Phonics & Reading - Exodus Books

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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.

	Amazing Circus of Phonograms: Act 2 by Mary Jo Nyssen, Joe Palmisano 1^st edition from MOM-BA-BOOKS for Preschool-1st grade in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC) $13.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	And I Mean It, Stanley by Crosby Bonsall 1^st edition from HarperCollins for Preschool-1st grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $5.09 $2.00 (1 in stock)
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	Best Trick by Rebecca Lewis from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd. for Preschool-1st grade in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC) $2.80 (3 in stock)
	Beyond Phonics: Word Pattern Stories - Text Christian Version 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)
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	Buzz, Bee! National Geographic Kids Pre-reader by Jennifer Szymanski from National Geographic for Preschool-Kindergarten in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR) $2.00 (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)
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	DK Readers: Diving Dolphin DK Readers Level 1 by Karen Wallace from DK Children for Preschool- 3rd Grade in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK) $2.00 (1 in stock)
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	Hello, Penguin! National Geographic Kids Pre-reader by Kathryn Williams from National Geographic for Preschool-Kindergarten in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	I Can Read It! An Easy to Use, Comprehensive Phonics-Based Reading Program 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)
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	Jump and Run Dick and Jane readers from Grosset & Dunlap for Preschool-Kindergarten in Penguin Young Readers / All Aboard Readers (Location: EAR-PYR) $5.09 $2.00 (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) $4.24 $2.40 (2 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) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	McCall-Crabbs Book F by McCall Crabbs for Kindergarten-3rd grade in McCall-Crabbs Reading Comprehension (Location: REACOM-MC) $5.00 (1 in stock)
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	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) $1.60 (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) $3.83 (2 in stock)
	Niagara Falls Wonders of America Ready-to-Read Level 1 by Marion Dane Bauer from Simon Spotlight for Preschool-1st grade in Ready-to-Read (Location: EAR-R2R) $2.00 (1 in stock)
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	Primary Phonics 1 - Workbook by Barbara W. Makar from Educators Publishing Service for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Primary Phonics (Location: PHO-PRIM) $10.34 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Primary Phonics 6 - Workbook by Barbara W. Makar from Educators Publishing Service for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Primary Phonics (Location: PHO-PRIM) $9.71 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Quick Chick Puffin Easy-To-Read Level 1 by Julia Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban from Puffin Books for Preschool-1st grade in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC) $3.00 (1 in stock)
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