Building Phonological Awareness

Did you know phonological awareness is the key predictor to your students' reading and writing success? This essential unit will explicitly teach students to hear, segment, blend and manipulate sounds in spoken language. Students will engage in a range of activities that focus on the six skills of phonological awareness including rhyme, alliteration, word segmentation, syllables, onset and rime, and phonemic awareness. These six skills are in hierarchical order, where each skill needs to be mastered before progressing to the next. The instructional method used in each of the six lessons is explicit, enhancing all students ability with teacher support using a gradual release of responsibility and differentiated activities. Students will engage in high energy and imaginary activities, incidentally building familiarity of their new school environment and forming a connectedness between class members. As phonological awareness is a complex skill, reteaching lessons are encouraged. Continue practising each skill each day or week throughout Term 1 to ensure skill mastery.