WALLS: Ease Into Phonics
What if my student does not seem to be a 'Phonics Learner?'
Should all readers begin with Phonics?
What if my student does not have the beginning Phonemic Awareness skills for Phonics yet?
What can we do while we're learning the 'Games to Go?'
About Ease Into Phonics: the program.
Students should begin reading in a way that is easy for them.
What if my student does not seem to be a 'Phonics Learner?' Do all readers need Phonics?
YES! All readers need all the tools, if at all possible.
If we had to recognize all whole words by sight alone with no sound clues, it would be overwhelming.
Students who are not 'auditory learners' need to develop that capacity.
There is no substitute for the auditory skill of Phonemic Awareness.
Should all readers begin with phonics?
NO. Phonemic Awareness comes first.
'Phonemic Awareness' games prepare beginners for phonics by strengthening the 'Mind's Ear.'
Well-prepared children with strong Phonemic Awareness can generally breeze through phonics, compared with children who are not prepared.
Well-prepared children gain fluency (and comprehension) more easily than others.
Once children are on the right track, Phonemic Awareness continues to grow as they learn phonics.
What if my student does not have the beginning Phonemic Awareness skills for Phonics yet?
Some students need a lot of practice to build the strong auditory skills that make Phonics really work.
Continue to work with Phonemic Awareness games.
If your student seems really 'stuck,' you may need to get some professional help over this hurdle--Phonemic Awareness is that important!
When you student can play all of the 'Games to Go,' at least with the easiest words, then you can begin your chosen Phonics program.
(But keep playing 'Games to Go' until your student can play with the more difficult words, too. It's an investment that will pay off as your student moves up in Phonics and reading.)
What can we do while we're learning the 'Games to Go?'
1. Natural Language Stories: Your student can experience some success in reading, and develop other reading skills, even before he or she is ready for a formal Phonics program, via the Natural Language technique (see Connect to the Tree here at The Reading Treehouse).
2. Ease Into Phonics, The Program: Once your student can play the Games To Go thru 'Blending' (able to blend compound words, syllables, first-sound plus ending, and the easiest sound-by-sound words), she is ready for Ease Into Phonics, the FREE Reading Treehouse pre-phonics program.
About Ease Into Phonics: the program
Ease Into Phonics is The Reading Treehouse pre-phonics program.
Ease Into Phonics teaches a small, sturdy set of 28 letter-sounds, including the 5 short vowels.
Your child will rehearse these both forward (Naming) and backward (early, assisted Spelling).
Ease Into Phonics does not assume Phonemic Awareness skill beyond easiest sound blending.
It is a friendly introduction for children who need a pre-step into Phonics.
It empowers children with the most basic letter-sounds.
It empowers parents and teachers with strategies for masterful rehearsal in any Phonics program.
Students should begin reading in a way that is easy for them.
They can learn to use all the parts of reading more easily, once they have a successful start.
More on this topic: The Reading Treehouse -> THE WALLS: Phonics
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Remember, Teachers:
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Phonemic Awareness first
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Then Phonics
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