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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331 Items found Print
Active Filters: 1st grade (Ages 6-7), Used Books & Materials
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 (2 in stock)
A Veces Las Cosas Cambian
Mis Primeros Libros
by Patricia Eastman
for Preschool-1st grade
in Spanish Resources (Location: FL-SPARE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
ABC Book of Bible People
Bible Stories for Young Readers series #3
by Martha Fisher, illustrated by Peter Balholm
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Rod & Staff Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-R&S)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
ABC Book of God's Creatures
Little Jewel Books
by Mary M. Landis, illustrated by Lester Miller
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Nursery-1st grade
in Rod & Staff Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-R&S)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Abraham Lincoln
DK Readers Level 3
by Justine & Ron Fontes
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Adventures in Phonics - CD
Adventures in Phonics Series
by Callie Lindstrom
from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in CLP Adventures in Phonics (Location: PHO-CLP)
$10.60 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Aesop's Fables for Young Readers
A Beka Reading 1F
3rd edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (5 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 $3.50 (2 in stock)
All About Reading - Review Box
from All About Learning Press
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$17.95 $12.50 (1 in stock)
All About Reading Level 1 - Teacher's Manual
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 1st grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$50.95 $34.00 (1 in stock)
All About Reading Level 2 - Reader 1
by Marie Rippel & Renee LaTulippe
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95 $15.00 (2 in stock)
Alpha List
by Wanda Sanseri
from Back Home Industries
for 1st-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$33.00 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Alpha-Phonics
by Samuel Blumenfeld
from Paradigm Publishing
for Preschool-4th grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$14.00 (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 (1 in stock)
Amazing Tigers!
by Sarah L. Thomson
from HarperCollins
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Ancient Egyptians
Kingfisher readers Level 5
by Philip Steele
from Kingfisher
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
And I Mean It, Stanley
by Crosby Bonsall
1st edition from HarperCollins
for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.09 $2.00 (1 in stock)
Animals in the Great Outdoors
A Beka Reading 1i
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (3 in stock)
Animals in the Great Outdoors - Teacher Edition
A Beka Reading 1i
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.50 (2 in stock)
Arthur's Christmas Cookies
I Can Read! Level 2
by Lilian Hoban
from Harper & Row
for Preschool-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$2.80 (1 in stock)
Baby Elephant
All Aboard Science Reader Level 2
by Ginjer L. Clarke
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Kindergarten-1st grade
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Bargain for Frances
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Russell & Lillian Hoban
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.09 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Basic Phonics Charts
from A Beka Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in A Beka Phonics (Location: PHO-ABK)
$10.00 (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
$2.40 (1 in stock)
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 (4 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)
$4.24 $2.40 (1 in stock)
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
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)
Beyond the Code Book 2
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 1st-3rd grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.49 $9.50 (1 in stock)
Bible Numbers
Bible Stories for Young Readers series #1
by Martha Fisher, illustrated by Peter Balholm
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Rod & Staff Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-R&S)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Bible Sermons
Bible Stories for Young Readers series
by Martha Fisher, illustrated by Peter Balholm
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Rod & Staff Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-R&S)
$2.50 (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)
$3.60 (2 in stock)
Big Balloon Race
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Eleanor Coerr
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.24 $2.40 (3 in stock)
Blend Practice Cards A
from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in A Beka Phonics (Location: PHO-ABK)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Blue-Backed Spelling Book & New England Primer
from Hearthstone Publishing
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Bony
by Frances Zweifel; illustrated by Whitney Darrow, Jr.
from Harper & Row
for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Brand New Day with Mouse and Mole
Green Light Readers Level 3
by Wong Herbert Yee
from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$4.24 $2.40 (1 in stock)
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)
$5.09 $2.40 (1 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)
$2.80 (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)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Castles
Usborne Beginners
by Stephanie Turnbull
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Cat in the Hat Comes Back
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$8.49 $3.60 (1 in stock)
Catch a Whale by the Tail
Science I Can Read Books
by Edward R. Ricciuti, illustrated by Geoffrey Moss
from Harper & Row
for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$9.60 (1 in stock)
Caterpillars and Butterflies
Usborne Beginners
by Stephanie Turnbull
from Usborne
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 1 (old)
by Florence Bass
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 1st grade
in Old Edition Reading (Location: OREAD)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book K (old)
by Florence Lindstrom
from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in Old Edition Reading (Location: OREAD)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Christian Light Learning to Read - 101-105 Practice Sheets
CLE Learning to Read
Sunrise 2nd Edition from Christian Light Education
for 1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$3.75 (1 in stock)
Christian Light Learning to Read - 106-110 Practice Sheets
CLE Learning to Read
Sunrise 2nd Edition from Christian Light Education
for 1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$3.75 (1 in stock)
Christian Light Learning to Read - Letter Flash Cards
from Christian Light Education
for 1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Christopher Columbus
Step into Reading Level 3
by Stephen Krensky
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
CLE Primer Series Book 1
by Luanne D. Yeager, Ruth Hobbs, Dorothy Nisly
from Christian Light Education
for 1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
CLE Primer Series book 2
by Luanne D. Yeager, Ruth Hobbs, Dorothy Nisly
from Christian Light Education
for 1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
CLE Primer Series Book 3
by Luanne D. Yeager, Ruth Hobbs, Dorothy Nisly
from Christian Light Education
for 1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
CLE Primer Series Book 4
by Luanne D. Yeager, Ruth Hobbs, Dorothy Nisly
from Christian Light Education
for 1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$4.50 (1 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)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Clue Word Cards
from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in A Beka Phonics (Location: PHO-ABK)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Come and Have Fun
by Edith Thacher Hurd, illustrated by Clement Hurd
1990 Reprint from HarperCrest
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.80 (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)
Comprehension Connection
2nd edition from Spalding Education International
for 1st-9th grade
in McCall-Crabbs Reading Comprehension (Location: REACOM-MC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Cookie House
by Margaret Hillert, illustrated by K. Y. Craft
from Follett Publishing Co.
