Phonics…FonixWhy reading can be so hard!

Learning to ReadStart around 3-5

years old.Start with ABC’s Then soundsThen words

Do you need to know everything by the time you’re 11??

NO!Tortoise and the Hare!

Rules, Rules, Everywhere RulesSpelling has rulesThe written English

language breaks (or bends) those rules all the time.

Look at the next few slides and see that letters, sounds, and words are not always what they appear to be.

English is confusing. It’s OK to be a tortoise and be a little slow at first.

What sound does A make?A (I went to a movie last Friday.)AppleAprilAllAreSome letters make more than one sound. Readers need to be flexible. If one sound doesn’t work, try another.The letter A has 5 sounds!

What rules did you learn?Some letters make more than one sound.What sound does the letter C make?ConcreteConcept (This word has BOTH sounds that c

makes!)Flexibility is the key.

Chunks have rules, tooLetters make chunksSometimes 2 letters join together to make an

entirely different soundCh = choo choo CharlieWhat about Christopher? Christmas?In English, rules are made to be broken!

Build on words you knowAllB + all = BallAreIf are is are, why isn’t c + are = car??

The silent e at the end makes the vowel say it’s name.CareHareCameCome (not comb)Have?Another rule is broken. Areyou confused? Imagine being6!

When 2 vowels go walking the first does the talking.EarHearNearBear (Watch out! Anotherbroken rule!)

Ow and ou says “ow”!Cow NowHowHouseMouseTomorrow?Mousse?

Try theseAfter the show, the actress took a bow and

the bow fell off her head!

The lead actor got hit with a lead pipe. Ouch!

What’s up with these words??EyePsycheMnemonics

Some words break all the rules!

Word Talk Can HelpWhen a child comes to a word they don’t

know, STOP! DON’T just supply the word!Word Talk! Explain how YOU know what that

word is. (What rule or strategy did you use to figure out that word? What rule did you bend/break? )

Emphasize being flexible with letter sounds , word chunks, and applying the “rules”.

Tortoise and the HareSome kids are lucky

and understand reading and rule bending right away!

Hares

Some kids try to follow the rules and then find out the rules let them down!

FLEXIBILITYIt’s never too late!

It might take a little longer or a little more work, but YOU CAN finish and win the reading race!