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?
280 Items found Print
Active Filters: 2nd grade (Ages 7-8), Trade Paperback
Abe Lincoln's Hat
by Martha Brenner
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$2.50 (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)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Alexander Graham Bell
National Geographic Kids Level 2
by Barbara Kramer
from National Geographic
for 1st-3rd grade
in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR)
Alexander Hamilton
National Geographic Kids Level 3
by Libby Romero
from National Geographic
for 2nd-3rd grade
in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR)
All About Reading Level 2 - Teacher Manual
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 2nd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$50.95 $34.00 (1 in stock)
Amazing Teeth Designed by God
by Eric Lyons
from Apologetics Press
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Apologetics Press Readers (Location: EAR-APO)
Amelia Bedelia 4 Mayor
by Herman Parish
Regular Print/Single Titl from Greenwillow Books
for 2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
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)
Animal Architects
National Geographic Kids Level 3
by Libby Romero
from National Geographic
for 2nd-4th grade
in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR)
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
Ants
National Geographic Kids Level 1
by Melissa Stewart
from National Geographic
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR)
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
Bad Puppy
by Margo Lundell
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
Ballerina Dreams
Step Into Reading Level 4
by Michaela and Elaine DePrince, illustrated by Frank Morrison
from Random House
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
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: Creatures of the Night
by Joyce Milton, illustrated by Joyce Moffatt
from Penguin Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
$3.00 (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)
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
Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares
Step into Reading Level 4
by Frank Murphy
from Random House
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$3.50 (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 (1 in stock)
Best Friends for Frances
I Can Read Level 2
by Russell & Lillian Hoban
from HarperTrophy
Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
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)
Betsy Ross and the Silver Thimble
Ready-To-Read Level 2
by Stephanie Greene, illustrated by Diana Magnuson
from Simon Spotlight
for 2nd-4th grade
in Ready-to-Read (Location: EAR-R2R)
$2.50 (1 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)
$4.50 (3 in stock)
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
Blizzards!
by Lorraine Jean Hopping
from Cartwheel Books
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Blue-Backed Spelling Book & New England Primer
from Hearthstone Publishing
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
Brave Clara Barton
Step Into Reading Level 3
by Frank Murphy, illustrated by Sarah Green
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
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)
$5.99
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 (1 in stock)
Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express OSI
by Eleanor Coerr
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 2
by Jennifer Dussling
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in Insects & Arachnids (Location: SCI-BUG)
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
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)
Choppers!
Step into Reading Level 4
by Susan E. Goodman
from Random House
for Grades 2-3
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$5.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 2
by Julia McNair Wright
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 2nd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35
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)
Civil War Sub
by Kate Boehm Jerome
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
$2.50 (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 (3 in stock)
Classical Phonics
by Cheryl Lowe
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$20.05
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)
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)
$2.00 (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)
D-Day Landings
DK Readers Level 4
by Richard Platt
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99
Daily Reading Comprehension, Grade 2
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 2nd 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)
Davy Crockett: A Life on the Frontier
A Ready-to-Read Book Level 3
by Stephen Krensky
from Aladdin Paperbacks
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Days of the Knights
DK Readers Level 4
by Christopher Maynard
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Deadly Animals
Usborne Discovery
by Henry Brook
from Usborne
for 1st-3rd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
Dinosaur Time
by Peggy Parish
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
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)
DK Readers: A Trip to the Zoo
by Karen Wallace
from DK Children
for Preschool-3rd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$3.99 $2.50 (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)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
DK Readers: Space Station
by Peter Chrisp
1st edition from DK Children
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
DK Readers: Trojan Horse
DK Readers Level 4
by David Clement-Davies
from DK Children
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.50 (2 in stock)
DK Readers: Zeppelin
DK Readers Level 3
by Andrew Donkin
1st edition from DK Children
for 2nd-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
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
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)
$5.99 $3.00 (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)
Eat My Dust! Henry Ford's First Race
Step Into Reading Level 3
by Monica Kulling, Illustrated by Richard Walz
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$5.99
Elijah
BibleWise Books
by Carine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in BibleTime & BibleWise Books (Location: EAR-BTW)
Emma's Yucky Brother
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
Endangered Animals
by Carol Schwartz, Faith McNulty
from Cartwheel Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Escape North!
Step into Reading Level 4
by Monica Kulling
from Random House
for Grades 2-3
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$5.99 $3.00 (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 Machines
A DK Eyewitness Reader Level 4
by Christopher Maynard
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99
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)
Fall Leaves
by Mary Packard
from Cartwheel Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$1.50 (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)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Finding the Titanic
by Robert D. Ballard
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$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 (2 in stock)
First Flight
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 4
by Caryn Jenner
from DK Children
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99
First Flight
by George Shea
Reissue from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99 $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)
$8.15
123