Phonics

1
Phonics

• By Alicia Brink
• Lesley Cheney
• Rachel Webber

2
Phonics

• Phonics falls under the subject area of language
  arts specifically reading.
• It is typically used from pre-kindergarten
  through second grade.

3
Phonics Defined

• It teaches the relationship between letters and
  sounds and how to use this to read and write
  words.
• It is a work attack skill.
• You sound out words.
• There are six different techniques analogy
  based, analytic, embedded phonics through
  spelling, onset-rime instruction, and synthetic
  phonics.

4
How does phonics work in a classroom?

• Instruction needs to be clear and direct.
• Students need opportunities to practice in order
  to understand letter sound relationships.
• Phonics instruction works better if the lesson is
  kept short and is simply not drill and practice.
• Integrate phonics throughout the curriculum and
  not just in reading.

5
How to implement phonics strategies

• Mercer and Mercer (2005) suggest some general
  guidelines for teachers in order to effectively
  implement phonics.
• These guidelines include
• using lowercase letters for beginning instruction
• introduce easy sounds and letters first
• introduce new letter-sound associations at a
  reasonable pace
• introduce vowels early but teach consonants first
  
• emphasize the common sounds of letters first
• teach sound blending early
• introduce regular words prior to irregular ones

6
Implications

• Phonics versus whole language controversy
• Phonics is based on taking parts to whole and the
  whole language technique is holistic.
• The choice of which strategy to use is based on
  teacher opinion of what works and the school
  curriculum.
• Some critics also believe that there are too many
  irregular words in the English language for
  phonics to work.
• Others believe that phonics provide a strong
  background and key strategies to help students
  figure out irregular words.

7
References

• Cunningham, P. (2005). Phonics they use Words
  for reading and writing. Boston, MA Pearson.
• Eldredge, J.L, Baird, J.E. (1996). Phonemic
  awareness training works better than whole
  language instruction for teaching first graders
  how to write. Reading Research and Instruction,
  35. Retrieved January 15, 2008, from
  WilsonSelectPlus database.
• Mercer, C. D., Mercer, A. R. (2005). Teaching
  students with learning problems. Columbus, OH
  Pearson.
• Pikulski, D. J. (n.d.). The role of phonics in
  the teaching of readng A Houghton Mifflin
  position paper. Retrieved January 15, 2008, from
  www.eduplace.com
• Wagner, E. (n.d.). Word knowledge. Literacy at
  school and home. Retrieved January 15, 2008,
  from http//www.mason.gmu.edu

8
Additional Links

• Cliffords Sound Match Great interactive game
  for young children
• http//teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/flash/phon
  ics
• Reading A to Z-Phonics
• http//www.readinga-z.com/phonics/reading-phonics.
  php
• Practice Quiz on Phonics
• http//english.glendale.cc.ca.us/phonics.html