How will children learn how to read? Phonics is the preferred method to teaching children to read because it is supported by research and science proves that it works. Phonics relies on scaffolded training, so children learn how to read without being overwhelmed. Children learn how to read in baby steps and conquer certain principles and practices before moving on to the next step.
When it comes time for our children to enter preschool and kindergarten, they will learn an assortment of skills to help them grow and achieve success. Learning how to read is a top priority among those skills, which is why it is taught so early.
What are the steps that children take to learn how to read?
Step 1: Learn the Phonemes of American English
Before children learn how to read, they must learn phonemes. There are 44 unique phonemes in American English. Phonemes are the smallest units of sound used to create words.
Consonant Phonemes
| /b/ bat | /j/ jet | /s/ sun | /sh/ ship |
| /k/ cat | /l/ leg | /t/ tub | /ch/ chip |
| /d/ dog | /m/ man | /v/ van | /th/ think |
| /f/ fan | /n/ net | /w/ wig | /th/ the |
| /g/ go | /p/ pen | /y/ yell | /ng/ sing |
| /h/ hat | /r/ rat | /z/ zap | /zh/ vision |
Vowel Phonemes
| /a/ ant | /ai/ rain | /oo/ book | /ur/ hurt |
| /e/ egg | /ee/ feet | /ow/ cow | /air/ care |
| /i/ in | /igh/ right | /oi/ toy | /ear/ fear |
| /o/ on | /oa/ coat | /ar/ arm | /ure/ sure |
| /u/ up | /oo/ boot | /or/ more | /e/ corner |
The important part to remember with phonemes is that they are completely auditory. Children at this stage do not know much about the alphabet, how to read letters or what they might mean. They only know whole words are made of smaller sounds.
How do phonemes teach children learn how to read? Children are born with the instinct to speak and talk. Consequently, they naturally learn new words and how to string words into sentences to express ideas. For the most part, they do not need any explicit or special training to learn how to speak.
Reading, on the other hand, is much like translating a foreign language. The first step toward reading is to understand the combinations of sounds (phonemes) that make up words. This understanding of phonemes is called phonemic awareness. After children have mastered phonemic awareness, they can learn about how phonemes connect to written text.
Step 2: Learn How to Read The Graphemes That Represent Phonemes in Text
Once children have learned about phonemes, they can begin learning about graphemes. Graphemes are visual representations of phonemes; they are the symbols or letters that represent sounds. Graphemes are what we see in text. The tricky part here is that there can be multiple graphemes for the same phoneme. For example, the phoneme /s/ can be represented in text by graphemes such as s, c and ps.
Phoneme /s/ = Graphemes in sink, pace, psych
Likewise, they also learn that there can be multiple phonemes for one grapheme. For example, in text, the letter a is the same in both apple and bait. However, the phoneme, or the pronunciation of a, is very different from one another.
The long /a/ = bait, made, rake
The short /a/ = apple, act, can
The objective of learning graphemes is to understand the link between text and sound. If children can recognize that particular graphemes are to make matching phonemes (sounds), they learn how to read and decode.
When children learn how to read, this phase of phonics might be the most difficult because it is when they need to think critically about how the same phonemes are represented differently in text. In order to do this, they call back on their earlier training in phonics.
For example, children often know the names of animals through pictures, but they are only now starting to see the letters that make up the names of animals, like dog, pig, cat and pony. Maybe they have had enough training to know how to read dog, pig and cat, but the word pony looks very unfamiliar.
Using grapheme practice, they sound out the word. They know that:
- P grapheme makes the /p/ sound
- O grapheme makes the /o/ or /oo/ sound
- N grapheme makes the /n/ sound
- Y grapheme makes the /i/ or /e/ sound
So, what are the possible combinations of phonemes and which combination is the correct way to read pony? At first, it might come out as poo-nigh, poo-knee or poh-nigh. Through trial and error, they discover the correct way to read the word pony is as poh-knee.
This decoding process is hard work. Children are working with hundreds of puzzle pieces. It can be challenging, but it can also be entertaining. More often than not, children are eager to solve these puzzles. The more they learn, the more they want to learn how to read.
Step 3: Learn How To Read Through Segmenting and Blending
Segmenting and blending is the last step to learning how to decode words. It is when children compile all their training, practice and skills and put them to the test.
