Teaching Phonics in Kindergarten
Why is Phonics Instruction Important for Struggling Readers?
Phonics instruction provides learners with the skills they need to use letter sounds to read individual words. Since phonics skills are needed to decode and read individual words, they are a critical component of developing strong readers. When a student is struggling to read, it’s often a sign that intervention is needed in the area of phonics.
3 Steps for Phonics Intervention
- Phonics and Early Literacy Diagnostic - In order to provide targeted intervention for struggling readers, teachers use diagnostics to assess students skills in the different areas of phonics. These diagnostics usually look at the following: producing letter sounds, spelling and reading individual words. The data gathered from the diagnostics helps teachers to determine students’ strengths and areas of concern before making a plan for intervention.
- Specific Objective Based Learning - Once the data has been gathered from the diagnostics, teachers can create an intervention plan for helping the struggling reader. This plan should include explicit instruction in the areas of concern as well as many opportunities to practice. Once the teacher has the data from the diagnostics and has provided explicit instruction in the areas of concern, students benefit from practicing these skills frequently at school and at home. Practicing at home not only strengthens reading skills, it helps to build confidence and a love of reading. For an example of a great printable for CVC practice, click here.
CVC Worksheets Printable Worksheets
- Revisiting the Assessment - This allows teachers to reassess students’ progress towards mastering the areas of concern. This is a great opportunity for students, teachers, and parents to celebrate the progress that has been made so far. If there are still areas of concern, the new data can be used to adjust the intervention plan to meet the needs of the struggling reader.
CVC Worksheets Printable Worksheets
Intervention and extra practice in the area of fluency can occur both at home and at school, which will help to develop the skills and confidence needed to become strong readers. Once students master phonics skills, they can progress to practicing fluency and comprehension. Click here to find more resources designed to support young learners both at home and at school.