Phonics: “Using Words You Know”

Learning to Read and Spell Based on Patterns

What is Phonics?

• Phonics is the connection of sounds and symbols

• Requires children to learn letter sounds and combinations of letter sounds (phonemes) associated with their corresponding letter symbols (graphemes)

• 26 letters in the alphabet• At least 44 different sounds!

Concerns about Phonics

• So many rules in English language have exceptions

• Need Phonics and Whole Language to become proficient readers (phonics is sometimes overemphasized)

• Different types of learners (auditory vs. visual)– A child who is weak in auditory discrimination is

not likely to master phonics

Why use Rhyme Based Decoding and Spelling Activities?

• Like “Making Words” these activities help children to focus on and learn rhyming patterns that help them to decode and spell thousands of words

Activity: “Using Words You Know”• (Also found in Phonics They Use starting on Page 131)

• Choose 3 to 4 words that students can read and spell and that have many rhyming words spelled the same way

• Words can be well known brand names and items (what I chose to use!)

• Note: It is important that you pre-pick the words and the words that rhyme. Ex: Students will be correct when they say dream and seem rhyme but will not help them to spell.

“Using Words You Know” (cont.)

• Display products, give students time to talk about them

• Point out that these objects will help them read and spell words

• And now for the activity…

References

• Cunningham, Patricia M., & Hall, Dorothy P. (2008). Making words: first grade. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, Inc.

• Cunningham, Patricia M. (2009). Phonics they use: Words for reading and writing. New York: Pearson Education.