Children learn how to read through segmenting. This basic practice is when readers separate a larger word into smaller parts. So, the word cat is divided into individual phonemes /k/, /a/ and /t/.
Once, they figure out the individual phonemes, early readers blend the phonemes together to pronounce the word as a whole. So, cat becomes /k/ +/a/ + /t/.
Blending and segmenting can be applied in other ways too. Let’s say that a child is reading a book and runs across this sentence:
The cat sat by the pond.
The child knows how to pronounce cat from blending and segmenting earlier, but he has never before seen this word sat. After studying it, he realizes that cat and sat look quite similar. They both have –at at the end. So, maybe cat and sat sound similar, too. He also figures out that the only difference is the c in cat and the s in sat. C makes the /k/, but s makes the /s/ sound. He decides at the end that sat is cat with the /s/ sound instead.
The best part is that he learns how to read an unfamiliar word all by himself. Segmenting and blending not only equips children to learn how to read on their own, but it prepares them to become proficient spellers, too.
Step 4: Practice, Practice, Practice
Learning how to read a simple word like sat was a lot of work for that child! Decoding, segmenting and blending are all challenging at first. Reading is not a natural skill to anyone, so it takes a great deal of practice. Fortunately, like anything else, reading becomes easier the more we practice. To succeed at reading, children must practice decoding language until they develop fluency, or the ability to read text smoothly.
What should children practice to learn how to read proficiently? They should practice:
- Phonemes
- Graphemes
- Segmenting
- Blending
- Decoding
- Rhyming
- Spelling
However, this is not the end. Once children learn these skills, they are prepared for the final stages of learning how to read: expanding their vocabulary, building reading comprehension and fluency. In order to accomplish this, children should graduate to more challenging text once they learn how to read easier material. This allows them to continue learning about graphemes, phonemes and their unique intricacies.
Phonics is a fantastic approach for children learning how to read. It is the one method universally supported by reading scientists because it works. Children learn how to read through explicit training in phonemes, graphemes, blending, segmenting and decoding. The more they master these skills, the more prepared they are to become successful learners overall.
Learning how to read is not a natural process, so it can be difficult for early learners. As educators and parents, we provide guidance, explanation and encouragement. On the part of children, it requires time, patience, trial and error. Children must put in conscious effort and think critically about what they’re doing when they learn how to read. For a four or five-year-old, it can be overwhelming, which is why learning how to read through phonics is doubly important.
Step 5: Work Up To Fluency
Fluency is the ability to read with accuracy, speed and expression. This is the first step toward building reading comprehension. Just as we are fluent in a language, we can be fluent in reading. The main objective of fluency is for reading to sound as natural as speaking.
When children learn how to read, building fluency as an early reader can be a challenge, especially if students experience trouble decoding. With fluency training, children and students practice their decoding skills enough to the point they no longer have to focus on how to pronounce individual words, but can start looking at sentences as a whole. Students learn to recognize and pronounce whole words and smoothly move through the sentence without unnatural pauses or placing stress on the wrong syllables. Why is this important? The way a sentence reads helps students make sense of the information delivered. This, in turn, aids reading comprehension.
What does the progression of fluency look like? Take this short passage below:
My bike can go. I like my bike.
In the early stages of fluency training, children may look at this sentence and recognize many of the words, but bike looks unfamiliar. So, they learn how to read the word bike. They will separate the word into individual phonemes, think about the graphemes on the page and then blend and segment. Once they figure out how to pronounce bike, they can start reading the passage from the beginning to practice fluency. At first, they might read the passage as:
My bike/
Can go/
I like my/
Bike/
What’s going on their heads while they learn how to read this passage? They are decoding, making sure that the sound they make is correct, attempting mouth shapes, preparing to tackle the next few letters and remembering how to pronounce the new word bike. It’s a lot of work, which is why in the early stages of fluency training, children sound choppy when reading sentences.
After rereading the passage a few times, they learn how to read the passage as:
My bike can go/
I like my bike/
Fluency training does require repetition so that children learn how to read with the correct rhythm and cadence that come naturally in speech. Therefore, do not be surprised or disappointed if your child or student has a difficult time reading smoothly from the start. However, if you suspect that your child or student struggles even after extended fluency training, it is likely that another underlying issue needs to be addressed.
