Learn Reading: Phonemic Awareness Vocabulary

Definition and Role of Phonemic Awareness

  • Definition of Phonemic Awareness: It is the ability to be aware of each individual phoneme (or sound) within a syllable. It involves the capacity to manipulate and articulate each phoneme properly without the presence of print.

  • Prerequisite for Reading: A student will not be able to read well unless they have acquired adequate phonemic awareness skills. The "Learn Reading" program recommends these skills be established prior to, and developed throughout, any reading instruction program.

  • Consequences of Skill Absence: The absence of phonemic awareness will result in several negative instructional outcomes:

    • It will "lock in" bad reading habits.
    • It reinforces the habit of guessing words.
    • It negatively impacts comprehension and fluency.

  • Educational Imperative: Phonemic awareness is considered imperative to set a student up for reading success and must be reinforced throughout any reading acquisition program.

Overview of the "Learn Reading" Program

  • Program Purpose: "Learn Reading" is described as a "real-world" reading acquisition program designed for learners of all ages.

  • Instructional Methodology:

    • Letter and Sound Introduction: The program introduces letters and sounds one at a time.
    • Sequence: Introduction follows the order in which letters and sounds appear in everyday, English print.
    • Format: All instruction is provided in video format, described as "The teacher comes to you!"
    • Techniques: It integrates several multisensory learning techniques to engage students and utilizes their prior knowledge, encourages curiosity, and allows the employment of individual talents to supplement instruction.

  • Comprehensive Instruction Areas: The program provides development in the following specific areas:

    • Phonemic awareness
    • Decoding
    • Sight words
    • Vocabulary
    • Fluency
    • Accuracy and control
    • Controlled blending
    • Comprehension

Specific Phonemic Awareness Exercises

Instructional exercises should utilize picture words to apply the following methods:

  • 1. Stretch and Separate:

    • Stretching: Say the word slowly, stretching out each sound entirely in one breath.
    • Separating: Separate each sound completely, incorporating "breath breaks" between each individual sound.

  • 2. First Sound: Identify the first sound only in each given word.

  • 3. Last Sound: Identify the last sound only in each given word.

  • 4. Pick a Sound: Choose any dot located under the word and identify the specific sound that the dot represents.

  • 5. Additional Practice Routine:

    • Step A: Find any physical object.
    • Step B: Perform the "stretch and separate" technique on the name of that object.
    • Step C: Identify the last sound of that object's name.
    • Step D: Find another object that begins with that specific identified sound.
    • Step E: Repeat the process.

Resources and Contact Information

  • Website: For more information on proper reading acquisition techniques or to access additional instructional materials, visit LearnReading.com.