for Nursery-1st grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Cows Can Moo! Can You?
Cat in the Hat's Learning Library
by Bonnie Worth, illustrated by Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Cat in the Hat's Learning Library (Location: EAR-CAT)
$3.60 (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)
Creepy Beetles!
Scholastic Reader Level 2
by Fay Robinson, illustrated by Jean Cassels
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-2nd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$1.60 (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)
$5.09 $2.40 (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)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Danny and the Dinosaur
An I Can Read Book Level 1
by Syd Hoff
from Sandy Creek
for Preschool-1st grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Danny and the Dinosaur
by Syd Hoff
1981 reprint from Harper & Row
for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Days Go By and More Days Go By - Teacher Edition
by Pathway
2012 Reprint from Pathway Publishers
for 1st grade
in Pathway Readers (Location: REA-PATH)
$6.50 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Dinosaurs
Usborne Beginners
by Stephanie Turnbull
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Dive!
Hello Reader! Level 3
by Melvin Berger
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-2nd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$1.60 (1 in stock)
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)
Do You Know What I'm Going to Do Next Saturday?
by Helen Palmer, photographs by Lynn Fayman
Book Club from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
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)
$12.50 (1 in stock)
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 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Down by the Sea
A Beka Reading 1h
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$11.50 (10 in stock)
Down by the Sea - Teacher Edition
A Beka Reading 1h
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.50 (2 in stock)
Dr. Seuss's ABC
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$8.49 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Dr. Seuss's ABC
by Dr. Seuss
Book Club from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Nursery-1st grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$2.40 (2 in stock)
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
from Random House
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Eclectic Fourth Reader
Original McGuffey's
by William McGuffey
from Mott Media
for 1st-3rd grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Other Primers (Location: REA-MCG)
$7.00 (2 in stock)
Eggs and Chicks
Usborne Beginners
by Fiona Patchett
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$3.00 (3 in stock)
Eleanor Roosevelt
Pebble Plus: First Ladies
by Sally Lee with contributing editor Gail Saunders-Smith
from Capstone Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Eliza Hamilton: Founding Mother
Step 3: Reading On Your Own
by Monica Kulling, illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Emperor Penguins
by Roberta Edwards
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Endangered Animals
by Carol Schwartz, Faith McNulty
from Cartwheel Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$1.60 (1 in stock)
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)
$41.49 $16.50 (1 in stock)
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)
$18.99 $13.00 (2 in stock)
Explode the Code 4
by Rena Price & Nancy Hall
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 1st-2nd grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.49 $9.50 (1 in stock)
Explode the Code 4 1/2
by Rena Price & Nancy Hall
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 1st-2nd grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.49 $9.50 (1 in stock)
Explode the Code 5 & 6 - Teacher's Guide (old)
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 1st-2nd grade
$5.50 (1 in stock)
Explode the Code 5 1/2
by Rena Price & Nancy Hall
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 1st-2nd grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.49 $9.50 (4 in stock)
Explode the Code 6 1/2
by Nancy Hall & Rena Price
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 1st-2nd grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.49 $9.50 (2 in stock)
Explode the Code Cards
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$15.79 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Fall Leaves
by Mary Packard
from Cartwheel Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$1.20 (1 in stock)
Fantastic Frogs!
Hello Reader! Level 2
by Fay Robinson
from Scholastic Inc.
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$1.60 (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)
$4.24 $2.40 (2 in stock)
First Start Reading Storybook C
by Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$9.25 $6.50 (2 in stock)
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)
$10.85 $7.50 (2 in stock)
Flowers
Usborne Young Beginners
by Emily Bone, illustrated by Samara Hardy
from Usborne
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
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