Big Ideas in Beginning Reading

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Phonemic Awareness

Instruction

Teaching Strategies and Examples: Sound Isolation

Use Conspicuous Strategies

1. Show children how to do all the steps in the task before asking children to do the task.

   Example: (Put down 2 pictures that begin with different sounds and say the names of the pictures.) "My turn to say the first sound in man, /mmm/. Mmman begins with /mmm/. Everyone, say the first sound in man, /mmm

   Non-example: "Who can tell me the first sounds in these pictures?"

2. Use consistent and brief wording.

   Example: "The first sound in Mmman is /mmm/. Everyone say the first sound in man, /mmm/."

   Non-example: "Man starts with the same sound as the first sounds in mountain, mop, and Miranda. Does anyone know other words that begin with the same sound as man?"

3. Correct errors by telling the answer and having children repeat the correct answer.

   Example: "The first sound in Man is /mmm/. Say the first sound in mmman with me, /mmm/. /Mmmm/."

   Non-example: Asking the question again or asking more questions. "Look at the picture again. What is the first sound?"

Video Clip Example: First Sound Identification

Specific Skill: First sound identification using /e/ as an example.

Skills taught prior to this clip were: Sound and word discrimination.

Things to look for in this clip:

• What the teacher does:
  • Uses materials effortlessly
  • Provides many opportunities for both group and individual student responses
  • Monitors student behavior closely and confirms student understanding by repeating the correct response
• What the student does:
  • Produces and practices the new skill multiple times
  • Answers with highly accurate responses in group and individually
  • Participates actively during instruction

First Sound Identification

The next instructional objectives for this group:

• First-sound isolation with new sounds
• Identify final sounds
• Segment individual sounds in words

Instructional Materials used in this clip:
Simmons, D. & Kame'enui, E. (1999) Optimize. Eugene, OR: College of Education, Institute for Development of Educational Achievement, University of Oregon.