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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209 Items found Print
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ABC's and All Their Tricks
by Margaret M. Bishop
from Mott Media
in Reading Reference (Location: REF-READ)
$22.99
Adventures of Biscuit
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
3rd Print from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Adventures of Mr. Toad
Disney's Wonderful World of Reading
from Random House
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp
Walt Disney Productions Presents
from Random House
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
All About Reading Level 1 - Reader 1
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for 1st grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95 $15.00 (1 in stock)
All About Reading Level 1 - Reader 2
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95
All About Reading Level 1 - Reader 3
by Marie Rippel
Color Edition from All About Learning Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in All About Reading (Location: PHO-AAR)
$22.95
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 $15.00 (1 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 (2 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
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
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
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)
Are You My Mother?
by P. D. Eastman
from Random House
Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Are You Ready to Play Outside?
Elephant and Piggie
by Mo Willems
from Hyperion Books for Children
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
2009 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$9.99
Arthur and the Super Chimp Contest
An I Can Read Book
by Lillian Hoban
from Harper & Row
for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.50 (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)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Arthur's Pen Pal
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Lillian Hoban
from Harper & Row
for Preschool-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.00 (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)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Barkley
An Early I Can Read Book
by Syd Hoff
from Harper & Row
for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$6.00 (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
Bridges Beyond
CLE Reading
by Ruth K. Hobbs
from Christian Light Education
for 4th grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Cat in the Hat
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for 1st-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99 $3.50 (2 in stock)
Cat in the Hat Comes Back
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99 $4.50 (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)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Caterpillars and Butterflies
Usborne Beginners
by Stephanie Turnbull
from Usborne
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$2.70 (1 in stock)
Cats
Usborne Beginners
by Anna Milbourne
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$2.70 (1 in stock)
Clara and the Bookwagon
by Nancy Smiler Levinson
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Daddy is Home!
by David Blomquist, illustrated by Aliki, music by Larry Grossman
from Holt, Rinehart and Winston
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Dangerous Animals
Usborne Beginners
by Rebecca Gilpin
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$2.70 (1 in stock)
Days Go By
by Pathway
from Pathway Publishers
for 1st grade
in Pathway Readers (Location: REA-PATH)
$8.00
Dick and Jane: Fun with Our Family
Dick and Jane readers
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$10.99
Dick and Jane: We Play Outside
Dick and Jane readers
from Grosset & Dunlap
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$10.99
Digging-est Dog
by Al Perkins
from Random House
for Kindergarten-3rd Grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
Doctor Dolittle and the Pirates
by Al Perkins
from Random House
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Dogs
Usborne Beginners
by Emma Helbrough
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$2.70 (1 in stock)
Doodling Dragons
from Logic of English, Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Logic of English (Location: PHO-LOE)
$15.00
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)
$8.50 (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)
$9.99
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
from Random House
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Ear Book
by Al Perkins
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Nursery-Preschool
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Eclectic Fourth Reader
Original McGuffey's
by William McGuffey
from Mott Media
for 1st-3rd grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Eclectic Second Reader
Original McGuffey's
by William McGuffey
Facsimile editions. from Mott Media
for 2nd-4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Eclectic Third Reader
Original McGuffey's
by William McGuffey
from Mott Media
for 3rd-5th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$8.00 (2 in stock)
Edgar, the Super Dolphin
by Nathaniel Benchley, illustrated by Mamoru Funai
from Harper & Row
for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Eggs and Chicks
Usborne Beginners
by Fiona Patchett
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$2.70 (2 in stock)
Elephant and Piggie Biggie Volume 1
by Mo Willems
from Hyperion Books for Children
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$16.99
Elephant and Piggie Biggie Volume 2
by Mo Willems
from Hyperion Books for Children
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$16.99
Elephant and Piggie Complete Collection - Boxed Set
by Mo Willems
from Disney-Hyperion
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$95.00 (1 in stock)
Elephants
Usborne Beginners
by James MacLaine
from Usborne
for 1st-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$3.15 (1 in stock)
Eres tu mi mama
by P.D. Eastman, translated by Teresa Mlawer
from Random House
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Spanish Resources (Location: FL-SPARE)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Fish Out of Water
by Helen Palmer
from Random House
Animal Fantasy/Rhyming Stories for Nursery-1st grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
Flowers
Usborne Young Beginners
by Emily Bone, illustrated by Samara Hardy
from Usborne
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$2.25 (1 in stock)
Fly Went By
by Mike McClintock
from Random House
Rhyming Books for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Fly Went By
by Mike McClintock, illustrated by Fritz Siebel
from Random House
Rhyming Books for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Foot Book
Bright & Early Books
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
Foot Book
Bright & Early Books
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$3.00 (4 in stock)
Fun with Our Family and Fun Wherever You Are - Teacher's Edition
New Basic Readers
from Scott, Foresman & Co.
