Phonics & Reading

We encounter language in four basic ways: hearing, speaking, reading and writing. The first form by which language comes to us is hearing—before we are able to express language, we hear it used by those around us. Eventually children learn to speak themselves, and by the time they learn to read the average child has a spoken or oral vocabulary of 400-500 words. The larger the child's oral vocabulary, the easier it will be for him to learn to read.

The transition between spoken and read language comes when a child begins to realize the symbols he sees all around him—on road signs, in the hymnal, on the cereal box—represent the words he hears and speaks. Learning to read is simply learning to decipher these symbols in context.

Phonics is the study of the relationship between letters and the sounds they make. A child who learns to read phonetically learns to understand written language based not on the mere appearance of words on the page, but based on the sounds and oral vocabulary he already knows. Phonetic instruction provides the most thorough foundation for understanding written language because it builds upon prior naturally acquired knowledge, rather than setting up a brand-new learning paradigm that can ultimately confuse and frustrate students.

Of course, there is good and bad phonics instruction. Good phonics instruction is the result of pairing an understanding of Phonics Facts with a good Phonics Habit. Phonics facts are the sounds letters make alone or in combination, also called phonograms. A good Phonics Habit entails the ability to read and pronounce phonograms correctly by recalling them from oral memory.

Without a firm grasp of Phonics Facts and a solid Phonics Habit, a person is limited to reading only words he can memorize. No one can memorize every word in the English language, but with phonics a student can read virtually any word he encounters, whether he has seen or heard the word before or not.

