Building FoUNdations for Reading Success

FUN, FRISTRATING PHONICS

Why Teach Phonics?

Phonics is one of those subject areas which research shows is best learned through direct, explicit instruction. Phonics (along with phonemic awareness, comprehension, vocabulary & fluency) is one of the five domains of reading which every parent & teacher should seek to support mastery by children.

The Limitations of Phonics in English

Unlike some other languages (such as Japanese for example), English is not best described as being a phonetic language. In fact, the rules of phonics are only applicable about 60% of the time in English. As Desi learns in one particular episode of I Love Lucy, modern English is really a mix of several root languages & incorporates a variety of words from other languages, learning how to read the words on a page can be very frustrating. However, they are still valuable & powerful.

Why Bother Teaching or Learning Phonics

If the rules of phonics are barely applicable half of the time that we attempt to decode a word to read, why bother teacjing or learning them at all? Consider these scenarios. If you were thirsty, wouldn't you rather have 60% of a glass of water than no water at all? Water is essential for life as is phonics for reading. If you were drowning, wouldn't you rather have 60% of your body floating above water rather than be completely sinking? Afterall, as long as your head is above water so you can breathe, you still have a good chance of surving. In this same sense, having a few key phonics rules apply can still result in reading success. As in these situations, the application of phonics is not perfect, but it can be enough to help your child “survive” the challenge of becoming a proficient reader!

How Can Parents Support Phonics Mastery?

I highly recommend this Phonics activity book. It is colorful & well structured for serving as a guide on what to teach, stress and reinforce in basic phonics principles. Many of the pages can serve as reference posters or anchor charts around the room. Although they may be too “busy” or wordy for the child, they provide strong cues & gentle guidance to the parent.

You can find other phonics tools & resources to support literacy success at https://www.learningmadefunwithmaestracasiano.com/learning-hub-for-learning-extension/building-foundations-for-literacy-success/five-reading-domains/fun-phonics-resources

Maestra Casiano Recommends Every Parent Reference This Book's Contents