Phonemic awareness refers to the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words (Hempenstall, 1997, p. 202). It involves understanding that words are made up of sounds and being able to segment, blend, and manipulate these sounds orally without the support of print (Hempenstall, 1997, p. 202). Activities to develop phonemic awareness may include rhyming, segmenting words into individual sounds, blending sounds to form words, and manipulating sounds to create new words.

Classroom Activities

·     I Spy: I Spy the Sound” is a fun way to build phonemic awareness. In this variation of “I Spy”, spy words that begin with a certain sound, rather than a letter.

·    Rhyming Words Game: Play a rhyming words game where students identify words that rhyme with given words. Differentiate by providing visual aids or manipulatives for students with exceptionalities.

At-Home Activity & Website

·       At-Home Activity - Sound Hunt: Encourage families to go on a sound hunt around their home or neighborhood. They can make a list of all the sounds they hear and categorize them based on initial sounds. This activity promotes phonemic awareness by focusing on auditory discrimination.

·       Website - Starfall.com: Starfall offers interactive games and activities that focus on phonemic awareness. It provides audio support and visual cues, making it accessible for learners of all abilities.

Phonics

Phonics is a method of teaching reading and spelling that emphasizes the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and their corresponding written symbols (graphemes) (Paris, 2019, p. 205). It involves teaching students the systematic and predictable relationships between letters and sounds, enabling them to decode and encode words (Paris, 2019, p. 205). Phonics instruction typically includes teaching letter-sound correspondence, blending sounds to form words, and recognizing common spelling patterns.

Classroom Activities

·       Letter-Sound Matching: Provide students with letter cards and corresponding picture cards. They match each letter to its corresponding initial sound picture. Differentiate by providing additional support materials such as tactile letters for students with exceptionalities.

·       Word Building Activity: Students use letter tiles to build simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words. Provide visual prompts and scaffolds for students who need extra support.

At-Home Activity & Website

·       At-Home Activity - Word Family Sort: Families can create word family sorting cards (e.g., -at, -an, -ig) and have children sort pictures or word cards into the correct word family. This activity reinforces phonics skills by focusing on common word patterns.

·       Website - ABCmouse.com: ABCmouse offers a variety of phonics activities and games at different levels. It provides audio support and interactive features suitable for learners with diverse needs.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary refers to the knowledge of words and their meanings (Van den Bosch et al., 2020, p. 290). In the context of reading instruction, vocabulary development involves expanding students' understanding of words, including both the meanings of individual words and how they are used in context. Teachers may use various strategies to build vocabulary, such as explicit instruction of word meanings, exposure to rich and diverse texts, context clues, and vocabulary games and activities.

Classroom Activities

·       Word Wall: Create a word wall with high-frequency words and thematic vocabulary. Encourage students to use the words in sentences and incorporate them into their daily conversations. Provide visual supports and real-life objects for students with exceptionalities.

·       Vocabulary Charades: Play a game of vocabulary charades where students act out or draw pictures of target words for their classmates to guess. Offer alternative communication methods for students who may struggle with verbal expression.

At-Home Activity & Website

·       At-Home Activity - Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt: Families can organize a vocabulary scavenger hunt where children search for objects around the house that match given vocabulary words. This activity promotes vocabulary development through real-world connections.

·       Website - Vocabulary.com: Vocabulary.com offers engaging activities and quizzes to build vocabulary skills. It provides explanations and examples for each word, catering to various learning styles and abilities.

Fluency

Fluency is the ability to read text accurately, quickly, and with expression. Fluent readers are able to decode words automatically, allowing them to focus on comprehension and meaning rather than struggling with individual word recognition. Fluency instruction aims to help students develop smooth and expressive reading skills through repeated reading, modeling, and guided practice. It involves strategies such as phrased reading, timed readings, and listening to fluent reading models (Rupley et al., 2020, p. 156).

Classroom Activities

·       Repeated Reading: Have students practice reading a short passage multiple times until they can read it fluently. Provide feedback and model proper intonation and expression. Offer simplified texts or audio support for students with exceptionalities.

·       Reader's Theater: Engage students in reader's theater activities where they perform short scripts or plays. Assign roles based on students' reading abilities and provide support as needed.

At-Home Activity & Website:

·       At-Home Activity - Read Aloud Relay: Families can organize a read-aloud relay where each family member takes turns reading a paragraph or page from a book. This activity encourages fluency development in a fun and supportive environment.

·       Website - ReadWorks.org: ReadWorks offers a collection of leveled passages and fluency-building activities. It provides audio support and comprehension questions to help students develop fluency skills at their own pace.

Comprehension

Comprehension refers to the understanding of the meaning and message conveyed by a text (McKee & Carr, 2016, p. 360). It involves actively constructing meaning from the words and ideas presented in the text, as well as making connections, predictions, and inferences based on prior knowledge and experiences. Comprehension instruction focuses on teaching students to use various strategies to enhance their understanding of texts, such as asking questions, making predictions, summarizing, visualizing, and monitoring comprehension (McKee & Carr, 2016, p. 362). It also involves fostering critical thinking skills and promoting discussion and reflection on the text.

Classroom Activities

·       Story Retelling: After reading a story together, have students retell the main events in their own words. Use visual aids or graphic organizers to support comprehension and differentiation for students with exceptionalities.

·       Question-Answer Relationships (QAR): Teach students different types of comprehension questions (e.g., Right There, Think and Search, Author and You, On My Own). Practice identifying and answering each type of question using various texts.

At-Home Activity & Website

·       At-Home Activity - Book Talk: Encourage families to have book talks during meal times or before bedtime. Children can discuss the characters, setting, and events of the story with their family members, promoting comprehension and critical thinking skills.

·       Website – Readingrockets.org: Reading Rockets provides resources and strategies for improving reading comprehension. It offers tips for parents and caregivers to support children's comprehension skills at home.