Phonics

  • Science of Reading

    Phonemic Awareness vs Phonics (And Why It Matters When Phonics Isn’t Working)

    phonemic awareness vs phonics

    It was Friday spelling test, and Maya got 8 out of 10. A respectable score for a second grader. Her teacher recorded two errors and moved on. But if you looked at which words Maya got right and which she missed, a pattern emerged. The eight correct words were all high-frequency words the class had practiced all week: flashcards, rainbow writing, repeated exposure. Maya had memorized them visually. The two she missed were challenge words she had never seen before. She spelled “drum” as “jrm” and “slip” as “slap.”

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  • Struggling Readers

    He Knows Letters. So Why Can’t He Read?

    He Knows Letters. So Why Can't He Read?

    If you have a student who knows letters but can’t seem to read unfamiliar words, you already know the particular confusion of watching a child do everything right and still not get there. He’s not struggling with effort. He’s not disengaged. He knows his letters. So what’s happening?

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  • Science of Reading

    Finding the Sweet Spot: How Much Time Should You Spend on Teaching Phonics?

    teaching phonics

    If there’s one question I hear constantly in my literacy coaching sessions, it’s this: “How much time should I really be spending on teaching phonics?”

    Trust me, you’re not alone in wondering this. As teachers, we’re constantly juggling competing priorities within those precious instructional minutes. And with the renewed emphasis on the Science of Reading, many of us are reevaluating our literacy blocks, especially when it comes to effective phonics instruction.

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  • Science of Reading

    Letter Names and Sounds: What Should I Teach First?

    letter names and sounds

    You know that moment when a kindergartner proudly sings the alphabet song, but then struggles to use those same letters to read a simple word? I was just talking about this with a group of teachers during our planning meeting, and it sparked such an interesting discussion about teaching letter names and sounds.

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  • Science of Reading

    Spelling and Phonics: 2 Sides of the Same Literacy Coin

    Spelling and phonics

    You know those moments when a student comes across a new word, and you can almost see the gears turning in their head as they work to decode it? Or when they’re writing and pause, pencil hovering over the paper, trying to figure out how to spell a tricky word? These two scenarios might seem different, but they’re actually deeply connected through the relationship between spelling and phonics.

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  • Science of Reading

    Why Phonics is Important: A Teacher’s Guide to Better Reading Instruction

    Why Phonics Is Important?

    During a grade-level meeting, Jessica shared her struggles with teaching reading. “I feel like I’m failing them,” she whispered, eyes fixed on her lesson plans. “Especially Tommy – he knows his letters, he’s eager to learn, but he just keeps guessing at words.” I saw heads nodding around the room because we’ve all been there. Let’s explore why phonics is important and how it can transform your reading instruction.

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