Phonemic Awareness
What
Phonemes are the smallest units of sound in spoken language. The word cat has three phonemes: /k/, /ă/, and /t/.
Phonemic awareness is a student’s ability to focus on and manipulate the individual sounds in English.
Why
Teaching phonemic awareness significantly improves student’s reading more than instruction without phonemic awareness. (National Reading Panel, 2006)
How
Students learn “finger-tapping,” a kinesthetic-tactile technique for blending sounds while reading and segmenting sounds while spelling. Finger tapping reinforces learning and provides a valuable tool to use at school and at home.
About Heidi
Heidi Hildebrandt, Owner and Tutor at Steps 2 Reading, LLC, is committed to helping students achieve their reading potential. She assists children and adults in developing reading and spelling skills and in increasing their self-confidence.