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?
113 Items found Print
Active Filters: Hardcover, Used Books & Materials
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)
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 - Reader 1
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 3rd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95 $15.50 (1 in stock)
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 $15.50 (1 in stock)
All About Reading Level 4 - Reader 1
by Marie Rippel, Renee LaTulippe
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95 $15.50 (2 in stock)
All About Reading Level 4 - Reader 2
by Marie Rippel, Renee LaTulippe
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 4th grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95 $15.50 (2 in stock)
All About Reading Pre-Reading - Reader 1
by Marie Rippel
from All About Learning Press
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$14.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
All About Reading Pre-Reading - Reader 2
by Marie Rippel, Renee LaTulippe
from All About Learning Press
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$14.95 $10.00 (1 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)
Aunt Eater's Mystery Vacation
by Doug Cushman
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$2.40 (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)
Bridges Beyond
CLE Reading
by Ruth K. Hobbs
from Christian Light Education
for 4th grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$12.00 (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)
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)
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)
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)
Doors to Discovery
CLE Reading to Learn
by Ruth K. Hobbs
from Christian Light Education
for 3rd grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$12.00 (1 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)
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
from Random House
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Ear Book
by Al Perkins
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Nursery-Preschool
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$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)
Eclectic Second Reader
Original McGuffey's
by William McGuffey
Facsimile editions. from Mott Media
for 2nd-4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Other Primers (Location: REA-MCG)
$8.00 (2 in stock)
Eclectic Third Reader
Original McGuffey's
by William McGuffey
from Mott Media
for 3rd-5th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Other Primers (Location: REA-MCG)
$8.00 (3 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)
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)
Foot Book
Bright & Early Books
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$8.49 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Foot Book
Bright & Early Books
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$2.40 (2 in stock)
Fox in Socks
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$3.20 (4 in stock)
Gollywhopper Egg
by Anne Rockwell
from Macmillan
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Green Eggs and Ham
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
Fantasy for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$8.49 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Green Eggs and Ham
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
Fantasy for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Happy Hearts
CLE Reading to Learn
by Ruth K. Hobbs
from Christian Light Education
for 2nd grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$9.50 (1 in stock)
Harvey's Revised English Grammar
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Other Primers (Location: REA-MCG)
$17.50 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Helping Hands
CLE Reading
by Ruth K. Hobbs
from Christian Light Education
for 2nd grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$9.50 (2 in stock)
Henry and Mudge
Ready-to-Read Level 2
by Cynthia Rylant, Sucie Stevenson
from Simon and Schuster
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Ready-to-Read (Location: EAR-R2R)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Horses and Ponies
Usborne Beginners
by Anna Milbourne
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
How Flowers Grow
Usborne Beginners
by Emma Helbrough
from Usborne
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$4.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
I Can Read With My Eyes Shut
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
I Wonder
CLE Reading
by Ruth K. Hobbs
Sunrise 2nd Edition from Christian Light Education
for 1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$8.50 (2 in stock)
I Wonder - Teacher's Guide (with answers)
CLE Reading to Learn
by Ruth K. Hobbs
Sunrise 2nd Edition from Christian Light Education
for 1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$12.50 (2 in stock)
Is a Camel a Mammal?
Cat in the Hat's Learning Library
by Tish Rabe
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)
Johnny Lion's Book
by Edith Thacher Hurd, illustrated by Clement Hurd
from Weekly Reader
for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Knitting Knights
2nd edition from Logic of English, Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Logic of English (Location: PHO-LOE)
$15.00 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Let's Get Turtles
by Millicent Selsam, illustrated by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Little Bear
by Maurice Sendak
Book Club from Weekly Reader
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
LOE Foundations B - Teacher's Manual
2nd edition from Logic of English, Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Logic of English (Location: PHO-LOE)
$25.00 (1 in stock)
LOE Foundations C - Teacher's Manual
3rd edition from Logic of English, Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Logic of English (Location: PHO-LOE)
$54.99 $32.00 (1 in stock)
Marigold and Grandma on the Town
by Stephanie Calmenson, illustrated by Mary Chalmers
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Mat Man: Hats
by Jan Z. Olsen, illustrated by Molly Delaney
from Learning Without Tears
for Preschool-1st grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
Mat Man: On the Go
Mat Man
by Jan Z. Olsen, illustrated by Molly Delaney
from Learning Without Tears
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
Mat Man: Opposites
by Jan Z. Olsen, illustrated by Molly Delaney
from Learning Without Tears
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
McGuffey's Eclectic Progressive Spelling Book
Original McGuffey's
by William McGuffey
from Mott Media
for 1st-3rd grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Other Primers (Location: REA-MCG)
$6.50 (2 in stock)
McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader
by William Holmes McGuffey
Revised from American Book Co.
for 5th-6th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Other Primers (Location: REA-MCG)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Mcguffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader
by William Holmes McGuffey
Revised from American Book Co.
for 4th-5th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Other Primers (Location: REA-MCG)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
McGuffey's Sixth Eclectic Reader
by William Holmes McGuffey
Revised from American Book Co.
