The Science of Reading: Phonological Awareness
What is it?
Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds in spoken language. The sounds in words here can include rhyme, alliteration, syllables, and phonemic awareness. Phonemes are the individual sounds (i.e. sh, b, a) in words, so phonemic awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the individual sounds.
Why is it important?
Phonological awareness helps kids understand that language is what happens when you put certain sounds together in a certain way. The way we put those sounds together matters. A child who says “buth” when they mean “bus” will be harder to understand. Similarly, if they read “dat” for “bat” the story will lose some meaning. Becoming aware of the different ways we can put together and pull apart sounds helps kids become strong readers because it gives them more tools to try when figuring out new words.
Parents and caregivers used to naturally incorporate these skills into their daily routines all the time. Nursery rhymes are filled with rhyming words and rhythms that help young kids tune their ears to the natural rhythm of language. And remember changing everyone’s names as a kid with different beginning sounds? Hannah, Hannah, Bo-Banna, Banana Fana Fo-Fanna, Me- My- Mo- Mannah, Hannah. That is great practice with phonemic awareness.
How can I work on this at home?
The great news about supporting phonological awareness at home is that you don’t need any materials to do it. Phonological awareness is about the sounds in words, not the words written down. I will be sharing some good books and resources that you can use to support it, but here are some ways you can build these skills without any materials needed:
Read nursery rhymes with your kids over and over again
Practice coming up with rhyming words (great for times when they are getting antsy waiting for dinner, riding in the car, etc.)
Practice coming up with words that begin or end with the same sound (I would start with the beginning sound, as this is generally easier for little ones, then you can move on to the challenge of the same ending or middle sound)
Practice clapping out the syllables in words or coming up with words that have a certain number of syllables
Say the individual sounds in a word, and have your child practice telling you the whole word (i.e. I say “/b/ - /a/ - /t/” and my child answers “bat”)
Wonderful, Engaging Books that Support Phonological Awareness
The Hungry Thing by Jan Sepian
This is my all time favorite book for working on these skills. In this story, a hungry thing comes to town with a sign that says “Feed Me.” None of the adults in town can understand what he wants, including the self-important wise man and cook. Over and over again, they pretend they know what the things are (i.e. the hungry thing asks for feetloaf and they explain what feetloaf is). The little boy in the story is the only one who understands. (“Feetloaf…sounds like…beetloaf…sounds like meatloaf to me”).
This book will have your kids laughing along at how silly the grown ups are and working to figure out what the hungry thing is really asking for each time. I very highly recommend it. Grab your copy here.
The Classic Treasury of Nursery Rhymes: The Mother Goose Collection
You can’t go wrong with any mother goose collections, my girls particularly love this one. It has bright, engaging illustrations that go along with the nursery rhymes and the embossed cover and oversized scale of the book make it feel special. You can grab this version here.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault
“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, will there be enough room?” Your kids will love the rhythmic language in this book, and as a bonus it introduces them to all the letters of the alphabet. This is a true children’s classic that deserves its place on your home or classroom library shelf. It is a great one to read over and over again, as your kids will pick up on the rhyming scheme and be able to join you in “reading” the story even before they can actually read. This helps build their confidence as readers. Buy it here.
Sheep in a Jeep: 5 Minute Stories by Nancy Shaw
Sheep in a Jeep is another great book full of rhyming words and silly, engaging pictures. This book includes multiple short, rhyming stories for those times when your kids ask for “just one more” book at bedtime. I also love to use them in those times when everyone is starting to run around like crazy, but it’s too early to start making dinner in the afternoon. Quick! Story time! Everybody pick out a favorite! (Those times are also great for playing one of the phonological awareness games or activities suggested earlier in the blog.) Grab your copy of Sheep in a Jeep: 5 Minute Stories here.
There Was an Old Lady series by Lucille Colandro
These books are filled with rhyme and plots that will have your kids laughing out loud. These old ladies swallow everything from flies to pies to books to hooks. Kids who like to be silly (so, you know, all kids) will enjoy these ones. I have linked the whole library set here because I couldn’t choose just one.
What about older kids?
Older kids who have become strong readers no longer need direct instruction in phonological awareness. They can certainly still enjoy the games and activities, and I encourage anyone with multiple kids to have the older ones play the games with little ones.
If, however, you have an older child who is not a strong or confident reader, you shouldn’t overlook phonological awareness. They may not have received enough instruction in this area when they were younger, and working on it now can help fill in some educational gaps.
What will you try with your kids this week? Incorporating some of the games and activities into down times? Reading more stories with rhyme and alliteration (and talking about the sound patterns you notice)?
Next week I’ll be diving into phonics and word recognition. Get excited for more tips and tricks you can use at home to support the young readers in your life!
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