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in Vintage Readers & Textbooks (Location: VIN-READ)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Ghost Named Fred
by Nathaniel Benchley, illustrated by Ben Shecter
from Harper & Row
for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Go, Dog, Go!
by P. D. Eastman
from Random House
Animal Fantasy/Rhyming Stories for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
Golly Sisters Go West
by Betsy Byars
1st edition from HarperCollins
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Gollywhopper Egg
by Anne Rockwell
from Macmillan
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Great Day for Up
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Green Eggs and Ham
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
Fantasy for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb
Bright & Early Books
by Al Perkins
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Nursery-Kindergarten
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99 $5.00 (2 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)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Harry and the Lady Next Door
An I Can Read Book Level 1
by Gene Zion
from HarperCollins
Realistic Animal Stories for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Harvey's Elementary Grammar and Composition
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th- grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$15.00 $8.00 (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 & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$17.50 $10.00 (2 in stock)
Helping Hands
CLE Reading
by Ruth K. Hobbs
from Christian Light Education
for 2nd grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$7.00 (2 in stock)
Hippo Lemonade
by Mike Thaler
WRBC from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Hooper Humperdink...? Not Him!
by Dr. Seuss writing as Theo LeSieg, illustrated by Scott Nash
from Random House
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Hop on Pop
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House
for Preschool-1st grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$4.50 (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 (2 in stock)
I Am NOT Going to Get Up Today!
by Dr. Seuss
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$9.99
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)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
I Want to Be Somebody New!
by Robert Lopshire
1St Edition from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
I Wish That I Had Duck Feet
by Theo. LeSieg
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
I Wonder (old illustrations)
CLE Reading to Learn
by Ruth K. Hobbs
from Christian Light Education
for 1st grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Ice Is Nice!
The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library
by Bonnie Worth, Illustrated by Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu
1st edition from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Cat in the Hat's Learning Library (Location: EAR-CAT)
$4.50 (2 in stock)
In a People House
by Theo. LeSieg, illustrated by Roy McKie
from Random House
for Nursery-1st grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Inspector Hopper's Mystery Year
by Doug Cushman
1st edition from HarperCollins
for 2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
It's Not Easy Being a Bunny
by Marilyn Sadler
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Johnny Lion's Book
by Edith Thacher Hurd, illustrated by Clement Hurd
from Harper & Row
for Preschool-1st grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.00 (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)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
Julius
An I Can Read Book
by Syd Hoff
from Parents Magazine Press
for Grades 1-3
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
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)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Let's Go for a Drive
Elephant & Piggy #18
by Mo Willems
from Hyperion Books for Children
for 3rd-6th grade
2013 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$9.99
Life of Fred Eden #01: Blue
by Stanley F. Schmidt
from Polka Dot Publishing
for Preschool-1st grade
in Life of Fred Eden Series (Location: EAR-LOF)
$8.00 $5.50 (3 in stock)
Life of Fred Eden #02: Bus
by Stanley F. Schmidt
from Polka Dot Publishing
for Preschool-1st grade
in Life of Fred Eden Series (Location: EAR-LOF)
$8.00 $5.50 (2 in stock)
Life of Fred Eden #03: Lake
Red
by Stanley F. Schmidt
from Polka Dot Publishing
for Preschool-1st grade
in Life of Fred Eden Series (Location: EAR-LOF)
$8.00 $5.50 (1 in stock)
Life of Fred Eden #04: Potato Dreams
from Polka Dot Publishing
for Preschool-1st grade
in Life of Fred Eden Series (Location: EAR-LOF)
$8.00
Life of Fred Eden #05: Ducks
by Stanley F. Schmidt
from Polka Dot Publishing
for Preschool-1st grade
in Life of Fred Eden Series (Location: EAR-LOF)
$8.00 $5.50 (2 in stock)
Life of Fred Eden #06: Rain
by Stanley F. Schmidt
from Polka Dot Publishing
for Preschool-1st grade
in Life of Fred Eden Series (Location: EAR-LOF)
$8.00 $5.50 (2 in stock)
Life of Fred Eden #07: Mud
by Stanley F. Schmidt
from Polka Dot Publishing
for Preschool-1st grade
in Life of Fred Eden Series (Location: EAR-LOF)
$8.00
Life of Fred Eden #08: Night
by Stanley F. Schmidt
from Polka Dot Publishing
for Preschool-1st grade
in Life of Fred Eden Series (Location: EAR-LOF)
$8.00
Life of Fred Eden #09: Dawn
by Stanley F. Schmidt
from Polka Dot Publishing
for Preschool-1st grade
in Life of Fred Eden Series (Location: EAR-LOF)
$8.00
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