Introduction
Reading begins with the understanding that words are made up of individual sounds. This understanding is known as Phonemic Awareness or in simpler terms, Sound Awareness. Children who have a good grasp of sound awareness will be able to identify individual sounds in words, blend sounds together, and switch sounds around to make new words. Essentially, they’ll be able to play with sounds!
Reading begins with the understanding that words are made up of individual sounds. This understanding is known as Phonemic Awareness or in simpler terms, Sound Awareness. Children who have a good grasp of sound awareness will be able to identify individual sounds in words, blend sounds together, and switch sounds around to make new words. Essentially, they’ll be able to play with sounds!
Words are made up of individual sounds.
Understanding and recognizing individual sounds in spoken words can feel unnatural because it's not how we typically learn to speak. When we teach young children to talk, we focus on teaching them complete words. However, reading requires a different approach. It involves guiding children to deconstruct spoken words into individual sounds, which are then connected with written symbols, or letters. Transitioning from hearing whole words to the individual sounds in words can be tricky for kids, so it's important to break it down into stages.
Phonemic Awareness, or sound awareness, is not the same thing as phonics.
Understanding the difference between sound awareness and phonics is really important. Sound awareness focuses on the sounds within spoken words, whereas phonics involves connecting these sounds to written symbols, such as letters. Since sound awareness does not involve printed letters, sound-related tasks are typically completed orally. It is often said that sound awareness activities could be done in the dark since it does not involve printed letters.
“Seeing” Sounds
Sound Boxes
While most sound activities are done orally, some children may benefit from visual aids to help them better understand individual sounds in words. Children can utilize various tools to help them visually “see” the sounds in words, such as sound boxes. Sound boxes are a wonderful tool that children can use to represent the different sounds found in words.