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.
Did you find this review helpful?
270 Items found Print
Active Filters: 1st grade (Ages 6-7), Trade Paperback
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)
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
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 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 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)
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
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
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
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)
Big Ball of String
by Marion Holland
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
Big Max
An I Can Read Books Level 2
by Kin Platt
Revised from HarperCollins
for Grades 1-3
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Biscuit Goes to School
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
from HarperCollins
for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
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)
Bravo, Amelia Bedelia!
by Herman Parish
from Greenwillow Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Bread and Jam for Frances
I Can Read! Level 2
by Russell & Lillian Hoban
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
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! Bugs! Bugs!
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 2
by Jennifer Dussling
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in Insects & Arachnids (Location: SCI-BUG)
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)
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)
Busy Buzzy Bee
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 1
by Karen Wallace
from DK Publishing
for 1st-2nd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99
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)
Calling Doctor Amelia Bedelia
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Herman Parish, Illustrated by Lynn Sweat
from HarperTrophy
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Captain Cat
by Syd Hoff
from HarperCollins
for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 1
by Florence Bass & Julie McNair Wright
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 1st grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35
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
CLE Primer Series book 2
by Luanne D. Yeager, Ruth Hobbs, Dorothy Nisly
from Christian Light Education
for Preschool-1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
CLE Primer Series Book 3
by Luanne D. Yeager, Ruth Hobbs, Dorothy Nisly
from Christian Light Education
for Preschool-1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
CLE Primer Series Book 4
by Luanne D. Yeager, Ruth Hobbs, Dorothy Nisly
from Christian Light Education
for Preschool-1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
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)
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)
Daily Reading Comprehension, Grade 1
1st edition from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 1st grade
in Evan-Moor Reading Comprehension (Location: ZCLE-EM)
Daniel
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
David
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Deadly Animals
Usborne Discovery
by Henry Brook
from Usborne
for 1st-3rd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
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)
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
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)
Dodsworth in Rome
Green Light Level 3
by Tim Egan
from HMH Books for Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$4.99
Dodsworth in Tokyo
Green Light Readers Level 3
by Tim Egan
from HMH Books for Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$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
Dolphins!
A Step into Reading Book Level 3
by Sharon Bokoske and Margaret Davidson
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$4.99
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)
Dust for Dinner
by Ann Turner
from HarperCollins
for 1st-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
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)
Elijah
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Emperor Penguins
by Roberta Edwards
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Esther
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
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)
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 - Teacher Guide (old)
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$4.00
First Thanksgiving
Step into Reading Level 3
by Linda Hayward
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$4.99
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)
Fox on the Job
Penguin Young Readers Level 3
by James Marshall
from Penguin Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
Francis Scott Key's Star-Spangled Banner
A Step into Reading Book Level 3
by Monica Kulling, illustrated by Richard Walz
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
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 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)
Garden Friends
DK Readers Pre-Level 1
from DK Publishing
for Preschool-1st grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
George Washington and the General's Dog
A Step into Reading Book Level 2
by Frank Murphy
from Random House
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$5.99
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)
Gideon
BibleTime Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Nursery-2nd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
God Made Animals
A. P. Early Readers (Level 2)
by Eric Lyons
from Apologetics Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Apologetics Press Readers (Location: EAR-APO)
123