Phonemic Awareness
By Jessica Moret
Phonemic Awareness Defined
'Phonemic Awareness' is the understanding of the ways sounds functions in words. The concept focuses on the ability to manipulate sounds in words, recognize phonemes, and identify various units of sound of speech such as syllables, onsets, and rhymes.
Manipulate Sounds
Recognize Phonemes
Identify Units of Speech
Rationale
Phonemic Awareness is an important element of literacy instruction because of its relation to all other aspects of reading and writing. DeVries (2015) quotes research that argues "students must be aware that words are made up of distinct sounds if they are to become proficient readers and writers" (pg. 78). The simple process of understanding how sounds form words is one of the basic building blocks for the foundation of reading and writing for all students. It has also been concluded through research conducted by the National Reading Panel that immersing students in lessons regarding 'Phonemic Awareness' led to positive "impacts on children's reading comprehension and decoding" (pg.79). The importance of 'Phonemic Awareness is simple. You cannot drive a car correctly if you have not been taught the rules of the road. Therefore, you cannot become a proficient reader or writer if you are not taught the ideas of 'Phonemic Awareness.'
Artifacts
Songs and Poems
These songs and poems are useful resources when teaching students the rime and rhyme portion of 'Phonemic Awareness.' The poems could be used in numerous creative activities in order to help students better understand sound manipulation.
Teaching Phonemic Awareness
This link is home to a multitude of teaching strategies that could help all teachers branch out with more creative way to teach students 'Phonemic Awareness.' It is also a great tool to refer to if one needs to attempt a new way to teach an area of 'Phonemic Awareness' to a struggling student.
Break It Down
Pinterest has a plethora of 'Phonemic Awareness' games and lesson plans. I included this Phoneme Segmentation worksheet as an artifact because it can be used with any age group. Students do not need to know their letters in order to learn the concept of 'Phonemic Awareness.'
5 Phonemic Awareness Activities
There is not a single teacher who could not benefit from this website. It includes activities that can help students have fun while learning 'Phonemic Awareness' which leads to more engaged learning.
References
DeVries, B. A. (2015). Literacy assessment & intervention for classroom teachers(4th ed., Vol. 1). Scottsdale, AZ: Holcomb Hathaway.