Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/rhyme-time-boxes-promoting-early-literacy-skills/5027053/
*Photos can be found in the pdf version of this article.
The importance of early literacy development is well documented in research. Supporting early literacy growth is a bridge towards subsequent academic achievement, and there is a strong connection between early literacy achievement and future academic achievement (National Early Literacy Panel, 2008). According to the National Reading Panel (2000) the five pillars of early literacy and reading instruction are phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This article will focus on the component of phonemic awareness and its importance in relation to learning to read. Specifically, I will introduce “Rhyme Time Boxes,” along with several activities that can be used with young children to promote and develop phonemic awareness.
What is Phonemic Awareness?
Phonemic awareness is the understanding that words are made up of sounds and sounds can be manipulated to make spoken words. Essentially, it is the recognition of different sounds that make up speech. It is the oral and aural use of language and sounds. Knowledge of phonemic awareness is a precursor to developing the alphabetic principal and is a predictor of later reading success (National Reading Panel, 2000). Some children will develop phonemic awareness naturally through exposure to print, words, play, ...