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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267 Items found Print
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ABC's and All Their Tricks
by Margaret M. Bishop
from Mott Media
for Adult
in Reading Reference (Location: REF-READ)
$10.00 (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)
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
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 - Teacher Manual
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 3rd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$50.95 $34.00 (2 in stock)
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 (1 in stock)
Amazing Tigers!
by Sarah L. Thomson
from HarperCollins
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
American Language Series K - Reader Set
American Language Series
by Guyla Nelson & Saundra Lamgo
from Mile-Hi Publishers
for Kindergarten
in American Language Series (Location: PHO-AMLAN)
$89.36
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)
Animal Hospital
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 2
by Judith Walker-Hodge
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$3.39
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)
$4.24
At the Farm
American Language Series
by Guyla Nelson & Saundra Lamgo
from Mile-Hi Publishers
for Kindergarten
in American Language Series (Location: PHO-AMLAN)
$18.95
Atlantis: The Lost City?
by Andrew Donkin
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Away We Go
Dick and Jane readers
by Penguin Young Readers
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Preschool-Kindergarten
$5.09
Baby Sister for Frances
by Russell & Lillian Hoban
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.09
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)
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)
$4.24
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)
$4.24 $2.40 (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)
$5.09
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)
$5.09
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)
Bible Stories to Read
by Martha Rohrer
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Rod & Staff Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-R&S)
$5.00 (2 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 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)
$4.24
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)
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!
National Geographic Kids Pre-reader
by Shira Evans
from National Geographic
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR)
$2.00 (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)
Building a New Nation - Reader
from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.85 $9.50 (1 in stock)
Building a New Nation - Set
from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$28.70
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)
Busy Buzzy Bee
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 1
by Karen Wallace
from DK Publishing
for 1st-2nd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.24
Buzz, Bee!
National Geographic Kids Pre-reader
by Jennifer Szymanski
from National Geographic
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR)
$2.00 (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)
$14.24
Choppers!
Step into Reading Level 4
by Susan E. Goodman
from Random House
for Grades 2-3
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$5.09 $2.40 (1 in stock)
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
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 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 3
by Julie McNair Wright
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 3rd grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 4
by Paul Lindstrom & Edward Shewan
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 4 (old)
by Paul Lindstrom & Edward Shewan
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in Old Edition Reading (Location: OREAD)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 5
by Wendy Kramer
4th edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35 $8.00 (2 in stock)
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 5 (old)
by Worthington Hooker
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th grade
in Old Edition Reading (Location: OREAD)
$5.00 (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)
$4.24 $2.00 (2 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
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)
$5.00 (2 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)
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
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)
$1.60 (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)
$2.00 (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)
$4.24
Days of the Knights
DK Readers Level 4
by Christopher Maynard
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.24
Disasters at Sea
DK Readers Level 3
by Andrew Donkin
from Penguin Putnam
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.24
Discovering New Worlds Through Literature
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.85
Discovering New Worlds Through Literature - Set
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$31.61
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: A Trip to the Zoo
by Karen Wallace
from DK Children
for Preschool-3rd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$3.39
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)
DK Readers: Space Station
by Peter Chrisp
1st edition from DK Children
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.00 (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)
$2.00 (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)
$2.00 (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)
$5.94
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)
$4.24
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)
$4.24
Dog Named Sniff #1
Level 1A
by Jenny Phillips, illustrated by Zoe Bennett
from The Good and the Beautiful
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
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 Clearance: Readers (Location: ZCLE-READ)
$2.50
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
Dust for Dinner
by Ann Turner
from HarperCollins
for 1st-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.24
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)
$5.09
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)
Escape North!
Step into Reading Level 4
by Monica Kulling
from Random House
for Grades 2-3
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$5.09 $2.40 (2 in stock)
Extreme Machines
A DK Eyewitness Reader Level 4
by Christopher Maynard
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.24
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)
Finding a New Land
from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.85
Finding Providence
An I Can Read Chapter Book
by Avi
from HarperCollins
for 3rd-5th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.09
Finding the Titanic
by Robert D. Ballard
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$5.09 $1.60 (2 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 Flight
DK Eyewitness Readers Level 4
by Caryn Jenner
from DK Children
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$4.24
First Flight
by George Shea
Reissue from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.09
First Start Reading - Book A
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$8.15
First Start Reading - Book B
by Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$8.15
First Start Reading - Book C
by Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP)
$8.15
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)
$8.15
Five Notable Inventors
by Wade Hudson
from Cartwheel Books
in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH)
$1.20 (1 in stock)
Flutter, Butterfly!
National Geographic Kids Pre-reader
by Shelby Alinsky
from National Geographic
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR)
$2.40 (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)
$1.60 (3 in stock)
Foundations Phonics
Revised from Master Books
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$31.99
Frog and Toad Collection
by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for Preschool-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$15.27
From Shore to Shore
3rd edition from A Beka Books
for 3rd grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (5 in stock)
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