Early Literacy: Letter-Sound Connection (Phonics)

01Phonics is where written language meets spoken language.

02Phonics teaches students the relationship between the letters of written language and the sounds of spoken language.

03The goal of phonics is to help students learn how to use the alphabet to read and write words.

04It also helps them understand writing.

05Teaching Tips for Phonics Effective phonics instruction should Include letter shapes and names Work with each separate sound in a word Include all major letter sound relationships Teaching Tips for Phonics Teach phonics in a clear and direct way, with a plan.

06When you teach letter sound relationships, tell your students the goal of the lesson.

07Explain the learning strategies you plan to use.

08After you teach something, such as words or spelling patterns, plan to use them often with your students.

09Use them in sentences, songs, or poems.

10Play games with them.

11Read texts and stories using words or letters.

12Practice writing them.

13Teach the ABCs Singing the ABC song is a great place to start.

14As you say each letter, point to it.

15This will help teach the connection between letters and sounds.

16Have them write letters early and often.

17Teach the A to Z It is fine to say or sing the full alphabet in order.

18However, when you begin teaching individual letters, experts advise against teaching them in order.

19Teachers often start with this group of letters.

20S-A-T-I-P-N They make more three-letter words than any other six letters.

21Have them write letters early and often.

22Teach commonly confused letters or sounds separately.

23Some English language learners confuse some letters.

24If that is the case with your students, teach them separately.

25Let the students master one-letter sound before moving to a similar one.

26Some commonly confused letters are B-D-P-E-I-M-N-T-D If a sound is written more than one way, teach the different spellings one at a time.

27For example, the long A sound can be spelled several different ways.

28Try teaching its forms in order.

29First, A-I, as in train.

30Next, A-blank E, as in gate.

31Then, A-Y, as in day.

32Finally, use them together in a game or activity.

33Teach short vowel sounds first.

34Words with short vowel sounds are usually easier to say and spell.

35At this stage, teach single beat, syllable, words with short vowel sounds, like sat and pat.

36However, short vowel sounds can be confusing, so teach them separately.

37Teach easy and common consonant letter sounds first.

38Some consonants are easier than others.

39Usually, consonants that you can stretch out are easier to say.

40Letters like M, S, and F.

41With some consonant combinations, you can hear each letter.

42Such as FL, FL, SP, SP, SP, TR, TR, and ST, ST.

43These are called blends.

44In the video for this article, you can hear them all.

45Teach these with short vowel sounds.

46For example, FLAP, SP, SP, TR, and ST.

47With some consonant combinations, the consonants become one sound, such as the SH in sheep.

48These are called digraphs.

49Teach common consonant combinations.

50Like CH, CH, SH, SH, and TH, TH.

51But keep in mind, some students may have a hard time with these.

52For all of these suggestions, teachers must decide which sounds are easiest for their students.

53Learning Strategies for Teaching Phonics Learning Strategy Use all the senses Let the students see your face and mouth make the sounds.

54Use a mirror so the students can see their own mouths make sounds.

55Have students touch their throats and say letter sounds.

56Some letters move the throat.

57Some letters do not move the throat.

58Put a tissue in front of your face and show how some sounds make the tissue move, while others do not.

59Have students draw letters with their fingers while saying them.

60Students can draw letters in materials like sand or paint.

61Students can also build letters with their bodies.

62Put students in groups.

63Give them a letter or they can pick a letter.

64Then they make the letter with their bodies.

65Learning Strategy Alphabet Matching Young learners are just beginning to understand that there are relationships between written letters and spoken sounds.

66They are also learning that these relationships follow rules.

67They are learning the alphabetic principle.

68Teachers can help students develop this understanding with fun activities that play with alphabet letters and sounds.

69For example, games that match lowercase and uppercase letters.

70Assessment for Phonics Ask students questions about lesson material.

71Some assessments will be spoken and some will be written.

72Sample questions What sound do the letters S and H make when you put them together?

73How do you spell the sh sound?

74How do I turn the word bit into bite?

75Ask students to pick out the following in a text.

76Uppercase and lowercase letters Consonant sounds and letters Long vowel sounds and letters Short vowel sounds and letters Read short vowel sounds in consonant-vowel-consonant words Mat, cat, bag, bat Read consonant combinations with short vowels Flag, trim, brag Read long vowel spellings Long A sound Spelled A-I-A-Y-A-Y-A-blank-E Long E sound Spelled E-E Read words with many syllables Treehouse Rainbow Book bag Syllable Use these tips, strategies, and assessment methods that best serve you and your learners.

77Change them to fit your students and teaching situation.

78I'm Ana Mateo And I'm Katie Weaver