Teaching a child to read well takes time; the purpose is not simply to be able to let the child loose as soon as possible, but to provide him the proper tools for unlocking language on his own. The rewards of teaching your child to read are some of the greatest you'll ever have academically—you can almost see his mind waking up as the whole realm of learning opens before him. Basically all knowledge is made available by the ability to read, not just of science and history, but knowledge of God and His people, and the offer of this to your child is one of the greatest gifts you'll ever provide.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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929 Items found Print
Active Filters: 1st grade (Ages 6-7)
70 Basic Phonogram Cards
by Wanda Sanseri
5th edition from Back Home Industries
for 1st-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$18.00 $12.00 (1 in stock)
70 Basic Phonogram Cards
by Wanda Sanseri
5th edition from Becky's Bouquet
for 1st-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$19.00
70 Basic Phonogram Cards - Large Size
by Wanda Sanseri
5th edition from Becky's Bouquet
for 1st-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$45.00
70 Basic Phonograms - CD
by Wanda Sanseri
from Back Home Industries
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
A Veces Las Cosas Cambian
Mis Primeros Libros
by Patricia Eastman
for Preschool-1st grade
in Spanish Resources (Location: FL-SPARE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
A. P. "Learn to Read" Series (Level 1)
by Dave Miller
from Apologetics Press
for Nursery-1st grade
in Apologetics Press Readers (Location: EAR-APO)
A. P. Early Readers (Level 2)
from Apologetics Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Apologetics Press Readers (Location: EAR-APO)
ABC Book of Bible People
by Martha Fisher, illustrated by Peter Balholm
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Bible Stories for Early Readers (Location: EAR-BIB)
Abe Lincoln's Hat
A Step into Reading Book Level 2
by Martha F. Brenner
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$4.99
Abraham Lincoln
DK Readers Level 3
by Justine & Ron Fontes
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Adventures in Phonics - CD
Adventures in Phonics Series
by Callie Lindstrom
from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in CLP Adventures in Phonics (Location: PHO-CLP)
$10.60 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Adventures in Phonics - Flashcards and Charts
from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in CLP Adventures in Phonics (Location: PHO-CLP)
$6.45
Adventures in Phonics Level A
Adventures in Phonics Series
by Florence Lindstrom
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in CLP Adventures in Phonics (Location: PHO-CLP)
$16.75
Adventures in Phonics Level A - Teacher Manual
Adventures in Phonics Series
by Florence Lindstrom
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in CLP Adventures in Phonics (Location: PHO-CLP)
$11.75
Adventures in Phonics Level B
Adventures in Phonics Series
by Florence Lindstrom
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 1st-2nd grade
in CLP Adventures in Phonics (Location: PHO-CLP)
$16.75
Adventures in Phonics Level B - Teacher Manual
Adventures in Phonics Series
by Florence Lindstrom
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 1st-2nd grade
in CLP Adventures in Phonics (Location: PHO-CLP)
$11.75
Adventures of Biscuit
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
3rd Print from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Adventures of Charlie the Ranch Dog
An I Can Read Book Level 1
by Ree Drummond and Diane De Groat
from Barnes & Noble
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Adventures of Mr. Toad
Disney's Wonderful World of Reading
from Random House
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Aesop's Fables for Young Readers
A Beka Reading 1F
3rd edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (4 in stock)
Aesop's Fables for Young Readers - Teacher Edition
A Beka Reading 1f
3rd edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.50 (1 in stock)
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp
Walt Disney Productions Presents
from Random House
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Alexander Hamilton
A Step into Reading Book Level 3
by Monica Culling, Illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$4.99
All About Reading - Divider Cards
from All About Learning Press
for 1st-7th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$4.95
All About Reading - Review Box
from All About Learning Press
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$15.95 $10.50 (2 in stock)
All About Reading Level 1 - Activity Book
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 1st grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$42.95
All About Reading Level 1 - Complete Kit
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$159.95
All About Reading Level 1 - Reader 1
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 1st grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95 $15.00 (1 in stock)
All About Reading Level 1 - Reader 2
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95
All About Reading Level 1 - Reader 3
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95
All About Reading Level 1 - Student Packet
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$67.95
All About Reading Level 1 - Teacher's Manual
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 1st grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$50.95
All About Reading Level 2 - Reader 1
by Marie Rippel & Renee LaTulippe
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95 $15.00 (1 in stock)
All About Reading Tote Bag
from All About Learning Press
for Preschool-4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$15.95
All About Spelling / All About Reading Letter Tiles
from All About Learning Press
for 1st-7th grade
in All About Spelling (Location: SPE-AAS)
$25.95
Alpha List
by Wanda Sanseri
from Back Home Industries
for 1st-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$33.00
Alpha-Phonics First Readers Set
by Samuel L. Blumenfeld
from Storehouse Press
for Preschool-4th grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$22.00
Alpha-Phonics: A Primer for Beginning Readers
by Samuel L. Blumenfeld
from Storehouse Press
for Preschool-4th grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$25.00
Alphabet Quest
by Ned Bustard
from Veritas Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Clearance: Readers (Location: ZCLE-READ)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
Amazing Circus of Phonograms: Act 1
by Mary Jo Nyssen
1st edition from MOM-BA-BOOKS
for Preschool-1st grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$13.99
Amazing Circus of Phonograms: Act 2
by Mary Jo Nyssen, Joe Palmisano
1st edition from MOM-BA-BOOKS
for Preschool-1st grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$13.99 $9.00 (2 in stock)
Amelia Bedelia
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Peggy Parish
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Amelia Bedelia and the Baby
I Can Read, Level 2
by Peggy Parish
from HarperTrophy
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia and the Cat
by Herman Parish
Reprint from Greenwillow Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower
by Peggy Parish
Revised from HarperCollins
