# data[].attributes.headline
Video: Phonics vs Phonemic Awareness vs Phonological Awareness

# data[].attributes.subject
Video: Phonics vs Phonemic Awareness vs Phonological Awareness

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Phonics vs. Phonemic Awareness vs. Phonological Awareness: What's the Difference?

# data[].attributes.body
s

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
PS PK K 1 2 3 *

Looking for tips for teaching phonemic awareness?

In this post I'll share do's and don'ts for teaching phonemic awareness ... sharing mistakes I've made in the past and new insights I've gained through my study of the science of reading.

As we consider do's and don'ts for teaching phonemic awareness skills, let's start with the basics.

I admit it ... I didn't understand the difference between phonological and phonemic awareness for a long time.

I knew they weren't the same as phonics. I knew that phonics has to do with print, and phonological/phonemic awareness has to do with sounds.

But the rest was fuzzy.

A visual helps.

The above graphic is from my online course, Teaching Every Reader. As you can see, there are many components of phonological awareness: rhyming, alliteration, syllables, concept of word, onset- rime, AND phonemic awareness.
Many researchers would argue that it's the most important piece.
Phonemic awareness is just one piece of phonological awareness.
Did you catch that?

There are several mental skills associated with word reading. Phoneme awareness appears to be one of the most important of these skills. Phoneme awareness refers to the ability to notice that spoken words can be broken down into smaller parts called phonemes.
David Kilpatrick, Equipped for Reading Success
Test yourself.
While the other components of phonological awareness have to do with the larger parts of words (syllables, onset/rime, etc.), a phoneme is the smallest part of a word. It's an individual sound.

How many phonemes does each of these words have?

Ready for the answer key? Note ... when you see letters between those slash marks (fancy word = virgules), we are referring to the sounds, not the letter names.
How'd you do?

1. Hat has three phonemes: /h/ /a/ /t/

2. Fish has three phonemes: /f/ /i/ /sh/

3. Swim has four phonemes: /s/ /w/ /i/ /m/

4. Fox has four phonemes: /b/ /o/ /k/ /s/

5. Squish has five phonemes: /s/ /k/ /w/ /i/ /sh/

If you're new to counting phonemes, don't worry! It takes a little practice.

Before we move on, let's remember that there are four levels of phonemic awareness.

The following infographic breaks down the four types and gives a sample phonemic awareness task for each one.

If you're asking, "Who cares?" then I say "Great question."

Knowing what phonemic awareness is does us no good if we don't understand why it matters.

That brings us to our second "do ..."

Let's start with the end goal: reading comprehension.

How do we get there?

Check out this quote from David Kilpatrick.

Reading comprehension is our goal, and the most direct route to good reading comprehension is to make the word recognition process automatic so a student can focus all of his or her mental energy on the meaning.
David Kilpatrick, Equipped for Reading Success

The next logical question is: HOW do we make the word recognition process automatic? How do we get students to the place where they recognize words immediately without needing to sound them out?
We use a process called orthographic mapping to be able to instantly recognize words.
Hint: It's not through memorizing long lists of words!

Orthographic mapping is a process by which we map phonemes to graphemes.

This threw me for a loop for while, but it's not as complex as it sounds.

Phonemes = sounds

Graphemes = printed letters which represent sounds

Therefore, orthographic mapping is a mental process by which we match the sounds of a word to the letters in a word (the spellings). By second grade, typical readers need just 2-4 exposures to a word to have it "orthographically mapped."

We cannot become good at orthographic mapping unless we have both letter sound knowledge AND PHONEMIC AWARENESS.

(That was a very quick look at orthographic mapping, and if you don't quite get it yet, that's normal. Here's an 11-minute video from Ms. Jane's Tutoring & Dyslexia Services that explains it in an easy-to-understand way.

Once we understand WHAT phonemic awareness is, and WHY we need to teach it, we're ready to get started.

But before you start, make sure you know how to pronounce phonemes properly.

What's the sound of the letter l?

Did you say "luh"? Many people make that mistake.

Instead, we say that the sound of letter l is /llllll/.

Otherwise, if students are sounding out the word let, they might read it as luh-et.

Pronouncing phonemes getseven trickier with letters like p and b. It's hard to clip the sounds quickly so we don't add an "uh" to the end.

Check out this quick video to make sure you're pronouncing all 44 phonemes correctly (the sounds will be different, of course, if you are not speaking American English.)

