Phonic Zoom encourages the learning of phonemes and graphemes through play and supports the development of independent reading for children in a fun and exciting way.
What is phonics?
Phonics is a method of teaching reading and writing that focuses on the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and the letters or letter combinations (graphemes) that represent those sounds in written language. It helps learners understand how to decode words by associating the sounds they hear with the letters they see. In essence, phonics teaches children how to sound out words by recognising the individual phonemes and their corresponding letters or letter patterns. This learning is crucial for becoming proficient readers and spellers.
What are phonemes?
What are graphemes?
Phonemes are the small sounds that we use to build words. When we talk, we’re putting these sounds together, like piecing a puzzle together, to create words. Each language has its own special set of sounds. Using these sounds in different ways helps us say different things. So, phonemes are the sounds that make up our talking and speech, just like the stars fit together to make up the pictures in the night sky!
Graphemes are the written symbols (letters or letter combinations) that represent sounds in a language. These are the letters that we see on a page when we write words. Graphemes are the visual symbols (letters) of phonemes (sounds) that we hear. Knowing the relationship between phonemes and graphemes is a crucial skill for children who are learning to read.
Click the video above to see our Phonics Rave series!
Helping your child learn how to blend with phonemes can be lots of fun. First, start with simple words like “cat” or “dog”. Break the words into the sounds they make: “c-a-t” or “d-o-g”. Then, ask your child to listen carefully and put the sounds together to say the whole word. Reading books together is another great way to practise blending. This is because you can point out how sounds some together to make different words. Keep it playful and celebrate their progress.
Home learning task:
Simply point to objects within your home. Ask your child what the object is. Ask them to verbally blend the word by saying the separate phonemes. For example, you point at a chair and your child confidently recalls that you are, in fact, pointing to a chair. When asking them to split the word, your child should recall the phonemes ‘ch’ and ‘air’. This will help them to blend the sounds that they are learning in school by connecting them with something visual. This will also improve their reading strength as these sounds will become more familiar to them.
How many sounds are there to learn?
In the English language, there are 44 different phonemes to learn. These are like the building blocks of words and each one makes a different sound. Some phonemes are made with just one letter, while others need a combination of letters. By learning these phonemes, you can understand how to say and read lots of different words!
Are there any exceptions?
Whilst most phonemes in English follow certain rules, there are some sounds that like to play by their own special rules. These are like the rebels of the sound world! They might not sound exactly like the letters they’re made of or might not play nice with the usual rules. For example, think about the “gh” in “laugh” – it doesn’t sound like a “g” or a “h” but it adds a unique twist to the word. These exceptions are like surprise guests at a party, making language exciting and a bit unpredictable.
Examples
1) “laugh” and “enough” The “gh” here makes the “f” sound rather than the usual “g” or “h”.
2) “bread” and “break“, “seal” and “meal” The “ea” can make the sound “e” or “ee”.
3) “cough” and “through” The “ou” in “cough” sounds like “off” instead of “oo” like in “through”.
4) “phone” The “ph” makes the “f” sound.
5) “knight” and “know” The “k” isn’t pronounced in these words.
6) “wrist” and “write” The “w” isn’t pronounced here.
These are just a few examples of the different sounds that can be made in the English language. The various rules can make the learning process a bit trickier, but this is why visual learning and continuous support is very important!
Tips for teaching:
When teaching children, it is important for them to learn the sound of the phoneme first, rather than the letter name as it appears in the alphabet. For example, learn the sound “ss” rather than the letter name “ess” for the letter “S”. This helps avoid confusion for children when they are practising different tasks such as blending or segmenting and even when they are reading.
Make sure the learning is engaging! Use tools like our Phonic Zoom games in combination with the home learning tasks that can be completed daily without much struggle. If the child is having fun, the learning is not a chore. Our main aim is to make learning accessible and enjoyable for not only children, but teachers, parents and guardians also.
In conclusion:
Helping your child learn segmenting with phonemes can be a great adventure. Phonics is a fundamental element for the development and growth of young children. Reading and spelling opens them up to a whole new word. A world that involves books, navigation, games, menus, Christmas lists, different school subjects and so much more! Be patient, be willing and be excited to help your child along this huge journey to becoming superstar readers!