Supporting Phonemic Awareness Development in the Classroom

Five Essential Elements Research Article Review #1:

Supporting phonemic awareness development in the classroom

RDNG 412-Emergent Literacy

Due Date: September 1, 2012

By: Ashley Davis

As the article starts out, it gives definitions and examples of how phonics, phonemes, phonetics, auditory discrimination, and how phonemic awareness is different. This article paints a clear picture to what phonemic awareness is and what it should look like in a classroom. A list of types of instruction for phonemic awareness and examples to go along with it, gives support to the main idea of the article. Going into how much time this should use depends on the district you are in, and that "it is the quality of instruction and the responsiveness of the instruction to the individuals in the classroom" is more important than the amount of time being used (Yopp 135). Then the article shares activities for building sensitivity to sounds of speech that are for focusing on the structure of sound of a language. These activities range from (oral) speaking activities, syllable manipulation, cues, phoneme manipulation, and working with letters. These activities are in this article to give suggestions to teachers and their classrooms. The authors hope is that "phonemic awareness instruction becomes a thoughtful, conscious component of early literacy programs" (Yopp 142).

After reading this article, I look back and see that what we have learned in class and from our readings is all in line with this article and its purpose. I see that phonemic awareness is going to if not already sweeping school districts everywhere and will now be the new way to teach kids how to read, write, and be great spellers; along with other factors included as well. I really enjoyed all of the different types of activities I can do with students to help in certain areas of phonemic awareness. These are fun and playful activities that will keep the students engaged in learning and wanting to know more. This method of teaching is not an easier way but even though it takes longer time to plan, it is the best practice in a classroom. I just hope that when I get my own classroom, that I can use these activities and be able to watch my kids learn and become better in their literacy. This article is just an anchor in my brain of what I have already learned and what I will learn in the future about phonemic awareness.