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Explore how phonemic awareness activities can be differentiated for students with diverse learning needs, ensuring all students can participate and benefit from the instruction.

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Explore reading basics as well as the key role of background knowledge and motivation in becoming a lifelong reader and learner. Watch our PBS Launching Young Readers series and try our self-paced Reading 101 course to deepen your understanding.

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Discover methods to adapt phonics instruction for learners with different needs, ensuring accessibility and engagement for every student.

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Did you know that phonics learning is developmental?

This means that we need to match our phonics instruction to students' levels of word knowledge (Bear et al., 2016). In other words, we need to understand what phonics patterns our students already know (and what they don't know yet). We need to provide instruction that's neither too difficult nor too easy.

Makes sense, right?

But making this happen in the classroom can be challenging! You might have up to 30 students, so how on earth can you provide "just right" phonics instruction to all of them?!

The reality is this: it's not possible to achieve perfect, 100% differentiation when you have a large group of students and limited time. However, it IS possible to differentiate your phonics instruction in a way that's A) manageable, and B) great for your students' learning.

In this blog post, I'll share tips for doing just that! (And if you want to learn more about teaching phonics in K-2, check out my free webinar afterward.)

Photo Credits: spass, Shutterstock

Assess Your Students

The first step to differentiating is to find out what your students need!

Some programs have tests where students read words. Others have tests where students write words.

As long as I have enough time, I prefer to test students on their word reading AND spelling abilities.

Here's why: Students can usually decode words before they can spell them. In other words, they may be able to read a word on a page by using their phonics knowledge, but they won't be able to spell it quite yet.

I find it helpful to understand both aspects of their phonics knowledge (both reading and spelling). But if I'm in a time crunch, I at least need to know which phonics patterns students can spell.

If you'd like a free, quick assessment to determine what your Kindergarten, 1st grade, or 2nd grade students know and need to work on, you can use the free assessment in my phonics program. Sign up for the free trial, log in, and look for the free assessment.

That free assessment includes letter sounds, letter names, digraph sounds, and a spelling assessment. (The complete program includes additional assessments to test things like phonological awareness and word reading.)

You can download the free assessment here!

Use Small Group Instruction

Once you know what your students need, you can group them accordingly!

There are several different ways that you can do this. You can have dedicated phonics small groups (my preference) OR add phonics instruction to your guided reading / reading small groups.

I like to set aside a dedicated block for phonics instruction in my classroom. We start with a few short minutes of whole group review, and then break up into small groups. Some students come with me, and some students work independently. We switch at least once (ideally twice, so I can see 3 groups).

There are lots of different ways to set up your phonics small groups. ( My free phonics webinar goes over some sample schedules and how-tos for small group instruction.)

If you choose to add phonics instruction to your existing reading small groups, keep in mind that many students' phonics knowledge will correspond to their reading level. But for other students, they won't correspond.

Also, if your core phonics instruction is taking place during your reading small groups, make sure that it gets the attention that it deserves! 3-5 minutes at the end of a guided reading group is not enough phonics instruction for most students.

Use Leveled Materials

Whether you're teaching phonics in a small group or whole group setting, leveled materials are a lifesaver!!

Here are some examples of leveled materials from my phonics program:
Leveled word sorts:
Word sorts are a great way for students to compare word patterns. But some students are ready for more challenging words, while other students need simpler sorts.

You can have students sort the same patterns but work with different words!

Leveled decodable books:
"Leveled books" usually refer to books that are labeled with a letter or number, like A, B, C, etc. They're typically viewed as different from "decodable books." Decodable books are books that are controlled for specific phonics patterns and words that students should know.

In From Sounds to Spelling, we use lots of decodable books and passages. These texts help students practice the phonics patterns and high frequency words that they're learning. However, a certain decodable text might be great for some students but too difficult for others!

For this reason, the majority of the texts in the program actually include 2 different levels. There is a "regular" level and an "easier" level for most texts.

The easier version of the text typically includes shorter sentences, fewer challenging words, and (when applicable) fewer multi-syllabic words.

Here's a 1st grade example:

You might also differentiate by using different games / activities for independent practice (From Sounds to Spelling has multiple options per week), different word lists for students to practice reading, etc.

Leveled materials make differentiation a whole lot more manageable, even if most of your phonics instruction takes place in a whole group setting!

For more ideas about phonics activities that can easily be differentiated, sign up to watch my free phonics webinar ( Make Those Words Stick: Phonics Routines in K-2).

Conclusions

Like with most things in life, " perfect is the enemy of good." In other words, don't scrap differentiation altogether just because your system isn't perfect!

For more support with teaching phonics and setting up your weekly routines, don't forget to check out my free online workshop about teaching phonics in K-2.

Happy teaching!
Free Phonics Webinar Link References
Bear, D. R., Invernizzi, M., Templeton, S., & Johnston, F. (2016). Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling Instruction (6th ed.). Pearson.

Photo Credits: Monkey Business Images, Shutterstock

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How To Differentiate Your Phonics Instruction - Learning at the Primary Pond

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Did you know that phonics learning is developmental? This means that we need to match our phonics instruction to students' levels of word knowledge (Bear et al., 2016). In other words, we need to understand what phonics patterns our students already know (and what they don't know yet).

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Activity 1: Vocabulary word walls, where new words are displayed and discussed, can be tailored by using words that match student interests and abilities. Activity 2: Storytelling activities that incorporate new vocabulary, with opportunities for students to use the words in their own stories. Differentiation can involve scaffolding supports, such as visual aids. At-home activity: Families can keep a ‘word journal’ where new words are collected and discussed. Website: Vocabulary.com offers personalized learning in vocabulary development.

