Hello, Bookworms! 📚🐛 This is part 1 of 5 in our series on The Science of Reading – Phonemic Awareness! Today we’re diving into the secret world of Phonemic awareness. Get your wizard hats on. We’re about to embark on a magical journey where sounds rule the kingdom!

What Is Phonemic Awareness?

Phonemic awareness used to be a skill we underestimated. But guess what? It’s kind of a big deal in the world of reading. Take the word “rain” for example. It’s got FOUR letters but THREE sounds: /T/ /I/ /ME/.

Now, here’s the cool part: phonemic awareness is all about sounds, not the spellings. When kids master this skill, they’re on their way to becoming spelling superstars. It’s like the Jedi training of reading!

Sound Mapping – Let the Phonemic Awareness Games Begin!

Imagine you’re a sound detective with a mission to crack the code of words. That’s what sound mapping is all about. 🕵️‍♀️

Step 1: TAP the Sounds 💥

Grab a word card, say the word, and then tap out each sound. Rain? T-I-ME. Easy, right?

Step 2: MAP the Sounds 🤪

Now, it’s token time! Lay down an Inchy Token as you say each sound in the word. You’ll feel like each sound is worth it’s weight in gold.

Step 3: GRAPH the Sounds 📝

Write down those sounds on paper. It’s like creating a sound masterpiece on your very own canvas.

Step 4: WRITE the Sounds 🖋️

Practice writing the sounds you just discovered. This step is like the grand finale of your sound adventure.

Step 5: READ the Word 📖

Put all those sounds together and voilà! You’ve got yourself a word. Rain, sunshine, or unicorn, you’ve got it covered.

Phonemic Awareness Superpowers

Phonemic awareness isn’t just one thing; it’s a bunch of superpowers rolled into one:

• 1️⃣ Blending Phonemes – It’s like making a phonics smoothie by blending individual sounds into words. Yum!

• 2️⃣ Isolating Phonemes – Isolating sounds means picking out a single sound from a word. Like finding the hidden treasure in a pirate’s map!

• 3️⃣ Segmenting Phonemes – Segmenting is the art of stretching a word’s sounds apart, making it easier to spell. Think of it as giving words more breathing space.

• 4️⃣ Adding Phonemes – Want to turn “cat” into “chat”? You’re adding a sound! It’s like giving your word a fancy makeover.

• 5️⃣ Deleting Phonemes – Sometimes, less is more. Deleting a sound can turn “clap” into “cap.” Simplicity at its finest!

• 6️⃣ Substituting Phonemes – Swap a sound, change a word! It’s like a secret code that only word wizards can crack.

So there you have it, folks! Phonemic awareness is the key to unlocking the magical world of reading. With these sound superpowers, kids can conquer any word, no matter how tricky it seems. Happy sound hunting, and may your phonemic adventures be as fun as a game of wizard chess! 🧙‍♀️📚✨

Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine is all about giving back! 📚 We’re on a mission to help kids read and succeed. We believe in making the world a better place through literacy. 💪🌍

To learn more about Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would be delighted to assist you. Together, we can champion literacy for all!