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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288 Items found Print
Active Filters: Kindergarten (Ages 5-6), New Books & Materials
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
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 - 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 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 Pre-Reading - Activity Book
from All About Learning Press
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$19.95
All About Reading Pre-Reading - Package
from All About Learning Press
for Preschool-kindergarten
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$119.95
All About Reading Pre-Reading - Reader 1
by Marie Rippel
from All About Learning Press
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$14.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
All About Reading Pre-Reading - Reader 2
by Marie Rippel, Renee LaTulippe
from All About Learning Press
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$14.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
All About Reading Pre-Reading - Review Box
from All About Learning Press
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$15.95
All About Reading Pre-Reading - Student Packet
from All About Learning Press
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$36.95
All About Reading Pre-Reading Divider Cards
from All About Learning Press
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$5.95 $3.00 (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
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
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
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 Language Series K - Teacher Guide Flash Drive
American Language Series
by Guyla Nelson & Saundra Lamgo
from Mile-Hi Publishers
for Kindergarten
in American Language Series (Location: PHO-AMLAN)
$39.95
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
Annie and Snowball and the Cozy Nest
Reprint from Simon Spotlight
in Ready-to-Read (Location: EAR-R2R)
$4.99
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
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
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)
Away We Go
Dick and Jane readers
by Penguin Young Readers
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Preschool-Kindergarten
$5.99
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
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
by Pathway
from Pathway Publishers
for Kindergarten
in Pathway Readers (Location: REA-PATH)
$3.50
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)
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
Bob Books Set 1
by Bob L. Maslen
from Scholastic Inc.
in Bob Books (Location: EAR-BOB)
$17.99
Bob Books Set 2
by Bob L. Maslen
from Scholastic Inc.
in Bob Books (Location: EAR-BOB)
$17.99 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Bob Books Set 3
by Bob L. Maslen
from Scholastic Inc.
in Bob Books (Location: EAR-BOB)
$17.99
Bob Books Set 4
by Bob L. Maslen
from Scholastic Inc.
in Bob Books (Location: EAR-BOB)
$17.99
Bob Books Set 5
by Bob L. Maslen
from Scholastic Inc.
in Bob Books (Location: EAR-BOB)
$17.99 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Case of the Cat's Meow
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Crosby Bonsall
from HarperCollins
Mystery/Suspense for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Case of the Double Cross
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Crosby Bonsall
from HarperCollins
Mystery/Suspense for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Case of the Hungry Stranger
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Crosby Bonsall
from HarperCollins
Children's Mystery for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Case of the Scaredy Cats
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Crosby Bonsall
from HarperCollins
Mystery/Suspense for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Cat in the Hat Comes Back
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Chang's Paper Pony
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Eleanor Coerr
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book K
by Florence Lindstrom
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$8.90
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book K - Answer Key
by Edward Shewan
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$3.00
Classical Phonics
by Cheryl Lowe
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$19.45
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)
Danny and the Dinosaur
An I Can Read Book Level 1
by Syd Hoff
from HarperCollins
for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Days with Frog and Toad
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99
Dick and Jane: Fun with Our Family
Dick and Jane readers
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$10.99
Dick and Jane: We Play Outside
Dick and Jane readers
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$10.99
Digging-est Dog
by Al Perkins
from Random House
for Kindergarten-3rd Grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
Disasters at Sea
DK Readers Level 3
by Andrew Donkin
from Penguin Putnam
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99
Dogs, Frogs, and Hogs
A. P. "Learn to Read" Series (Level 1)
by Dave Miller, Ph.D.
from Apologetics Press
for ages 4-6
in Apologetics Press Readers (Location: EAR-APO)
$3.00
Doodling Dragons
from Logic of English, Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Logic of English (Location: PHO-LOE)
$15.00
Doodling Dragons - Phonogram Coloring Book
2nd edition from Logic of English, Inc.
