Reading Difficulties: Before Phonics: The Missing Ingredient in Reading Instruction

We all know that phonics is a must in teaching our children to read, but what about phonemic awareness? What is it and why is it important? Do you have a child who is not “getting” phonics, struggling with beginning reading instruction? Or perhaps you have a child who has “sloppy speech” or doesn’t seem to “hear” things correctly? Poor phonemic awareness could be partly to blame. This session will provide parent-teachers with an understanding of phonemic awareness skills and how these skills (or lack thereof) impact a child’s ability to become a proficient reader. Participants will receive a phonemic awareness assessment that can be used at home, take part in interactive activities in order to “play” with phonemic awareness, and be given a list of curricula, materials, and games that address these important, foundational skills.