I have to hang my head in shame here because, for years, I didn't give a lot of thought to phonemic awareness.

By "years" I mean all the years I was a classroom teacher. UGH.

I thought that the playful games we played with words and songs would be enough.

And it was ... for some students.

I didn't get that phonemic awareness is often the missing key for struggling readers. (And truthfully, all my students would have benefited from explicit instruction in phonemic awareness.)

Had I known its importance, I would have made it a point to teach phonemic awareness every day. (Every kindergarten and first grade teaches should fit it into their daily schedule.)

The good news is that phonemic awareness instruction doesn't have to take long, and it requires few materials.

Many teachers love the Heggerty phonemic awareness curriculum. The program includes hand motions and daily lessons that take just 10-15 minutes.

I think Heggerty is a pretty solid program, but if your budget is tight, you can get a free printable phonemic awareness program at Reading Done Right.

Not ready to purchase a full curriculum? My phonemic awareness bundle has 12 weeks of oral phonemic awareness activities, plus printable games kids love.

Are you familiar with sound walls? They're all the rage these days - a substitute for the more traditional word walls.

In the past, we used word walls as a way to help kids find spellings of high frequency words.

But the problem with a word wall is that while we have 44 phonemes in the English language, a word wall only has 26 letters.

It makes more sense to teach children sounds (phonemes) and then gradually add words to the sound wall as they learn phonics patterns that spell those sounds.

Here's a sound wall that I helped a teacher put up this very morning. (This is my own creation and will be added to my shop in the next few months.)

I won't get into all the specifics here, but you can see that the sounds are arranged based on how they're made in the mouth.

We also put up this sound wall for vowel phonemes. You can see that the vowels are arranged based on how your mouth is formed when you make the sounds. The bottom-most sound is the short o, when your mouth is opened the widest.
Here's a very important sound wall tip ...
Many teachers have little mirrors that they give their students so they can see how their mouth looks when they articulate particular phonemes.

Do not put up all the sounds and word cards on the first day!

The above examples are complete sound walls that you might not even see until third grade.

You should only display the words below each sound when you've taught that phonics pattern.

For example, the above sound wall includes "ei" for veil. You would likely not teach that pattern in first grade, so a first grade teacher would never use that card.

(If the idea of sound walls is fuzzy, stay tuned, because my upcoming product will explain exactly how to use it!)

We often hear that phonemic awareness activities can be done in the dark (without print), and that's true, but it's also important to teach phonemic awareness and phonics together.
In this activity they practiced:
One of my favorite ways to do that is with phoneme grapheme mapping. Check out this video I did with my preschool-aged son and our neighbor. (They are little; please excuse the incorrect letter formation. 😉)

Phoneme segmenting

Phoneme blending

We could have added phoneme isolation by asking, "What's the first/middle/last sound?"

We could have added phoneme manipulation by asking, "If you took the /s/ off of sun and replaced it with /f/, what would the new word be?"

Another way to integrate phonemic awareness with phonics is to have a phonemic awareness warm-up related to the phonics skill you're about to teach.

For example: If you're teaching the ai spelling pattern, tell your students to listen for the vowel sound in each word. They should give a thumbs up if they hear the long a sound.

bat (thumbs down)
rain (thumbs up)
say (thumbs up)
snack (thumbs down)
weigh (thumbs up)

Then continue on to your phonics lesson in which you tell them that ai is one way to represent the long a sound.

Let's sum up!

This was a hefty blog post about teaching phonemic awareness! Let's review.

DO understand the difference between phonological and phonemic awareness. Phonemic awareness has to do with the individual sounds in words. There are four kids of phonemic awareness tasks:

phoneme isolation

phoneme blending

phoneme segmenting

phoneme manipulation

DO understand the importance of phonemic awareness. The short explanation is that students must be proficient in phonemic awareness to be able to do the mental process of orthographic mapping - which is how we recognize words automatically instead of having to sound them out.

DON'T leave phonemic awareness to chance. Kindergarten and first grade teachers should reserve 5-10 minutes for phonemic awareness instruction every day.

DO use a sound wall as you teach each phoneme. Remember not to add a word card until you've taught the phonics pattern associated with that word.

Finally, DO integrate phonemic awareness with phonics instruction. You can do that with activities like phoneme grapheme mapping or by doing a related phonemic awareness task before you teach a new phonics skill.

