Phonemes

Phonemes

By S.V. Richard

The sounds a letter, whether consonant or vowel, make are called phonemes. Think of phonemes as the basic building blocks for words. For example, the /b/ phoneme makes the beginning sound heard in bat, band, or banana. The /c/ phoneme makes the beginning sound heard in cat, cake, or camera. By understanding the sounds a letter makes, beginning readers can tell the difference between the word bat and the word cat. The different phonemes used change the meaning of each word.

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Beginning Sounds

Show students simple pictures with corresponding words and ask students to say the beginning sound. A picture of a bed would prompt the student to make the /b/ sound for the letter b. A picture of a sun would prompt the student to make the /s/ sound for the letter s.

Once the student has a strong grasp on the sounds letters make or phonemes, the student may begin to make and read various words by changing the beginning sounds. Using the prompt _it, the student may make the words fit, hit, lit, nit, or pit. Using the prompt _ot, the student may make words such as cot, hot, jot, or not.

Ending Sounds

A similar strategy may be used for ending sounds. A picture of a bed, however, would prompt the student to make the /d/ sound for the letter d. A picture of a sun would prompt the student to make the /n/ sound for the letter n.

Manipulating ending sounds will also encourage students’ reading skills to grow. For example, using the prompt be_, the student may make words such as bed, beg, Ben, bet, etc. Initially, it is important to begin with simple CVC words. For example, if given the prompt ca_, start with cab, can, or cat as opposed to car.

Middle Sounds

Applying the same strategy for middle sounds, a student would make the /e/ sound for bed or /u/ sound for sun. Students may also make completely different words by altering the middle sound. For example, given the prompt c_t, a student may make the word cat, cot, or cut.

Phonemes are critical for students to understand in order to learn how to read. Internet searches may yield various free word lists to help students practice their reading and phoneme skills. Make sure to check out the credentials and the website to ensure accurate teaching.

© 2011 - S. V. Richard