for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia Bakes Off
from HarperCollins
for 1st-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping
by Peggy Parish
from Greenwillow Books
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia Helps Out
I Can Read Level 2
by Peggy Parish
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia Joins the Club
by Herman Parish
1st edition from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia Makes a Friend
I Can Read Level 1
by Herman Parish
1st edition from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia Sleeps Over
by Herman Parish
1st edition from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Peggy Parish
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Herman Parish, Illustrated by Lynn Sweat
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Herman Parish, Illustrated by Lynn Sweat
from Scholastic Inc.
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia Under Construction
by Herman Parish
from Greenwillow Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia's Family Album
by Peggy Parish
from Greenwillow Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
Amelia Bedelia's Masterpiece
I Can Read! Level 2
by Herman Parish, Illustrated by Lynn Sweat
from HarperTrophy
for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm
by Herman Parish
from Greenwillow Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
American Language Series - Phonics & Reading Guide
by Susan Kemmerer
from Mile-Hi Publishers
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in American Language Series (Location: PHO-AMLAN)
$5.00
American Schoolhouse Reader - 3 Volumes
by Beverly Allie (editor and color)
from 45th Parallel Concepts
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
And I Mean It, Stanley
by Crosby Bonsall
1st edition from HarperCollins
for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99
And I Mean It, Stanley
by Crosby Bonsall
1st edition from HarperCrest
for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
Rhyming Fantasy for 1st-4th grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
Animal Hospital
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 2
by Judith Walker-Hodge
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$3.99
Animals in the Great Outdoors
A Beka Reading 1i
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (3 in stock)
Animals in the Great Outdoors - Teacher Edition
A Beka Reading 1i
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.50 (2 in stock)
Are You My Mother?
by P. D. Eastman
from Random House
Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Are You Ready to Play Outside?
Elephant and Piggie
by Mo Willems
from Hyperion Books for Children
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
2009 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$9.99
Armor
Usborne Beginners Level 2
by Catriona Clarke
from Usborne
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
Arthur and the Super Chimp Contest
An I Can Read Book
by Lillian Hoban
from Harper & Row
for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Arthur's Christmas Cookies
I Can Read! Level 2
by Lilian Hoban
from HarperCrest
for Preschool-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Arthur's Christmas Cookies
I Can Read! Level 2
by Lilian Hoban
from Harper & Row
for Preschool-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Arthur's Halloween Costume
by Lillian Hoban
from HarperCrest
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Arthur's Honey Bear
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Lillian Hoban
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for Preschool-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Arthur's Pen Pal
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Lillian Hoban
from Harper & Row
for Preschool-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
At Last! A Reading Method for Every Child!
by Mary F. Pecci
from Pecci Educational Publishers
for Kindergarten-Adult
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
Babar's Little Circus Star
A Step into Reading Book Level 1
by Laurent de Brunhoff
from Random House
for Preschool-1st grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Bad Seed Goes to the Library
I Can Read! Level 1
by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Bargain for Frances
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Russell & Lillian Hoban
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Barkley
An Early I Can Read Book
by Syd Hoff
from Harper & Row
for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Barnabas
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Barney's Horse
by Syd Hoff
from HarperCollins
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Basic Phonics Charts
from A Beka Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in A Beka Phonics (Location: PHO-ABK)
Basic Phonics Flashcards K5 - 3
3rd edition from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in A Beka Phonics (Location: PHO-ABK)
Basic Phonics Skills B
by Hilve Firek, Jo Ellen Moore, Linda Armstrong
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in Evan-Moor Phonics (Location: ZCLE-EM)
Basic Phonics Skills C
by Hilve Firek, Jo Ellen Moore, Linda Armstrong
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 1st-2nd grade
in Evan-Moor Phonics (Location: ZCLE-EM)
Basic Phonics Sounds CD
4th edition from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in A Beka Phonics (Location: PHO-ABK)
$10.50 (1 in stock)
Bats
by Lily Wood
from Scholastic Inc.
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Bats, Cats, and Rats
A. P. "Learn to Read" Series (Level 1)
by Dave Miller
from Apologetics Press
for ages 4-6
in Apologetics Press Readers (Location: EAR-APO)
$3.00
Bats: Creatures of the Night
by Joyce Milton, illustrated by Joyce Moffatt
from Penguin Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Beall's Learning Games Phonogram Fun Packet
by Bealls' Learning Games
from Beall's Learning Games
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
Bear Cub
All Aboard Reading - Station Stop 2
by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso, illustrated by Neecy Twinem
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 1st-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Bears
Usborne Beginners
by Emma Helbrough
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
Bed for the Winter
DK Readers Level 1
by Karen Wallace
1st edition from DK Children
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99
Before We Read & First Steps - Teacher Edition
by Pathway
from Pathway Publishers
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in Pathway Readers (Location: REA-PATH)
$6.50 $3.00 (3 in stock)
Bennett Cerf's Book of Animal Riddles
First Edition from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
Benny's Animals
by Millicent E. Selsam, illustrated by Arnold Lobel
from Harper & Row
for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Bermuda Triangle
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 3
by Andrew Donkin
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99 $3.00 (2 in stock)
Best Mistake Ever! and Other Stories
A Step into Reading Book Level 3
by Richard Scarry
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$4.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Best Nest
by P.D. Eastman
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
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