1. 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.

2. Along The Path To Beginning Reading Success: Best Practices

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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…

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Thank you for your attendance! Good Luck in Your Roles!