From the research of the National Reading Panel of the NICHD discussed above, we have developed a 7-Step Reading Program which presents a "Systematic Phonics Instruction" approach. This section discusses these seven steps in detail and the associated Reading Activities with reference to the NICHD findings. These seven steps combine Phonemic Awareness, The Alphabetic Principle, Phonics, Guided Reading and Reading Comprehension Strategies.
Click Here to for the 7 Steps of Learning to Read
Phomenic Awareness
The English language is alphabet-based. That is, the words in the English language are made up of letters of the alphabet which individually and in specific groups make up the sounds that represent the words. This realization that spoken words are made up of sounds that are and can be associated with letters of the alphabet is known as the Alphabetic Principle.
The sounds that make up words are called Phonemes and the recognition of this fact that words are made up of these letter-sounds is called Phonemic Awareness.
For all neurologically normal children, the verbal learning of the sounds of the English language (phonology) occurs naturally without any real specific systematic instruction. If this were not the case babies would not so easily learn to talk. However, unfortunately for the would-be reader, Phonemic Awareness, the association of sounds with letters is not an automatic consequence of speaking the language.
This section gives a discussion of Phonemic Awareness and its critical importance in children learning to read.
Click Here to learn about Phonemic Awareness - (Coming Soon)
Phonics Lessons - Reading Lesson #1
Our first step in our program of "Systematic Phonics Instruction" is our Reading Lesson #1 which provides Reading Activities that teach your child the sounds associated with each consonant and short vowel in the English Language. This Phonics Lesson is essentially a digitized, information age, computer- based version of the phonics flash cards that I used so successfully with my family.
Click Here for Phonics Lessons - Reading Lesson #1
Phonics Activities - Reading Lesson #2
The second step in our program of "Systematic Phonics Instruction" is our Reading Lesson #2 which continues Reading Activities that teach your child the sounds associated with each consonant and short vowel in the English Language. This Phonics Activity is essentially a digitized, information age, computer- based version of the phonics flash cards that I used so successfully with my family.
Reading Lesson #2 is like Reading Lesson #1 except that we provide your child with the opportunity to try to sound out the letters without the aid of picture or sound and then we let you click through to the letter pictures and letter sounds if your child needs help or wants confirmation.
Click Here for Phonics Activities - Reading Lesson #2