for 6th-7th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Other Primers (Location: REA-MCG)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Mcguffey's Third Eclectic Reader
by William Holmes McGuffey
Reprint from John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
for 3rd-4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Other Primers (Location: REA-MCG)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Moore McGuffey Readers: Fourth Reader for Advanced Students
by William H. McGuffey, edited by Raymond & Dorothy Moore
from Moore Learning Systems
for 8th-Adult
in McGuffey's Readers & Other Primers (Location: REA-MCG)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Moore McGuffy Readers: Third Reader
by William Holmes McGuffey, edited by Raymond & Dorothy Moore
for 6th-9th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Other Primers (Location: REA-MCG)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Mosdos Press Literature Coral - Textbook
from Mosdos Press
for 5th grade
in Mosdos Press Literature (Location: LITCUR-MOS)
$25.00 (3 in stock)
Mosdos Press Literature Jade - Student Text
7th Printing from Mosdos Press
for 7th grade
in Mosdos Press Literature (Location: LITCUR-MOS)
$25.00 (1 in stock)
Mosdos Press Literature Opal - Student Text 2 volume set
from Mosdos Press
for 3rd grade
in Mosdos Press Literature (Location: LITCUR-MOS)
$29.00 (2 in stock)
Mosdos Press Literature Pearl - Set
from Mosdos Press
for 6th grade
in Mosdos Press Literature (Location: LITCUR-MOS)
$85.00 (2 in stock)
Mosdos Press Literature Pearl - Student Text
from Mosdos Press
for 6th grade
in Mosdos Press Literature (Location: LITCUR-MOS)
$25.00 (1 in stock)
Mosdos Press Literature Ruby - Student Textbook
from Mosdos Press
for 4th grade
in Mosdos Press Literature (Location: LITCUR-MOS)
$25.00 (3 in stock)
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?
Bright & Early Books
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for Nursery-1st grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$8.49 $3.20 (2 in stock)
My Second Nature Reader
The Good and the Beautiful Library Level 1
by Jenny Phillips
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 1st grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$9.50 (1 in stock)
My Third Nature Reader
The Good and the Beautiful Library Level 2
by Jenny Phillips
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 2nd grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$9.50 (2 in stock)
My, Oh My—a Butterfly!
by Tish Rabe
from Random House
for Preschool-1st grade
in Cat in the Hat's Learning Library (Location: EAR-CAT)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Off to the Races
by Fred. Phleger, M. Phleger
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Oh Say Can You Say Di-no-saur?
by Bonnie Worth, illustrated by Steve Haefele
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-4th grade
in Cat in the Hat's Learning Library (Location: EAR-CAT)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Oliver the Mighty Pig
by Jean Van Leeuwen; illustrated by Ann Schweninger
from Dial Books for Young Readers
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
On the Moon
Usborne First Reading Level 1
by Anna Milbourne, illustrated by Benji Davies
from Usborne
for Preschool-1st grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Once Upon a Mastodon
by Bonnie Worth
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for 2nd-4th grade
in Cat in the Hat's Learning Library (Location: EAR-CAT)
$8.49 $3.60 (1 in stock)
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$8.49 $3.60 (1 in stock)
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Open Windows
CLE Reading to Learn
by Ruth K. Hobbs
from Christian Light Education
for 5th grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Our Heritage
by Pathway
from Pathway Publishers
for 8th grade
in Pathway Readers (Location: REA-PATH)
$11.00 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Out of Sight Till Tonight!
Cat in the Hat's Learning Library
by Tish Rabe, 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)
Pancakes, Pancakes!
Ready-to-Read Level 1
by Eric Carle
from Simon Spotlight
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Ready-to-Read (Location: EAR-R2R)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Penguins
by Emily Bone
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Pictorial Primer
for Nursery-1st grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Other Primers (Location: REA-MCG)
$7.50 (2 in stock)
Pinocchio's Quest
by Robert Rogland
from Christian Liberty Press
for 6th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$16.75 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Planet Earth
by Leonie Pratt
from Usborne
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$4.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Rainforests
Usborne Beginners
by Lucy Beckett-Bowman
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Rod & Staff Reading 1 - Reader Units 2, 3 (old)
Bible Nurture & Reader Series
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 1st Grade
in Old Edition Reading (Location: OREAD)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Rod & Staff Reading 1 - Reader Units 5, 6
Bible Nurture & Reader Series
3rd edition from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 1st Grade
in Rod & Staff Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-R&S)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
Rod & Staff Reading 2 - Reader Units 1-3
Bible Nurture & Reader Series
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 2nd Grade
in Rod & Staff Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-R&S)
$12.50 (3 in stock)
Rod & Staff Reading 3 - Reader Units 1-3
Bible Nurture & Reader Series
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 3rd Grade
in Rod & Staff Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-R&S)
$12.50 (5 in stock)
Rod & Staff Reading 4 - Reader
Bible Nurture & Reader Series
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 4th Grade
in Rod & Staff Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-R&S)
$11.50 (1 in stock)
Romans
Usborne Beginners
by Katie Daynes, illustrated by Adam Larkum
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Safari, So Good!
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)
Small Wolf
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Nathaniel Benchley, illustrated by Joan Sandin
from Harper & Row
for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Snow
by Philip.D. Eastman, Roy Mc Kie
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$2.80 (1 in stock)
Some of Us Walk, Some Fly, Some Swim
I Can Read It All By Myself
by Michael Frith
from Random House
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Tadpoles and Frogs
Usborne Beginners Level 1
by Anna Milbourne
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
12