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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255 Items found Print
Active Filters: 4th grade (Ages 9-10)
18 Penny Goose
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Sally M. Walker
from HarperCollins
Realistic fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
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)
Abigail Takes the Wheel
An I Can Read Chapter Book
by Avi
from HarperTrophy
for 3rd-5th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Adventures in Other Lands
A Beka Reading 4
3rd edition from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (2 in stock)
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 4 - Activity Book
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$42.95
All About Reading Level 4 - Complete Kit
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$159.95
All About Reading Level 4 - Reader 1
by Marie Rippel, Renee LaTulippe
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95
All About Reading Level 4 - Reader 2
by Marie Rippel, Renee LaTulippe
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95
All About Reading Level 4 - Student Packet
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$67.95
All About Reading Level 4 - Teacher Manual
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$50.95
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
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)
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)
Aunt Eater's Mystery Vacation
by Doug Cushman
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$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)
Beginning Reasoning & Reading
by Joanne Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.49
Beginning Reasoning & Reading - Teacher's Guide / Answer Key
by Joanne Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.89
Beyond the Code Book 3
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-4th grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.09
Beyond the Code Book 4
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-4th grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.09
Birds of a Feather
from All About Learning Press
for 1st-4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$19.95
Black Learning Log
by Wanda Sanseri
from Becky's Bouquet
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$23.00
Boys and Girls of Colonial Days
by Carolyn Bailey
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$9.50 $6.50 (1 in stock)
Bridges Beyond
CLE Reading
by Ruth K. Hobbs
from Christian Light Education
for 4th grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Building Our Lives
by Pathway
from Pathway Publishers
for 4th grade
in Pathway Readers (Location: REA-PATH)
$11.00
Building Our Lives - Teacher Edition
by Pathway
from Pathway Publishers
for 4th grade
in Pathway Readers (Location: REA-PATH)
$6.50 $3.50 (2 in stock)
Building Our Lives - Workbook
by Pathway
from Pathway Publishers
for 4th grade
in Pathway Readers (Location: REA-PATH)
$3.50 $2.00 (1 in stock)
Call for a New Alphabet
by Jef Czekaj
from Charlesbridge
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Children of the Covered Wagon
by Mary Jane Carr
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical Fiction for 3rd-5th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$16.75
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 4
by Paul Lindstrom & Edward Shewan
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 4 - Answer Key
by Edward Shewan
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30
Christian Liberty Nature Reader set
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
Christian Liberty Nature Reader set
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$62.28
Christian Light Reading 4 - Answer Key
CLE Reading to Learn
Sunrise 2nd Edition from Christian Light Education
for 4th grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Christian Light Reading 4 - Quizzes and Tests Answer Key
CLE Reading to Learn
Sunrise 2nd Edition from Christian Light Education
for 4th grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Christian Light Reading 4 Bridges Beyond - Teacher's Guide (with Answers)
CLE Reading
Sunrise 2nd Edition from Christian Light Education
for 4th grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$8.50 (1 in stock)
Christopher Columbus
Follett Beginning-to-Read Level 3 reader
by Clara Ingram Judson, illustrated by Polly Jackson
from Follett
for 1st-4th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Clara and the Bookwagon
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Nancy Smiler Levinson
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99 $2.50 (2 in stock)
Clara and the Bookwagon
by Nancy Smiler Levinson
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Clara and the Bookwagon
by Nancy Smiler Levinson, illustrated by Carolyn Croll
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Classic Curriculum Reading Grade 4, Book 1
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Classic Curriculum Reading Grade 4, Book 2
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
Classic Curriculum Reading Grade 4, Book 3
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
Classic Curriculum Reading Grade 4, Book 4
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
Classic Curriculum Writing Grade 4, Book 1
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Classic Curriculum Writing Grade 4, Book 3
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
Classic Curriculum Writing Grade 4, Book 4
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
Clock Stamp
from Back Home Industries
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Clocks
Crime Busters
Dorling Kindersley Readers - Level 4 Proficient Readers
by Andrew Donkin
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Critical Conditioning