As a reward for making it to the end of this post, you're invited to download this FREE set of phonemic awareness games, a sample from my full set.

The rest of this series is coming this Fall!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Do's and don'ts for teaching phonemic awareness

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. PS PK K 1 2 3 * Looking for tips for teaching phonemic awareness? In this post I'll share do's and don'ts for teaching phonemic awareness ...

# data[].attributes.body
Phonemic Awareness is a key component within Phonological Awareness

# data[].attributes.body
In this video, you will see that the lesson taught is explicit and systematic. It is clear that students engage in lessons such as this one frequently and therefore, are familiar with the routine.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Phonemic Awareness Lesson | For Teachers: Lesson Ideas, Class Activities | Preschool & Kindergarten

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Through many enlightening scientific studies in literacy development, we now have a much better understanding of how our brains learn to read. So many different elements have to come together to make it work-it's remarkable when you think about it! One of these non-negotiable elements in the early literacy process is manipulating and distinguishing between the sounds in words, also known as phonemic awareness. Chances are you've heard of it, but you might have some questions. We'll cover what you need to know as we dive deep into this critical part of acquiring reading and writing skills.

What is a phoneme?

First, let's talk phonemes. A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound in a word. For example, in the word "cat," there are three phonemes, or three units of sound, /c/ /a/ /t/. Likewise in the word "night," there are also three phonemes, even though there are five letters, or graphemes. A phoneme isn't the same thing as a letter. Instead, it's the sound a letter or letters make. /igh/ makes the long I sound, so it's only one phoneme.

A good rule of thumb is that phonemic awareness is mostly oral, while phonics deals with the letters or print you can see.

Let's try it! Can you count the number of phonemes in these words? (Hint: It helps to close your eyes when you say the words aloud so you don't get stuck on the number of letters.)

(Answers: 3, 5, 2)

Why do we need to teach phonemic awareness?

It's important to teach early readers that words are made up of phonemes and that we can break them apart and blend them together to make words. Without grasping this essential concept, students will struggle to decode. Instead, they might rely on memorization when they read. Of course, they have to develop a strong understanding of letters too, but both of these are critical building blocks for success in learning to read.

Also, there are 44 distinct sounds in the English language, while there are more than 200 ways to represent those 44 sounds. A little confusing, right? Understanding that words are made up of sounds is not very intuitive. We don't hear the individual sounds in words when we say them, we hear the word spoken as a unit. Since hearing individual sounds in a word is not necessarily automatic, we have to explicitly teach students the skills they need. Similarly, in order to spell words, you have to be able to segment or take apart sounds in words. Some might need more instruction than others to master it, but all will benefit from the extra practice.

Another consideration that makes phonemic awareness tricky is something called coarticulation. When you say a word out loud, an individual sound often overlaps with the sound right before or after it, making it harder to distinguish.

The International Dyslexia Association offers a detailed guide on the process of developing phonemic awareness. Check it out for deeper understanding and helpful teaching tips.

What about phonological awareness?

You may have heard the terms "phonemic awareness" and "phonological awareness" used interchangeably, but there's an important distinction between the two. Phonemic awareness falls under the umbrella of the broader skill of phonological awareness, which encompasses the ability to recognize sound parts in spoken language. This includes rhyming and syllables, or bigger chunks in words, while phonemic awareness focuses on the individual sounds. A solid foundation in phonological awareness is necessary for developing strong phonemic awareness.

Want to learn more about the difference between phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, and phonics? Check out this helpful video from Learning at the Primary Pod.

What are the main components of phonemic awareness?

There are six main features of phonemic awareness. The tasks are progressive, meaning that the higher-level skills require proficiency in each of the previous ones. For example, in order to successfully do phoneme substitution, a student must be capable of doing each of the preceding skills.

Here's an example of each of these tasks:

Check out this video from Susan Jones for more information about each of the six components and how to teach these specific skills in the classroom:

How do I teach phonemic awareness?

Now that you know what is it, let's talk about how to teach it. Most likely, there will be a range of phonemic awareness skills in your class, depending on the grade level and experience of your students. Some students will be able to do these tasks on their own, while others will require more intentional and explicit instruction. While phonemic awareness is most often taught early, older students who have not mastered these skills would greatly benefit from learning them as well.

