Phonological Awareness - Understanding Phonological Awareness

Phonological awareness is the ability to listen to and discriminate between the various sounds that make up language. Phonological awareness involves the understanding that phonemes work together to make syllables, which make words. Phonological awareness underlies our ability to understand that words are formed from these component parts, which are combined with other words to make up sentences and express ideas. In students who do not have hearing loss, phonological awareness skills can be taught and can have a positive impact on reading ability. Remember, however, it is common for children with learning disabilities to be delayed in the development of these skills and to acquire them at slower rates than non-disabled children.

By around the age of four, non-disabled children should begin to perceive and understand rhyming patterns in words. These skills can be reinforced by learning nursery rhymes. Beginning in kindergarten and first grade, children should begin to perceive and understand how to break apart words and recognize that some words have common parts in beginning and ending sounds. Words such as stop, stone, and store have common beginning sounds. Words such as top, mop, and pop, have common ending sounds. Also at this age, children should begin to be able to sound out words from their parts. For example, boy would be sounded out as /b/ō/y/. They can also begin to omit sounds from words when asked to do so. For example, brother without the /br/ sound would be other.

As children develop these skills, they naturally apply them in learning to pronounce new words and to spell. In the primary years, children refine their ability to recognize more complex blends of sounds, hear the subtle differences between similar sounds, identify the beginning, middle, and ends of words, break words into syllables, and recognize root words within larger words. Usually, children are able to recognize these elements of language before they can produce them.

At home, you can work on some of these skills with your child, but it is always best to first discuss it with your child's reading teacher. Always ask what is the best way for you to work with your child to ensure that what you to reinforces what skill is being taught in school as well as how it is being taught.