by Kathryn Stout
from Design-A-Study
for All grades
in Design-A-Study (Location: HSR-DAS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Cuisenaire Rods Alphabet Book
from Learning Resources
for K-4th grade
in Cuisenaire Rod Materials (Location: MATM-ROD)
Cursive First
by Elizabeth FitzGerald
2nd edition from LITHBTH Educational Services
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
D-Day Landings
DK Readers Level 4
by Richard Platt
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99
Daily Phonics Grades 4-6
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 4th-6th grade
in Evan-Moor Phonics (Location: ZCLE-EM)
Daily Reading Comprehension, Grade 4
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 4th grade
in Evan-Moor Reading Comprehension (Location: ZCLE-EM)
Daniel's Duck
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Clyde Robert Bulla & Joan Sandin
from HarperCollins
Realistic Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Days of the Knights
DK Readers Level 4
by Christopher Maynard
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99
Do-It-Yourself Homeschooling Reading Time 180 Day Journal
by Sarah Janisse Brown
2019 printing from Thinking Tree
for 1st-12th grade
in Reading Reference (Location: REF-READ)
$8.75 (1 in stock)
Drinking Gourd
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by F. N. Monjo
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Drinking Gourd
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by F. N. Monjo
from HarperCrest
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Early Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book C
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
$15.89
Early Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book D
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th grade
$15.89
Eclectic Second Reader
Original McGuffey's
by William McGuffey
Facsimile editions. from Mott Media
for 2nd-4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Eclectic Third Reader
Original McGuffey's
by William McGuffey
from Mott Media
for 3rd-5th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$8.00 (2 in stock)
Emma's Yucky Brother
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Extreme Machines
A DK Eyewitness Reader Level 4
by Christopher Maynard
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99
Extreme Sports
Usborne Beginners Plus
by Emily Bone
from Usborne
for 3rd-6th grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
Fables and Folk Tales
A Beka Reading 4f
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
Fables and Folk Tales - Teacher Edition
A Beka Reading 4f
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Fighter Planes
by Mairi MacKinnon
from Usborne
for 4th-8th grade
in Aviation History (Location: HISV-AVIA)
Finding a New Land
from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.85
Finding a New Land - Answer Key
from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $2.50 (2 in stock)
Finding a New Land - Test Packet
from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Finding Providence
An I Can Read Chapter Book
by Avi
from HarperCollins
for 3rd-5th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
First Flight
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 4
by Caryn Jenner
from DK Children
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99
George the Drummer Boy
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Nathaniel Benchley
from HarperCollins
Historical fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Gifts and Gadgets
A Beka Reading 4g
1st edition from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
Gifts and Gadgets - Teacher Edition
A Beka Reading 4g
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Going for Gold!
by Andrew Donkin
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.00 (2 in stock)
Golly Sisters Ride Again
Level 3
by Betsy Byars, illustrated by Sue Truesdell
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Greg's Microscope
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Millicent Selsam & Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Non-Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Greg's Microscope
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Millicent Selsam & Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Non-Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Handy English Encoder Decoder
by Harvey Bluedorn
2nd edition from Trivium Pursuit
for All Ages
in Reading Reference (Location: REF-READ)
$15.00
Harvey's Elementary Grammar and Composition
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th- grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$15.00 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Harvey's Elementary Grammar and Composition - Answer Key
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Harvey's Revised English Grammar
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$17.50 $10.00 (2 in stock)
Harvey's Revised English Grammar - Answer Key
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$4.50 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Helicopters
Usborne Beginners Plus
by Emily Bone
from Usborne
for 3rd-6th grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
Hill of Fire
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Thomas Lewis & Joan Sandin
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Hippo Lemonade
by Mike Thaler
WRBC from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Horse Heroes: True Stories of Amazing Horses
A DK Eyewitness Reader Level 4
by Kate Petty
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Horse Heroes: True Stories of Amazing Horses
A DK Eyewitness Reader Level 4
by Kate Petty
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
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