What is Phonemic Awareness?
Why Should
We Teach Phonemic Awareness?
According to
the Right to Read Report, written by The Ontario Human Rights Commission,
“...the best way to teach all students to read words is through direct,
explicit, systematic instruction in foundational word-reading skills” (p. 20). This should include explicit instruction in
phonemic awareness.
Effective Early Reading Instruction: A Guide for Teachers
This guide is intended to support
teachers’ ongoing efforts to build students’ reading skills. It provides
teachers with information on foundational early reading skills, an
understanding of how these skills develop in young children, and examples of
evidence-based systematic and explicit instructional strategies to support
students to become proficient and fluent readers.
How Can I Implement Phonemic Awareness Instruction?
The Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Curriculum is a 35-week curriculum of daily explicit and systematic
phonological and phonemic awareness lessons that are done through teacher
modeling. It is an
evidence-based curriculum that uses a scope and sequence of phonemic awareness
skills.
Whole class
instruction is considered Tier 1 Instruction.
Based on assessment data, the Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Curriculum can
also be used to differentiate instruction and provide support to a small group
of students who need additional practice of targeted phonemic awareness skills (Tier
2). The Heggerty Curriculum could also be used for one-on-one instruction (Tier
3).
 |
 |
 |
|
Pre-K Heggerty
Curriculum |
Kindergarten Heggerty
Curriculum |
Primary Heggerty
Curriculum |
|
Supports JK Students |
Supports SK Students |
Supports Grade 1 & 2 Students |
What are the Phonemic Awareness Skills?
1. Rhyming
2. Onset
Fluency
3. Blending
(Words, Syllables, Onset-Rime, & Phonemes)
4. Isolating
Final or Medial Sounds
5. Segmenting
(Words, Syllables, Onset-Rime, & Phonemes)
6. Adding
7. Deleting
8. Substituting
(begins in Week 19 in Pre-K)
Heggerty Tips
· Students should
be learning with the curriculum designated for their grade (Pre-K for JK; K for
SK; Primary for Grade 1 and Grade 2).
· Daily Lessons (Monday-Friday)
with a whole group (Tier 1)
· A
classroom lesson should not exceed 15 minutes. If it does…do not skip skills!
Reduce the number of words used with each skill, but still practice all of the
skills.
·
All
students participate by responding orally.
·
The
only print the students see is letter cards for teaching Letter Naming &
nursery rhymes
·
Hand Motions or
Gestures support the development of the skills.
Learn about them here- Phonemic Awareness Hand Motions
·
Lessons
can be used in small groups to provide intervention and support for students
who need additional support with targeted skills instruction (Tier 2)
· Heggerty supports a component of developing skilled reading: Word Recognition: Phonological Awareness-one part of the "reading rope" for reading instruction
https://www.reallygreatreading.com/content/scarboroughs-reading-rope
Heggerty Resources:
·
Reading
Benchmark Assessment System SharePoint there is a
folder (in the documents section) for Heggerty screeners for assessing student’s
phonemic awareness
·
Heggerty
Blog: Check out numerous resources, how to
videos, lessons etc.
·
Heggerty Phonemic
Awareness on You Tube
· LKDSB training Session for Heggerty: June 7th at 4pm.
