Phonics: a set of rules that specify the relationship
between letters in the spelling of words and the sounds of spoken
language. For the English language,
these relationships are predictable, but not completely consistent. However, they are consistent enough to be
very useful to young children in helping them learn to decode unfamiliar
words.
Why Teach Phonics?
Phonics instruction is intended to help young readers
understand and use the alphabetic principle.
This principle says that there is a systematic, if sometimes irregular,
relationship between graphemes (letters and letter combinations) and phonemes
(individual speech sounds). Effective
phonics instruction enables children to use these relationships to spell and
read words accurately and rapidly.
However, phonics instruction is never a total reading program.
Examples of Effective Phonics Instruction
In this lesson, a first grade teacher focuses on the phoneme
/k/ and how it can be represented by the letter c.
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Teacher Behavior and Purpose
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Example Lesson Excerpt
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Explains what students will do.
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T: We’re going to learn a new sound and the letter we use to spell
this sound. This will help us read
words that have this specific sound in them.
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Provide explicit information about the focus of the lesson.
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T: Our new sound is /k/.
Listen for the /k/ sound in these words. Say each word slowly, emphasizing the
beginning sound.
Cat, can, cup
T: Now I’m going to say the words again as I write them on the
board. The first letter in each of
these words says /k/. Repeat cat, can
and cup, again exaggerating the /k/ phoneme each time the letter c is
written.
T: In these three words, the letter c stands for the sound /k/. Say the words with me.
The teacher then points to the letter c in each word as the students
say the word aloud.
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Remind students of the lesson’s purpose, provide appropriate
practice, and test skill acquisition.
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T: Remember, when we see the letter c, it usually stands for the /k/
sound. So, if we’re reading and we see
a word we don’t know and it has the letter c in it, we will try the /k/ sound
first in trying to sound out the word.
Listen for the /k/ sound. Which
word has the /k/ sound? Table, candy, or rain?
S: candy. Then write the word candy on the board.
T: What letter says /k/ in this word?
S: C
Continue with additional examples, pointing out clearly the
letter-sound correspondence between the letter c and the /k/ sound.
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2 Principles of Phonics:
1.)
Phonics instruction should be explicit and
systematic.
2.)
Phonics is a means to an end. And, that end is reading connected text.
Phonics Video:
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