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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138 Items found Print
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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)
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)
At the Farm
American Language Series
by Guyla Nelson & Saundra Lamgo
from Mile-Hi Publishers
for Kindergarten
in American Language Series (Location: PHO-AMLAN)
$15.95 $9.50 (2 in stock)
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 Puppy
by Margo Lundell
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$1.50 (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)
Bats
by Lily Wood
from Scholastic Inc.
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
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)
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)
Beautiful Stories for Children
by Michael McHugh
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 2nd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$14.50 $7.00 (1 in stock)
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 Trick
by Rebecca Lewis
from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.
for Preschool-1st grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$3.50 (2 in stock)
Beyond Phonics: Word Pattern Stories - Text
by Nancy D. Nelson
Revised edtion from Training for Life Publications
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Reading Reference (Location: REF-READ)
$18.00 (1 in stock)
Billy Sunday
by Elaine Cunningham
from A Beka Books
for 6th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Bob Books Collection 3
from Scholastic Reference
for Preschool-1st grade
in Bob Books (Location: EAR-BOB)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Bob Books Collection 6
by Lynn Maslen Kertell, illustrated by Dana Sullivan
from Scholastic Reference
for Preschool-1st grade
in Bob Books (Location: EAR-BOB)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Bones
Step Into Reading: Step 2 (Reading with Help)
by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Davy Jones
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-1st grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Buddy, the First Seeing Eye Dog
by Eva Moore
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$2.00 (2 in stock)
Bugs, Beetles, and Butterflies
Puffin Science Easy-to-Read Level 1
by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Lisa Flather
from Puffin Books
for Preschool-1st grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Building a New Nation - Reader
from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.85 $9.50 (1 in stock)
Buster the Very Shy Dog in the Great Bone Game
Green Light Readers Level 3
by Lisze Bechtold
from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$3.00 (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)
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 2 (old)
by Julia Wright
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 2nd grade
in Old Edition Reading (Location: OREAD)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Clouds
by Marion Dane Bauer, Illustrated by John Wallace
from Simon and Schuster
for 1st-2nd grade
in Ready-to-Read (Location: EAR-R2R)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Colorful Journey Through the Land of Talking Letters
by Mary Jo Nyssen
from MOM-BA-BOOKS
for Nursery-Kindergarten
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$13.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Complete Help Your Child Learn to Read Book
by Sherry Ann Perry
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Creating the Best Literacy Block Ever
by Deborah Camp, Gayle Morrison, Maryann Manning
from Scholastic Reference
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Dinosaur Days
Step Into Reading 3
by Joyce Milton, Franco Tempesta
Revised from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Dive!
Hello Reader! Level 3
by Melvin Berger
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-2nd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Diving Dolphin
DK Readers Level 1
by Karen Wallace
from DK Children
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Dodsworth in New York
by Tim Egan
Reprint from HMH Books for Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$4.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Duckling Days
DK Readers: Level 1 (Beginning to Read)
by Karen Wallace
from DK Publishing
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Earthquakes
Scholastic Science Reader Level 2
by Deborah Heiligman
from Scholastic Reference
for 1st-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
El dia que el perro dijo, "Quiquiriqui!"
Hola, lector! Level 2
by David McPhail
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-1st grade
in Spanish Resources (Location: FL-SPARE)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Emperor Penguins
by Roberta Edwards
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Extreme! Earth
Spectrum Readers Level 2 (Reading with help)
by Katharine Kenah
from Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company
for 1st-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Famous Explorers
A Hello Reader! Book Level 3
by Garnet Jackson
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-2nd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Fighting Fires
See More Readers Level 1
by Seymour Simon
from SeaStar Books
for Preschool-1st grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Fire Fighter!
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 2
by Angela Royston
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Five Notable Inventors
by Wade Hudson
from Cartwheel Books
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
Fluffy's Silly Summer
by Kate Mcmullan
from Cartwheel Books
for 1st-2nd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Footprints in the Snow
A Hello Reader! Book Level 1
by Cynthia Benjamin
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-1st grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$2.00 (3 in stock)
From Shore to Shore
3rd edition from A Beka Books
for 3rd grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (2 in stock)
Fun Tales
by Duane Bolin and Sarita Holzmann
from Avyx, Inc.
for Preschool-1st grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
George Washington: Soldier, Hero, President
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 3
by Justine Korman Fontes, Ron Fontes
1st edition from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$3.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
God Made Insects
A. P. Early Readers (Level 2)
by Eric Lyons
from Apologetics Press
for Preschool-1st grade
in Apologetics Press Readers (Location: EAR-APO)
$1.50 (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)
Good Egg and the Talent Show
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)
Great Snakes!
Hello Reader! Level 2
by Fay Robinson
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Helen Keller
DK Readers Level 3
by Leslie Garrett
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Helen Keller: Courage in the Dark
Step Into Reading: Step 4 (Reading Paragraphs)
by Johanna Hurwitz, illustrated by Neverne Covington
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Helen Keller: The World at Her Fingertips
I Can Read! Level 2
by Sarah Albee, illustrated by Gustavo Mazali
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
History Stories for Children
by Dr. John Wayland
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical non-fiction for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.85 $9.50 (2 in stock)
History Stories for Children (old)
by Dr. John Wayland
from Christian Liberty Press
Historical non-fiction for 3rd grade
in Old Edition Reading (Location: OREAD)
$3.00 (2 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)
How To Tutor
by Samuel Blumenfeld
from Paradigm Publishing
in Practical Home Schooling (Location: HSR-PRAC)
$16.00 $7.50 (1 in stock)
I Am a Shark
Discovery All-Star Readers Level 2
by Lori C. Froeb
from Silver Dolphin
for 1st-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
I Can Read It!
by John Holzmann
from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.
for Kindergarten
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
I Can Read It! - 4 Volumes
by John Holzmann
from Avyx, Inc.