for Preschool-1st grade
in Logic of English (Location: PHO-LOE)
$6.99
Dr. Seuss's ABC
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
Ducks, Bucks, and Woodchucks
A. P. "Learn to Read" Series (Level 1)
by Dave Miller, Ph.D.
from Apologetics Press
for ages 4-6
in Apologetics Press Readers (Location: EAR-APO)
$3.00
Elephant and Piggie Biggie Volume 1
by Mo Willems
from Hyperion Books for Children
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$16.99
Elephant and Piggie Biggie Volume 2
by Mo Willems
from Hyperion Books for Children
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$16.99
Elephant and Piggie Biggie Volume 4
by Mo Willems
from Hyperion Books for Children
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$16.99
Explode the Code - Placement Tests
by Nancy Hall
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$32.79 $16.50 (1 in stock)
Explode the Code 1
by Rena Price & Nancy Hall
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten-1st grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$12.89
Explode the Code 1 & 2 - Teacher's Guide
by Nancy Hall
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten-1st
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$14.59
Explode the Code 1 1/2
by Rena Price & Nancy Hall
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$12.89
Explode the Code Cards
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$15.79
Father Bear Comes Home
An I Can Read Book Level 1
by Else Minarik & Maurice Sendak
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Fire Cat
An I Can Read Book Level 1
by Esther Averill
from HarperCollins
for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
First Start Reading - Book A
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$7.90
First Start Reading - Book B
by Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$7.90
First Start Reading - Book C
by Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$7.90
First Start Reading - Book D
by Cheryl Lowe
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$7.90
First Start Reading - Book E
by Michelle Tefertiller
1st edition from Memoria Press
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$7.90
First Start Reading - Teacher Guide
3rd edition from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$20.95
First Start Reading - Teacher Guide (old)
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$4.00
First Start Reading Storybook A
by Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$7.90
First Start Reading Storybook B
by Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$8.95
First Start Reading Storybook C
by Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$8.95
First Start Reading Storybook D
by Kelly Booker & Michelle Tefertiller
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$10.50
First Start Reading Storybook E
by Kelly Booker & Michelle Tefertiller
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$7.90
Fish Out of Water
by Helen Palmer
from Random House
Animal Fantasy/Rhyming Stories for Nursery-1st grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
Fish, Flies, and Fleas
A. P. "Learn to Read" Series (Level 1)
by Dave Miller, Ph.D.
from Apologetics Press
for ages 4-6
in Apologetics Press Readers (Location: EAR-APO)
$3.00
Fly Went By
by Mike McClintock
from Random House
Rhyming Books for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Focus on Fives - Worktext
4th edition from Bob Jones University Press
for Kindergarten
in BJU Phonics (Location: PHO-BJU)
$46.39
Foot Book
Bright & Early Books
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
Frog and Toad Collection
by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for Preschool-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$17.97
Fun in the Sun
American Language Series
by Guyla Nelson & Saundra Lamgo
from Mile-Hi Publishers
for Kindergarten
in American Language Series (Location: PHO-AMLAN)
$13.95
Fun With Dick and Jane
Dick and Jane readers
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Preschool-Kindergarten
$4.99
Get Ready for the Code Book A
by Nancy Hall
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$11.39
Get Set for the Code Book B
by Nancy Hall
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$11.39
Go Away, Spot
Dick and Jane readers
by Scott Foresman
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Preschool-Kindergarten
$4.99
Go for the Code Book C
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$11.39
Go, Dog, Go!
by P. D. Eastman
from Random House
Animal Fantasy/Rhyming Stories for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
Go, Go, Go
Dick and Jane readers
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Preschool-Kindergarten
$4.99
God Made Reptiles
A. P. Early Readers (Level 2)
by Eric Lyons
from Apologetics Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Apologetics Press Readers (Location: EAR-APO)
$3.00
Golly Sisters Go West
An I Can Read Books Level 3
by Betsy Byars, illustrated by Sue Truesdell
from HarperTrophy
for Preschool-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Good Work, Amelia Bedelia
I Can Read Level 2
by Peggy Parish
1st edition from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
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