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Gain insights into diversifying vocabulary instruction to cater to the unique learning styles and capacities of each student.

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It’s Easy to Differentiate Instruction With Vocabulary.com

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Recently, eighth-grade English teacher Deborah Ryles from Correia Middle School in San Diego told us how she’s differentiating vocabulary instruction in her classroom with Vocabulary.com.

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Learn how to adapt fluency instruction to meet the diverse needs of students, focusing on strategies that promote engagement and improvement.

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You are welcome to print copies for non-commercial use, or a limited number for educational purposes, as long as credit is given to Reading Rockets and the author(s). For commercial use, please contact the author or publisher listed.

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Differentiated instruction is based on the premise that instructional approaches should vary and be adapted in relation to individual and diverse students. This brief looks at how differentiation strategies applied to reading can be designed to help students learn a range of skills including, phonics, comprehension, fluency, word prediction, and story prediction.

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Activity 1: Question and answer sessions after reading a story help build comprehension and can be differentiated by varying the complexity of questions. Activity 2: Creating story maps or sequences to understand the plot and main ideas, with adjustments for students requiring more visual or hands-on approaches. At-home activity: Families can discuss the stories they read together, focusing on plot, characters, and setting. Website: Reading Rockets offers strategies, articles, and resources to support reading comprehension.

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Explore diverse strategies for enhancing reading comprehension for all students, with a focus on inclusive practices that accommodate individual differences.

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You are welcome to print copies for non-commercial use, or a limited number for educational purposes, as long as credit is given to Reading Rockets and the author(s). For commercial use, please contact the author or publisher listed.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Differentiated instruction is based on the premise that instructional approaches should vary and be adapted in relation to individual and diverse students. This brief looks at how differentiation strategies applied to reading can be designed to help students learn a range of skills including, phonics, comprehension, fluency, word prediction, and story prediction.

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Activity 1: Sound matching games involve children listening to and identifying sounds that begin the same way. This can be differentiated by using more straightforward or complex sounds depending on the child’s level. Activity 2: Phonemic blending activities, where children blend sounds to form words, can be adapted by altering the word complexity or providing visual cues for students with exceptionalities. At-home activity: Encourage families to play ‘I Spy’ focusing on sounds instead of letters. Website: Starfall.com offers interactive phonemic awareness games.

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Sound matching games and phonemic blending activities cater to diverse learning needs by offering variations in complexity and providing visual cues for students with exceptionalities. Encouraging families to play 'I Spy' with a focus on sounds promotes active listening and discrimination skills at home. Reading Rockets provides valuable insights into how phonemic awareness activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of students with diverse learning profiles. Sound matching games and phonemic blending activities, as suggested by Reading Rockets, offer adaptable options to accommodate varying levels of complexity and provide additional support for students with exceptionalities through visual cues or simplified sounds.

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Activity 1: Letter-sound matching games where children match letters to their corresponding sounds can be adjusted for complexity and include tactile options for students with sensory needs. Activity 2: Decoding simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words using manipulatives, which can be differentiated by choosing words based on student readiness. At-home activity: Encourage families to create flashcards with letters and pictures. Website: PBS Kids games and videos focus on literacy and phonics development.

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These activities and resources are designed to meet the diverse reading needs of young learners, including those with exceptionalities. The letter-sound matching games and decoding CVC words with manipulatives offer adaptable approaches to phonics instruction, allowing educators to customize the level of challenge for each student. By providing tactile options and adjusting the complexity of the activities, accessibility and engagement are ensured for all learners. Encouraging families to create flashcards at home promotes collaborative learning and reinforces phonics skills in a familiar environment. Additionally, PBS Kids games and videos offer interactive opportunities for phonics practice, catering to diverse learning styles and providing enjoyable experiences that support literacy development for every student.

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Vocabulary word walls, customized to match student interests and abilities, offer visual reinforcement of new words, benefiting both visual and kinesthetic learners. Supplementing word walls with visual aids supports comprehension for students with exceptionalities. Storytelling activities integrating new vocabulary provide opportunities for active engagement and deeper understanding, with scaffolding supports accommodating diverse learning needs. Keeping a 'word journal' at home fosters family involvement in vocabulary development, while Vocabulary.com's personalized learning approach ensures all students, including those with exceptionalities, can engage with vocabulary-building activities at their own pace and level.

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Question and answer sessions after reading stories and creating story maps or sequences are effective strategies for enhancing reading comprehension in young learners. These activities accommodate individual differences by varying the complexity of questions and providing visual and hands-on approaches to understanding the plot and main ideas. Additionally, engaging in discussions about stories at home and utilizing resources like Reading Rockets further support comprehension development for students of all abilities, fostering equitable access to comprehension support.

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Activity 1: Partner reading allows students to practice fluent reading with peers, which can be adjusted by matching students based on their reading levels. Activity 2: Timed repeated reading, where students read a passage multiple times to improve speed and accuracy, can be modified by selecting passages that match the student's reading level. At-home activity: Encourage families to have regular reading time where children read aloud to parents. Website: Raz-Kids provides leveled books and resources to practice fluency.

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Partner reading pairs students to practice fluent reading, adaptable by matching reading levels, benefiting all learners with tailored support. Timed repeated reading, selecting passages according to each student's level, fosters fluency by repetition, benefiting both struggling and advanced readers. Regular reading time at home encourages fluency development, providing family support and practice opportunities. Raz-Kids offers leveled books, catering to individual needs and promoting fluency through personalized practice.