Explanation of Phonemic Awareness Skills
Phoneme Isolation
Phoneme isolation refers to the ability to recognize the separate phonemes in words. The first phoneme in a syllable is the easiest to identify, then the final phoneme, then the middle phoneme. The following questions probe this skill:
Phoneme Segmentation
Phoneme segmentation requires children to count out the separate phonemes in a word and saying each sound as they tap it out or count it. Begin with simple vc and cvc words before moving to ccvc and cvcc words.
Phoneme Blending
Phoneme blending is one of the most important phonemic skills and requires careful attention. Blending requires children to listen to a sequence of spoken phonemes and then combine them into a word. In the early stages, model continuous sounds and do not stop between phonemes.
When children can do exercises like the above, the phonemes can be separated: /m/ /a/ /n/ = man
Then the “stop” consonants (/b/, /c/, /d/, /g/, /h/, /j/, /k/, /p/, /q/, /t/ and /x/) should be introduced – those that can only be said for an instant, and cannot be continued without distorting them.
Caution needs to be taken not to distort the phonemes when teaching children to blend, especially children who are having difficulty. For example, the word bat should be said “baaat” not “baaatuh”. Even more importantly, the initial consonant should not be distorted. The elongated word should be said “baaat”, combining the /b/ and /a/ sounds, rather than saying “buhaaat”. After blending consonant-vowel-consonant (cvc) words orally, help children blend ccvc and cvcc words, and words with the long vowel sound.
What is the first sound in mud? /m/
What is the last sound in truck? /k/
What is the middle sound in hat? /a/
/mmmaaannn/ man
/sssuuunnn/ sun
/baaat/ bat
/diiip/ dip
/do...g/ (continue /o/ sound) dog
/sssllliiid/ slid
/rrruuussst/
/ssseat/ seat
Listen to the sounds in up /u/ /p/ 2 phonemes
Listen to the sounds in mat /m/ /a/ /t/ 3 phonemes
Listen to the sounds in stop /s/ /t/ /e/ /p/ 4 phonemes
Listen to the sounds in trust /c/ /r/ /u/ /s/ /t/ 5 phonemes
I came across this really nice video that shows examples of phoneme segmentation.
Phoneme Manipulation
Phoneme manipulation is the most sophisticated phonemic skill, and should be introduced after the previous phonemic awareness skills are mastered. Children will need to know how to delete, add and substitute sounds within words. The ability to manipulate sounds to form different words in order to support the flexible use of sound knowledge is an extremely important component of the reading and writing process.
What word do you have if you add /s/ to the beginning of print? (sprint)
What word do you get if you take the /s/ away from stop? (top)
What word do you get if you take the /s/ away from stop and put it at the end? (tops)