Literacy Connections for Parents

PHONICS

What is phonics?

Phonics is the understanding that there is a relationship

between sounds (phonemes) and their spellings

(graphemes).

Why is phonics instruction important?

Phonics instruction helps beginning readers understand the

relationship between letters and sounds. It teaches students

to use these relationships to read and write. Research

has shown that direct systematic phonics instruction is

appropriate and beneficial for advancing students’ skills from

kindergarten on (NICHHD, 2001).

Letter/Sound Correspondence

Explain/Model

• Tell students that they will name letters and

their sounds.

• Display the Sound/Spelling Card for Nn.

Name the illustration on the card,

emphasizing the initial sound.

• Point to the letter on the card. Say: This is the letter n. It

stands for the sound /n/. What is the sound? /n/

• Hold up the Letter Card n. This is the letter n.

It stands for the sound /n/. Ask: What’s

the letter? n What is the sound? (/n/)

• Model several examples with the Letter Cards.

Guided Practice

• Display a Letter Card.

• Point to the letter. Ask: What’s this letter? Respond with

students. (l). What’s the sound? Respond with students. (/l/)

• Repeat with several examples.

Practice

• Display a set of Letter Cards.

• Point to the letter.

• Ask: What’s the letter? What’s the sound? Have students

respond.

• Offer multiple examples for students to practice.

• Provide constructive feedback.

• Select individual students to take turns.

PHONICS

Sound-by-Sound Blending

Explain/Model

• Tell students that they will blend the sounds of letters

together to read words.

• Display Letter Card c. Point to the card. Say:

This is the letter c. It stands for the sound /k/.

Ask: What is the sound?

• Display the Letter Card a.

• Point to the card. Say: This is the letter a.

It stands for the sound /a/. Ask: What is the

sound?

• Slide your finger under the letters as you blend the

sounds together. Say: Listen as I blend the sounds

together: /kaaa/.

• Display the Letter Card t.

• Point to the card. Say: This is the

letter t. It stands for the sound /t/.

Ask: What is the sound?

• Slide your finger under the cards as you blend the

sounds together: Say: Listen as I blend all three sounds

together, /kaaat/. Ask: What’s the word? cat

• Use the word in sentence.

• Model with several examples.

Guided Practice

• Follow the routine to blend other words with students.

Have students respond with you.

• Ask volunteers to use the word in a sentence to confirm

meaning.

• Provide multiple examples.

Practice

• Repeat the routine with additional examples. Have

students respond without your support.

• Offer multiple examples for students to practice.

• Provide constuctive feedback. (See back of card.)

c

c a

c a t

n

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Last Modified: Friday, Oct. 08, 2010
 
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