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$24.00 (1 in stock)
Iron Scouts of the Confederacy
by Lee McGiffin
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Itchy, Itchy Chicken Pox
Scholastic Reader Level 1
by Grace Maccarone
from Cartwheel Books
for Preschool-1st grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln
An All Aboard Reading Reader Level 4
by Jean Fritz
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 2nd-3rd grade
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Kick, Pass, and Run
by Leonard Kessler
from HarperTrophy
for Preschool-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Knights
Usborne Beginners
by Stephanie Turnbull
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$2.25 (1 in stock)
Lesson for Martin Luther King, Jr.
A Ready-to-Read Book Level 2
by Denise Lewis Patrick
from Aladdin Paperbacks
for 1st-3rd grade
in Ready-to-Read (Location: EAR-R2R)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!
Passport to Reading Level 3
by Grace Lin
Passport to Reading Level 3
for Preschool-1st grade
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor Book
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$4.99 $3.00 (3 in stock)
Little Lucy
Step Into Reading Level 3 (Reading on your own)
by Ilene Cooper, illustrated by John Kanzler
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
LOE Rhythm of Handwriting Manuscript - Workbook
1st edition from Logic of English, Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Logic of English (Location: PHO-LOE)
$11.99 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Long, Tall Lincoln
I Can Read! Level 2
by Jennifer Dussling, illustrated by Chin Ko
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Man of Peace
by Garnet Jackson, Illustrations by George Ford
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$3.00 (4 in stock)
Mommy, Teach Me to Read!
by Barbara Curtis
from B&H Books
for Nursery-1st grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Monster Trucks!
Step into Reading Level 3
by Susan E. Goodman and Michael J. Doolittle
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
More Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Level 1 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 8th-9th grade
$5.19 $2.00 (1 in stock)
Much More Than the ABCs
by Judith Schickedanz
from National Association for the Education of Young Ch
for Preschool-1st grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
My Dog's the Best!
Hello Reader! Level 1
by Stephanie Calmenson
from Cartwheel Books
for Preschool-1st grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
My First Bob Books: Pre-Reader Collection Alphabet and Pre-Reading Skills
by Lynn Maslen Kertell
from Scholastic Reference
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Bob Books (Location: EAR-BOB)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Mystery of the Missing Peas
Level 1B
by Tessa Greene, illustrated by Shannon Vogus
from The Good and the Beautiful
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Noah Webster's Reading Handbook
by Darrel Trulson
from Christian Liberty Press
for 1st-2nd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$12.85 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Now You See Me...
Step Into Reading: Step 2 (Reading with Help)
by Tish Rabe, illustrated by Christopher Moroney
from Random House
for Preschool-1st grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
One Hundred Shoes
Step Into Reading: Step 2 (Reading with Help)
by Charles Ghigna, illustrated by Bob Staake
from Random House
for Preschool-1st grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Pirates! Raiders of the High Seas
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 4
by Christopher Maynard, Harriet Griffey
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$3.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Plants Bite Back!
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 3
by Richard Platt
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Ponies
National Geographic Kids Level 1
by Laura Marsh
from National Geographic
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Ponies and Horses
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 1
by Fiona Lock
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Primary Phonics 6 - Workbook
by Barbara W. Makar
from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Primary Phonics (Location: PHO-PRIM)
$10.79 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Rain
Ready-to-Read Level 1
by Marion Dane Bauer, Illustrated by John Wallace
from Simon and Schuster
for 1st-2nd grade
in Ready-to-Read (Location: EAR-R2R)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Rainbow Fish: Puffer Cries Shark
by Sonia Sander
1st edition from HarperFestival
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Read & Understand with Leveled Texts, Grade 1
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 1st grade
in Evan-Moor Reading Comprehension (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Reading Games with Ziggy the Zebra
by Marie Rippel
2nd edition from All About Learning Press
for 1st grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$20.95 $14.50 (1 in stock)
Reading Lesson
by Charan Langton, Michael Levin
2nd edition from Mountcastle Company
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$17.50 (1 in stock)
Reading Teacher's Book of Lists
by Edward B. Fry, Jacqueline E. Kress
5th edition from Jossey-Bass
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$20.00 (1 in stock)
Ready Readers - Elementary Literature Volume 1
by Missy Andrews
2nd edition from Center for Literary Education
for 3rd-8th grade
in Teaching the Classics (Location: LITCUR-TTC)
$29.00 $19.00 (1 in stock)
Ready, Set, Read!
by Barbara Curtis
from Broadman & Holman
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Reading Reference (Location: REF-READ)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Reasoning & Reading 2 - Teacher's Guide / Answer Key
by Joane Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 7th-8th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.89 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Rocks and Minerals
National Geographic Kids Level 2
by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
from National Geographic
for 1st-2nd grade
in Geology (Rocks & Minerals) (Location: SCI-GEO)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
12