From the Greek language…
“phon” means sound.
“ics” means science.
So, “phonics” is the science of
sounds of a language and their
relationship to the symbols
(letters).
English has 44 sounds and 26 letters;
- 25 consonant sounds,
- But only 19 consonant letters
- 19 vowel sounds,
- But only 5 letter vowels (a, e, i, o, u)
- + 2 semi-vowels (w, y)
Why?
(Let’s discuss).
19 consonant letters:
b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r,
s, t, v, w, x, y, z
7 digraphs:
ch, sh, th (d / q), wh, ng, nk, ph
(gh)
One-sound letters:
b, d, f, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, t, v,
w, y, z
Multi-sound letters/digraphs:
c (k/s), g (g/j/zh), s (s/sh/z/zh),
x (ks/z), ch (tf/k/sh), th (d / q)
The “c” (k/s) rule is 100% true!!!!!
C + a, o, u = /k/
(can, cod, cut)
(cane, code, cute)
C + e, i, y = /s/
(center, city, bicycle)
(cedar, cite, cycle)
The “g” (g/j) rule is 99% true!
g + a, o, u = /g/
(gas, got, gum)
(game, goal, legume)
g + e, i, y = /j/
(gem, giraffe, gym)
(gene, giant, gyroscope)
The “g” (g/j) rule is 99% true!
gu + e, i, y = /g/
(guess, guild)
(guide, guy)
Exceptions to the rule:
get, give
garage, massage, margarine
The “s” (s/sh/z/zh)
/s/ “normal pronunciation”
Exceptions:
/sh/ sure, sugar
/z/ is, as, does, was
/zh/ measure, pleasure
The “x” (ks/z)
/ks/ box, fox, ox,
/z/ xenophobia, xylophone
Exception: x-ray
The “ch” (tf/k/sh)
Pure English:
/tf/ change, chess, chip, chop
Greek English:
/k/ Christmas, chorus
French English:
/sh/ Champagne, Chauffeur
The “th” (d / q)
/d/ the, this, that, there, they,
them, these, those
/q/ thing, think, thank, thief,
thought, therapy
Tongue Twister:
I think that this thing and that thing are
better than those things.
Short Vowels
at
egg
ill
on
under
Long Vowels
ate
eel
ice
open
unicorn
Short Vowels
mat
fell
sit
con
cut
Long Vowels
mate
feel
site
cone
cute
Short Vowels
latter
peddle
dinner
hopping
cutter
Long Vowels
later
bipedal
diner
hoping
cuter
Short Vowel ( )
book
foot
good
took
wood
Long Vowel (u:)
boot
food
goose
moon
soon
The UN-stressed syllable of a word
has the schwa sound:
banana
cancel
pencil
mutton
Mongolian is similar
Sound-change Schwa
Эрдэнэ
silent “e”
Play Phonics Games
On the way home.
After school, at home.
Use technology!
iPad, iPod, iPhone
Phonics Games!!!
Other:
Galaxy Tab
Websites
Use body movements
associated with each
letter’s sound.
See the Reading Record.
Activity 1
Sounding out words.
b - a - t
Activity 2
Memorizing sight words based
on beginning sound and
morphology of the word.
bat
1. Have children write
the sound that you
make.
2. Encourage daily
diary writing.
Spelling is not
important, if the
word is phonetically
correct!
Let your child write
shopping lists, even if it
is just the first letter, such
as,
M (for milk)
A (for apples)
B (for buuz)
E (for eggs)
Help your child to write
letters and birthday
cards (in English) to
relatives.
Let your child use Microsoft
Word (or other wordprocessing programs).
•Allow set time for
access to ICT, creating
documents,
presentations and
emails.
Encourage children to read
words all around them.
Some signs, menus and
buildings have English
on them (in UB).
• Subscribe to children’s
magazines, newspapers etc
•Keep reading
materials in the car.
Final thought…
Together, as teachers, parents, pupils and friends of
ESM, we can work in partnership to help realise the
full potential of the children.
Some useful websites;
For parents;
http://leonsplanet.com/phono.htm
For children;
See handout