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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206 Items found Print
Active Filters: 3rd grade (Ages 8-9), New Books & Materials
18 Penny Goose
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Sally M. Walker
from HarperCollins
Realistic fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
70 Basic Phonogram Cards
by Wanda Sanseri
5th edition from Back Home Industries
for 1st-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$18.00 $12.00 (1 in stock)
70 Basic Phonogram Cards - Large Size
by Wanda Sanseri
5th edition from Becky's Bouquet
for 1st-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$45.00
Abe Lincoln's Hat
A Step into Reading Book Level 2
by Martha F. Brenner
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$4.99
Adventures in Phonics Level C
Adventures in Phonics Series
by Florence Lindstrom
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 2nd-3rd grade
in CLP Adventures in Phonics (Location: PHO-CLP)
$16.75
Adventures in Phonics Level C - Teacher Manual
Adventures in Phonics Series
by Florence Lindstrom
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 2nd-3rd grade
in CLP Adventures in Phonics (Location: PHO-CLP)
$11.75
Alexander Hamilton
A Step into Reading Book Level 3
by Monica Culling, Illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$4.99
All About Reading - Divider Cards
from All About Learning Press
for 1st-7th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$4.95
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 (1 in stock)
All About Reading Level 2 - Complete Kit
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 2nd-3rd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$159.95
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
All About Reading Level 2 - Reader 2
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 2nd-3rd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95 $15.00 (1 in stock)
All About Reading Level 3 - Activity Book
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 3rd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$42.95
All About Reading Level 3 - Complete Kit
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 3rd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$159.95
All About Reading Level 3 - Reader 1
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 3rd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95
All About Reading Level 3 - Reader 2
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 3rd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95
All About Reading Level 3 - Student Packet
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 3rd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$67.95
All About Reading Tote Bag
from All About Learning Press
for Preschool-4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$15.95
All About Spelling / All About Reading Letter Tiles
from All About Learning Press
for 1st-7th grade
in All About Spelling (Location: SPE-AAS)
$25.95
Alpha List
by Wanda Sanseri
from Back Home Industries
for 1st-4th grade
in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
$33.00
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
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
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
Beginning Reasoning & Reading
by Joanne Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.49
Beginning Reasoning & Reading - Teacher's Guide / Answer Key
by Joanne Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.89
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 Nest
by P.D. Eastman
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
Beyond the Code Book 1
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 1st-3rd grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.09
Beyond the Code Book 2
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 1st-3rd grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.09 $7.00 (1 in stock)
Beyond the Code Book 3
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-4th grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.09
Beyond the Code Book 4
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-4th grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.09
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)
$4.99 $3.00 (4 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
Birds of a Feather
from All About Learning Press
for 1st-4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$19.95
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
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)
$4.99
Bravest Dog Ever
Step Into Reading Level 3
by Natalie Standiford
from Random House
Animal Stories for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$5.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Children of the Covered Wagon
by Mary Jane Carr
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical Fiction for 3rd-5th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$16.75
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
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 3 - Answer Key
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$4.20
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 (2 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
Daniel's Duck
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Clyde Robert Bulla & Joan Sandin
from HarperCollins
Realistic Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99 $3.00 (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
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
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
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
Drinking Gourd OSI
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by F. N. Monjo
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Early Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book B
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-3rd grade
$15.89
Early Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book C
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
$15.89
Escape North!
Step into Reading Level 4
by Monica Kulling
from Random House
for Grades 2-3
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$4.99
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 7
by Rena Price & Nancy Hall
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-3rd grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$12.89
Explode the Code 7 & 8 - Teacher's Guide
by Nancy Hall
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$14.59 $6.50 (2 in stock)
Explode the Code 8
by Rena Price & Nancy Hall
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$12.89
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
Finding Providence
An I Can Read Chapter Book
by Avi
from HarperCollins
for 3rd-5th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Finding the Titanic
by Robert D. Ballard
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$3.99
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 Flight
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 4
by Caryn Jenner
from DK Children
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$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 - 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
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
Frog and Toad All Year
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99
Frog and Toad Are Friends
An I Can Read Book Level 2 (Reading with Help)
by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade
1971 Caldecott Honor Book
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99 $3.00 (3 in stock)
Frog and Toad Together
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade
1973 Newbery Honor Book
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
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)
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
Grasshopper on the Road
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
for Preschool-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99
Greg's Microscope
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Millicent Selsam & Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Non-Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Handy English Encoder Decoder
by Harvey Bluedorn
2nd edition from Trivium Pursuit
for All Ages
in Reading Reference (Location: REF-READ)
$15.00
Hill of Fire
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Thomas Lewis & Joan Sandin
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99 $3.00 (2 in stock)
History Stories for Children
by Dr. John Wayland
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical non-fiction for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.85 $9.50 (2 in stock)
History Stories for Children - Student Exercises
by Dr. John Wayland
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical non-fiction for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $3.00 (3 in stock)
History Stories for Children - Teacher Manual
by Dr. John Wayland
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical non-fiction for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $2.75 (1 in stock)
History Stories for Children - Tests
by Dr. John Wayland
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical non-fiction for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30
Horizons Phonics & Reading 3 - Reader 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 3rd grade
in Horizons Phonics & Reading (Location: PHO-HOR)
$38.75
Horizons Phonics & Reading 3 - Reader 2
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 3rd grade
in Horizons Phonics & Reading (Location: PHO-HOR)
$38.75
Horizons Phonics & Reading 3 - Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 3rd grade
in Horizons Phonics & Reading (Location: PHO-HOR)
$156.00
Horizons Phonics & Reading 3 - Student Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 3rd grade
in Horizons Phonics & Reading (Location: PHO-HOR)
$33.75
Horizons Phonics & Reading 3 - Student Book 2
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 3rd grade
in Horizons Phonics & Reading (Location: PHO-HOR)
$33.75
Horizons Phonics & Reading 3 - Teacher's Guide
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 3rd grade
in Horizons Phonics & Reading (Location: PHO-HOR)
$33.75 $17.50 (2 in stock)
Horse Heroes: True Stories of Amazing Horses
A DK Eyewitness Reader Level 4
by Kate Petty
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
How Flowers Grow
Usborne Beginners
by Emma Helbrough
from Usborne
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$4.49 $2.70 (3 in stock)
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