Phonics
Phonics is using letters and sounds together. Phonics is simply the system of relationships between letters and sounds in a language. During phonological awareness we just use the sound and there is no print. Phonics adds the printed letter so that children can understand that letters and sounds go together.
Alphabetic Principle is knowing that each sound is tied to a specific letter. For example, each letter makes a specific sound. Phonics helps students develop this relationship.
Alphabetic Principle is knowing that each sound is tied to a specific letter. For example, each letter makes a specific sound. Phonics helps students develop this relationship.
Syllable Patterns
Closed Syllables have short vowel sounds. example- shack, cat, pack
VCe (vowel, consonant, silent e) makes the first vowel long. example- lake, shake, hope, shave
Open Syllables makes the vowel long. In these words the vowel opens the mouth. example- me, be, by, so
Vowel Teams can consist of two, three or four letters. example- show, pea, said, night, boil, beautiful
R-controlled syllables is when an "r" is in the syllable and it changes the sound. example- fork, star, stir, fern
Final Stable Syllables are found at the end of words. example- ble, dle, fle, tle (ta-ble, fid-dle, ruf-fle, ti-tle)
VCe (vowel, consonant, silent e) makes the first vowel long. example- lake, shake, hope, shave
Open Syllables makes the vowel long. In these words the vowel opens the mouth. example- me, be, by, so
Vowel Teams can consist of two, three or four letters. example- show, pea, said, night, boil, beautiful
R-controlled syllables is when an "r" is in the syllable and it changes the sound. example- fork, star, stir, fern
Final Stable Syllables are found at the end of words. example- ble, dle, fle, tle (ta-ble, fid-dle, ruf-fle, ti-tle)
Types of sounds
Every letter has their own individual sounds. But when you put more than two letters together one of two things can occur.
1) The sounds can blend together making a consonant blend or 2) the sounds can create a whole new sound making it a consonant digraph.
Consonant blends:
A consonant blend is when two or more letters combine and you can here all of their original sounds.
For example:
stripe--- s-t-r is a blend
stir--- s-t is a blend
ink--- n-k is a blend.
Consonant Digraphs:
A consonant digraph is when letters are put together to make a whole new sound.
For example:
phone--- p-h blends together for make a new sound.
blizzard---- z-z makes a new sound
check--- c-h and c-k make a new sound.
Combined Consonant Digraphs and Blends:
Some words can have a blend and a digraph in the same word.
For example:
black--- b-l is a blend and c-k is a digraph
clock--- c-l is a blend and c-k is a digraph
Vowel Digraphs:
A vowel digraph is when 2 vowels represent a single sound. So in order for a word to have a vowel digraph it needs to have 2 vowels and when pronounced it says just 1 sound.
For example:
nail--- ai is a vowel digraph
snow---ow is a vowel digraph
few--- ew is a vowel digraph
Vowel Dipthongs:
Vowel diphthongs are defined by the presence of 2 vowels, but there is a glide from one vowel to the other.
For example:
toy--- oy is a vowel dipthong
dial--- ia is a vowel dipthong
boil--- oi is a vowel dipthong
Basics of Phonics:
Long A--- stay, bake, bait
ow--- bowl, cow
oy--- boy
oi--- boil
Y--- yolk, happy, fry
igh---night (trigraph)
when "C" or "G" is followed by an "i" or "e" they are usually soft--- cent, engine
1) The sounds can blend together making a consonant blend or 2) the sounds can create a whole new sound making it a consonant digraph.
Consonant blends:
A consonant blend is when two or more letters combine and you can here all of their original sounds.
For example:
stripe--- s-t-r is a blend
stir--- s-t is a blend
ink--- n-k is a blend.
Consonant Digraphs:
A consonant digraph is when letters are put together to make a whole new sound.
For example:
phone--- p-h blends together for make a new sound.
blizzard---- z-z makes a new sound
check--- c-h and c-k make a new sound.
Combined Consonant Digraphs and Blends:
Some words can have a blend and a digraph in the same word.
For example:
black--- b-l is a blend and c-k is a digraph
clock--- c-l is a blend and c-k is a digraph
Vowel Digraphs:
A vowel digraph is when 2 vowels represent a single sound. So in order for a word to have a vowel digraph it needs to have 2 vowels and when pronounced it says just 1 sound.
For example:
nail--- ai is a vowel digraph
snow---ow is a vowel digraph
few--- ew is a vowel digraph
Vowel Dipthongs:
Vowel diphthongs are defined by the presence of 2 vowels, but there is a glide from one vowel to the other.
For example:
toy--- oy is a vowel dipthong
dial--- ia is a vowel dipthong
boil--- oi is a vowel dipthong
Basics of Phonics:
Long A--- stay, bake, bait
ow--- bowl, cow
oy--- boy
oi--- boil
Y--- yolk, happy, fry
igh---night (trigraph)
when "C" or "G" is followed by an "i" or "e" they are usually soft--- cent, engine
Alphabet Arc Activity
The purpose of the alphabet arc is for the student to recognize, name and locate all 26 letters in order. This help them recognize that there is a beginning and end to our alphabet. Once they know it, you can take out letters so they can put it back in order. The "a" "m & n" and "z" are often left there as guides for them to start off right.
Giving Children Opportunites
It is important to give children opportunities to be able to play with letters and sounds. Here are some ways you can play with letters and sounds.
Put a layer of shaving cream on a desk or on a cookie sheet and let them draw. It is messy, but really fun! If you want to save the mess put some shaving cream in a plastic bag and they can still draw on it. You can say write the letter that makes(name a sound). Then the child writes the letter corresponding with the sounds that they heard. They can practice capitalized and lower cased letters.
Word Families
Word families are another helpful tool in phonics. During word families you focus on a certain set of letters. In this example, it is the "an" family. The children use the pictures to make words. So they see the picture of the fan, and they need to find the /f/ sound.
Word families are used quite often because they child learns multiple words and notices a pattern.
A few other word families: it, at, og, ill, ab (there are many more!)
Another way to demonstrate word families is by posting them on your word wall. Word walls contain high frequency words and site words. They can also contain words that your class is learning at that time.
Here are some ways you can play with word families:
Word families are used quite often because they child learns multiple words and notices a pattern.
A few other word families: it, at, og, ill, ab (there are many more!)
Another way to demonstrate word families is by posting them on your word wall. Word walls contain high frequency words and site words. They can also contain words that your class is learning at that time.
Here are some ways you can play with word families:
Some helpful videos for extra knowledge :)
Assessment
TPRI and DIBELS are used for phonics assessment, just as it is with phonological awareness.
They test for letter naming fluency. This is just a sheet of paper with both upper and lowecase letters and the child has to name the letter.
They test for nonsense word fluency, letter sound fluency, spelling, letter name and sound and manipulating consonants.
Most phonics instruction should be complected by the 3rd grade, but every child is different. If your child is struggling your child's teacher should let you know. But if you notice anything at home, make sure to talk with the teacher for extra support and advice on what to do next.
They test for letter naming fluency. This is just a sheet of paper with both upper and lowecase letters and the child has to name the letter.
They test for nonsense word fluency, letter sound fluency, spelling, letter name and sound and manipulating consonants.
Most phonics instruction should be complected by the 3rd grade, but every child is different. If your child is struggling your child's teacher should let you know. But if you notice anything at home, make sure to talk with the teacher for extra support and advice on what to do next.