1. A Linguistic Perspective on Phonics
Freeman and Freeman
Chapter 6

2. Phonics basics Key elements Logical, systematic instruction
Phonemic awareness
Sound-letter correspondence
Logical, systematic instruction
Target particular letter-sound correspondence
Explicitly state rules
Provide examples and practice
Provide sequenced progression of lessons
Improves word recognition, spelling and reading comprehension for all children (NRP)

3. Linguistic studies Smith (1971) Paulson & Freeman (2003)
211 sound-letter correspondences (166 rules, 45 exceptions)
Larger context has to be considered to determine sound (cite, city; read; wind)
Paulson & Freeman (2003)
Readers do not fixate words 1 letter at a time
Readers fixate only 60-80% of words
Readers fixate content words more than function words
Clymer (1963): How often do commonly taught phonics rules work?

4. Arguments against phonics:
Nasal assimilation – general phonological rule
“ng”  [ŋg] “finger”
“ng”  [ŋ] “singer”
Plural formation – morphophonemic rule
plural  [s] “cat + s”
plural  [z] “dog + s”
plural  [Iz] “bush + es”
Reduced vowel [ə] and word stress
“anemone”
Syllable structure more identifiable than phonemes

5. Importance of PA in developing literacy
Inconsistency of oral/written language correspondence
What is the role of oral language in reading? (common strategy)
Miscue study (p. 151)* reveals struggling readers rely heavily on graphophonic cues
Kucer & Tuten (2003): proficient readers rely more heavily on syntax and semantics than graphophonic cues

6. PA: learned or acquired?
Word recognition view: learn phonics rules first, then apply that knowledge to reading
Decodable books: “Dan can fan Nan”
Sociopsycholinguistic view: graphophonics is subconscious knowledge that is acquired during reading
Books that support reading (p. 155)
Alphabet books

7. Assessment
Phonics worksheet: assess conscious knowledge of phonics in isolation
Instructions may be confusing
Relies on knowing the word
“Determining lesson”: assess subconscious knowledge of graphophonics in context of reading
Modified phonics worksheet