Assess

Like many things we teach, it's helpful to start out by finding out what students already know. You can do this by using formal and informal assessments. Really Great Reading, an explicit literacy program, offers a free diagnostic tool to help identify students' strengths and deficits. Head to their website and fill out this form, click on Phonological Awareness Survey (which includes phonemic awareness assessments), and you'll receive an email with a copy of the comprehensive assessment.

Make it fun!

Once you know the skills students need to practice, including manipulatives in your instruction is a great way to support developing phonemic awareness skills. Students can use these interactive tools to help them segment and blend sounds in words. On her blog Fun in First, Jodi Southard offers some helpful recommendations for types of manipulatives your students will love. Playdough to Plato also has a detailed lesson plan for how to use the popular Pop-It toy for a fun lesson.

Integrated Daily Practice

Even though phonemic awareness is an important component of learning to read, that doesn't mean you have to teach it first. In fact, one of the best ways to incorporate it is alongside explicit phonics instruction. Newer research suggests the importance of simultaneously using both to optimize learning for students.

A fun activity called Switch It, from Reading Simplified by Marnie Ginsberg, combines phonics with phonemic awareness. The task incorporates phonemic segmentation and manipulation along with decoding and the alphabetic principle to boost each of these skills.

Teach one or two skills at a time

Students need to have a baseline level of phonemic awareness before they can benefit from integrated instruction. Using a designated tool to work on targeted phonemic awareness skills can get everyone up to speed and doesn't take up much time. Take a look at these programs for comprehensive instruction:

Heggerty

This program is designed for classroom instruction or intervention. Lessons are targeted and explicit and designed to last 10 to 15 minutes.
Heggerty Curriculum
Kilpatrick

With extensive information on early literacy development, this book offers comprehensive summaries of research and a step-by-step program to use.
Equipped for Reading Success
Incorporate activities into centers or small group instruction:

The Florida Center for Reading Research offers great activities for focused phonemic awareness practice, as well as many other literacy skills. You can easily incorporate them into your literacy routine or small group instruction.

Make it consistent

Consider adding extra practice to your morning meeting or other daily routines. Many activities can double as games or transition times. Check out these suggestions from Sarah's Teaching Snippets for some inspiration.

Whether you decide to invest in a program or take advantage of free online resources, there are so many great ways to support students' phonemic awareness. Either way, knowing the basics about this important literacy skill will enhance your instruction and set your students up for success.

Want to learn more? Don't miss:
40 Low-Prep Phonological Awareness Activities What Is Reading Intervention? 10 Helpful Science of Reading PD Books for Teachers
Which phonemic awareness resources do you use? Tell us in the comments!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Is Phonemic Awareness? A Guide for Educators and Families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We define the concept of phonemic awareness, discuss why it's important, and share resources to implement it in the classroom.

# data[].attributes.headline
Article: A Guide to Phonics, Phonemic Awareness, & Phonological Awareness

# data[].attributes.subject
Article: A Guide to Phonics, Phonemic Awareness, & Phonological Awareness

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Phonics, Phonemic Awareness, & Phonological Awareness: Ultimate Guide

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Confused about what phonics, phonemic awareness, and phonological awareness are? I break down each of these in this ultimate guide.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Teach Phonemic Awareness in Kindergarten, 1st, & 2nd Grade | Phonemic Awareness Activities

# data[].attributes.headline
Article: Why Phonological Awareness is Important for Reading and Spelling

# data[].attributes.subject
Article: Why Phonological Awareness is Important for Reading and Spelling

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Phoneme awareness is necessary for learning and using the alphabetic code

Phoneme awareness predicts later outcomes in reading and spelling

The majority of poor readers have relative difficulty with phoneme awareness and other phonological skills

Instruction in phoneme awareness is beneficial for novice readers and spellers

Phonological awareness interacts with and facilitates the development of vocabulary and word consciousness

Moats, L, & Tolman, C (2009). Excerpted from Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS): The Speech Sounds of English: Phonetics, Phonology, and Phoneme Awareness (Module 2). Boston: Sopris West.

For more information on Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) visit Voyager Sopris .

For any reprint requests, please contact the author or publisher listed.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Phonological Awareness Is Important for Reading and Spelling

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Phonological awareness is critical for learning to read any alphabetic writing system. And research shows that difficulty with phoneme awareness and other phonological skills is a predictor of poor reading and spelling development.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
14 phonemic awareness activities for students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Phonemic awareness activities can help kids of all ages build their phonemic awareness. Dive into 14 of our favorites!