Research Says: The inability to process and manipulate speech sounds is the most common cause of failure to acquire early reading skills Phonemic awareness is central in learning to read and write Phonological awareness ability in kindergarten is a powerful predictor of reading success Put on screen as participants arrive in the room.

Along The Path To Beginning Reading Success: Best Practices

Discussion Topics Focus for Session-Ages 3-7 and Struggling Readers Phonemic Awareness-Stages and Activities Book Awareness Letter/Sound Recognition Really Cool Ideas/Resources

Really Cool Ideas Explain box; excellent in classrooms/daycares Ideas on today’s topics Timer needed Every ten minutes Pull an idea from box

Phonemic Awareness: Its Importance and Stages Crucial skill for reading success; lagging behind linked to struggling readers Preschool: aware of word boundaries and differences at oral level; beginning to count out words in simple sentences; some rhyming Kindergarten Years: awareness of words and syllables; rhyme; sounds within words

Phonemic Awareness Continued… Later in SK: letter sound recognition; awareness of individual sounds in words; counting and blending syllables; identify and generate rhyming words In December of Grade One: blend and segment sounds at more complex level; delete and substitute individual sounds in words

Phonemic Awareness: Word Segmentation and Blending Hear and count number of words in given oral sentences How: clap, jump, tap, move buttons Sentences from stories, rhymes, poems, conversations, songs etc. Any learning in a game, fun format

Phonemic Awareness: Syllable Segmentation and Blending Next syllable chunks in words Simple to more complex words Count out and blend together syllables in given words Your own list of words

Phonemic Awareness: Rhyme/Rhyming Words Ability to recognize and generate rhyme Nursery rhymes, songs, poems, & words (spelling patterns) Accept nonsense words that rhyme Do two words rhyme? bat-cat, no-new Odd Man Out - e.g. hike, book, look

Phonemic Awareness: Sound Segmentation and Blending Count out or blend sounds within words Up=u-p (2) make=m-a-k (3) stop=s-t-o-p (4) Use blocks, counters or sound boxes Most complex-delete and substitute a sound Turtle Talk, Yes/No, Odd Man Out Initial Sound Substitution: rat, cat, mat

Book Awareness Demonstrate use and reading of books Be the excited role model Use proper wording with children-periods, capitals, sentences etc. Shared, echo and choral reading, daily story times (fiction and nonfiction), poems, listening to taped stories/CD’s…

Read, Read and Read! Daily reading at your sites and home Picture walks through story first - book’s vocabulary and predictions Encourage oral talk, thinking and mental images about passage/story read Selection of books: rhyme, alphabet, pattern books, information text, pop-ups, word concepts, opposite words etc.

Recognition and Naming of Letters and Sounds Prerequisite for reading success Alphabet letters, books, songs, puzzles, games, learning carpets Say/name letters in children’s names or favourite words or songs Use a multi-sensory approach; lots of actions, which children enjoy

Recognition and Naming of Letters and Sounds Cont’d Direct systematic instruction; consider Jolly Phonics with learning actions Computer programs - match, sort and name letters Personal Dictionary – letter and picture Twenty-six ice cream containers and lids, quick draw game, alliterations, 100 Square Matrix etc.

Grade One and Higher Daily reading practice at both the instructional and independent levels Word study/working with words important Struggling readers need more of word study---phonics, word/spelling patterns, phonemic awareness, word wall activities Lots of good resources available e.g. the Four Blocks Literacy Model

Resources On Display Check resources here See the Scholar’s Choice Moyer display booth Handout – Resources of Interest Wonderful Brand New Puppet Sets New Stories-Come Alive Series Check Four Blocks materials

Time Remaining? Hear Remaining Really Cool Ideas Discuss any handouts not yet referenced Sharing of Ideas – Your Favorite Activities or Resources OR Comments and Questions

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