Important information about why phonics is a proven method of teaching reading.

Why Phonics is PROVEN to WORK!

"When a child understands the relationship between sounds of spoken language and letters of written language, this equips the child with a priceless tool that he can use to recognize familiar words and figure out words he hasn't seen before. With this ability he can breakdown each word one sound at a time..."

The information below was taken from A Child Becomes a Reader, Kindergarten to Grade 3 produced by RMC Research Corporation. Visit The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development website for this document as well as complete information regarding reading and phonics.

Frequently Asked Questions About Phonics and Reading

When is a good time to start teaching my child to read?
What is print awareness?
What is alphabetic knowledge?
What is phonological awareness?
What is phonemic awareness?
What is phonics?
What is segmentation?
What is blending?
What is phonics instruction?
Does research support phonics as a proven method of teaching reading?
When is a good time to start teaching my child to read?
A child begins learning when he or she is born. Early experiences with spoken and written language set the stage for a child to become a successful reader. The more you talk, read and interact with your child, the better chance he has to become a good reader. A good time to start teaching your child about letters and sounds is when he begins to talk.
What is print awareness?
When a child learns about print and books and how they are used, this is called print awareness. He becomes familiar with the idea that the words he sees in print are related to the words he speaks. For example, words can be seen in books or on billboards.

What is alphabetic knowledge?

When a child begins knowing the names and shapes of letters this is called alphabetic knowledge.

What is phonological awareness?

When a child begins to understand that sentences are made up of words, and words have parts called syllables, he is beginning to develop phonological awareness which is the ability to learn about sounds of spoken language.

What is phonemic awareness?

When a child also understands that spoken words are made up of separate small sounds, he is developing phonemic awareness. These individual sounds in spoken language are called phonemes. For example, there are three phonemes (or sounds) in the word big, /b/, /i/, and /g/. (A letter between slash marks shows the sound that the letter represents, not the name of the letter).

What is phonics?
Phonics is when a reader learns to use letter/sound relationships to form words and is able to recognize words when he sees them.
What is blending?
Blending is when the reader puts together sounds to make words.
What is Segmentation?
When the child takes spoken words apart sound by sound.
What is phonics instruction?
Phonics instruction is when the instructor helps the beginning reader see the relationship between sounds of spoken language and letters of written language. Understanding these relationships gives the child a tool that he can use to recognize familiar words and figure out words he hasn't seen before.

Does research support phonics as a proven method of teaching reading?

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Panel Recommends Methods To Teach Reading

By Bob Bock

In the largest, most comprehensive review of its kind, a congressionally mandated independent panel supported by NICHD found that the most effective way to teach children to read is through instruction that includes a combination of methods such as:

Phonemic awareness — the knowledge that spoken words can be broken apart into smaller segments known as phonemes.

Phonics — the knowledge that phonemes are represented by letters of the alphabet that can then be blended together to form words.

Guided repeated oral reading — having children practice what they've learned by reading aloud while receiving guidance and feedback from more proficient readers.

Reading comprehension strategies — techniques for helping children to understand what they read.

"For the first time, we now have guidance — based on evidence from sound scientific research — on how best to teach children to read," said NICHD director Dr. Duane Alexander. NICHD supports research in reading and learning. "The panel's rigorous scientific review identifies the most effective strategies for teaching reading."

The 14-member panel included scientists in reading research, representatives of colleges of education, reading teachers, educational administrators and parents. For its review, the panel selected research from the approximately 100,000 reading studies that have been published since 1966, and another 15,000 that had been published before that time. Because of the large volume of studies, the panel selected only experimental and quasi-experimental studies, and among those considered only studies meeting rigorous scientific standards, in reaching its conclusions.

Please click here to see the complete report.