly cards. As the child gets more advanced, you can add more letters.
Variation
Go to the online template generator and type sight words for the child to practice. Print, cut, and play!
Memory
Materials
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Lowercase Letter Cards (see below)
Directions
To set up the game, shuffle the cards and arrange them, face down, in a grid. The child picks one card and turns it over so the letter is visible, reading the letter (or sound) on the card. The child then picks a second card and also turns it over, reading the letter (or sound) on the second card. If the letters on the two overturned cards match, the player removes the pair, placing them by her side, and gets another turn. If the letters do not match, the player turns the cards back over so the letters are no longer showing, and makes another selection.
Variation
Go to the online template generator and type in sight words for the child to match. Print, cut, and play!
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Snakes and Ladders!
Materials
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Snakes & Ladders Game Board (see below)
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Game pieces (bingo chips, coins, etc.)
Directions
The player(s) begin by placing their game pieces on the START square. The first player rolls the die and moves forward that number of spaces. On each space the player needs to say the word written on the space in order to keep moving. If they don’t know a word or can’t say the word in less than 10 seconds, then their turn stops (the adult can tell the child the word tohelp them learn the it). If a player rolls a number that lands them at the bottom of a ladder and they get the word correct, they may “climb” to the square at the top of the ladder. If a player rolls a number that lands them on the head of a snake, then they “slide” down to the square at the snake’s tail. The game finishes when all the players get to the FINISH square, with the first player to the end being declared the winner. You do not have to roll an exact number to finish the game.
Variation
Populate the game board with just letters or a combination of letters and words.
Pathways
Materials
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Letter or word cards
Directions
Arrange the cards, face up, to make a “path” on the floor. They should be close enough together that a child can easily step from one to the next. Don’t make it a straight line – be creative! The more it twists and turns around or throughout the house, over chairs and under tables, the more fun it will be for the children. Don’t forget to tape the cards down so children don’t slip and fall. A child stands at the beginning of the path and reads the word on the first card out loud. (If she cannot read the word correctly in less than 10 seconds,the adult can tell the word.) Once she has correctly read the first word, she can step on that card. Then she will repeat the procedure with the next word card, and the next, etc., until she reaches the end of the path.
Variation
Spread the cards out so the child has to jump from card to card.
Need more?
Contact your child's teacher for additional information.
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