Why might a child struggle with building fluency? They:
- Did not have enough practice with phonemes
- Do not realize the connection between phonemes and graphemes
- Struggle with blending and segmenting
- Have a learning disorder, such as dyslexia or ADHD
- Are frustrated and/or overwhelmed
- Are disinterested in the story
As parents and educators, we must remember how big of a challenge reading is. While it can be fun and exciting, some students are simply overwhelmed, frustrated and discouraged with the task of learning how to read. Large text passages can scare them. Unfamiliar words may upset them. It is vital that we do not push them harder than necessary, and that we always fall back on early phonics training to help children learn how to read with success.
How does a child work up to fluency? Building fluency requires sufficient reading practice and a total mastery of phonemes, graphemes, blending and segmenting. Children need a wide exposure to reading different material to fully develop their decoding skills and build up to fluency. Remember, reading is not a natural skill. It is one that must be learned.
How do you know if your student or child has become a fluent reader? Fluent readers:
- Read with correct pronunciation
- Read with appropriate speed
- Place accents in the right places
- Read with expression
- Read in phrases of at least four words at a time
- Do not get lost in the reading passage
- Understands the content
In the early stages of fluency training, it is a very good sign if your student or child is able to read chunks of sentences at a time, even if not the entire sentence at once. If your child reads word by word and reading sounds choppy in any way, it is best to practice more through additional exercises and training.
How can we help children learn how to read with fluency?
- Read the sentence aloud together
- Track the sentence with your finger
- Read the same sentence up to four times
- Have your child read the sentence alone
Keep in mind that while they can make it through a sentence with relative ease, it does not mean they understand what they are reading. Building reading comprehension skills requires additional steps and is the sum of phonics training.
Step 6: Build Vocabulary Skills
As children learn how to read and build fluency, they move onto advanced reading material where they encounter a number of unfamiliar words. This is an amazing time for these new learners! They get to learn words they never knew before, recognize those words in sentences, and experiment with how to use the words.
When children learn how to read new words in sentences, they utilize early phonics training. They learn to separate these words into phonemes, match the graphemes, blend and segment. Once they conquer the individual words, they go back and read the sentence again.
Another way to learn new vocabulary is through more explicit training, such as flashcards and vocabulary lists. This can be stressful, however, and because at this stage children are having fun playing around with their new skills, it may be best to use a more organic approach to expanding vocabulary.
How can we do this? Read widely with your children. By reading, they learn new vocabulary words while practicing their fluency and building up to reading comprehension. In addition, talk to your students and children about a variety of topics. This allows them to learn new words in different areas of interest.
When children learn how to read, the breadth of their vocabulary matters. Building vocabulary helps them learn how to read and understand what they are reading. When appropriate, separate exercises in vocabulary do help minimize the time children spend on decoding when reading sentences. Because the process of decoding new words is already done and out of the way, they achieve fluency more quickly as they learn how to read.
Why is it important that children learn new words? Learning new words and expanding vocabulary allows children to become better readers, writers and spellers. Furthermore, it helps them become better communicators.
When children learn how to read with fluency and build vocabulary, they soon enter the stage of developing reading comprehension.
Step 7: Develop Reading Comprehension
When children learn how to read, they do so in a sawtooth pattern. First, they learn to decode. Then, they learn how to read small sentences. Next, they learn to decode bigger words. Then, they learn how to read larger sentences. This pattern continues until they are able to read most texts. In between and overlapping these stages, they develop reading comprehension skills.
According to the National Reading Panel, reading comprehension is the result between word recognition and language comprehension. That means that in order to develop reading comprehension skills, students must not only understand vocabulary, but they must also understand how those words are used.
Children who have acquired reading comprehension skills are able to:
- Grasp the main point of the passage
- Understand the progression and logic of the story
- Summarize the content of the passage
- Explain the turn of events
In contrast, students who struggle with reading comprehension:
- Show signs of poor vocabulary
- Do not understand the content of the passage
- Cannot answer basic questions regarding the text
- Do not get the “big picture”
How can you help your children learn how to read and understand what they read?
- First, take it one sentence at a time
- Second, explain and define unfamiliar words
- Then, explain how one sentence connects to the next
- After, discuss the passage after reading
- Finally, reread the passage to build fluency and comprehension
Keep in mind that reading comprehension also tests logic and deduction skills, which may still need work. A good way to help build reading comprehension skills is through reading together and discussing the passage. Ask questions about who the characters are, what happened during the story and how the story ended. If your child does not know the answers, return to the passage and reread for answers.
Because children constantly practice these skills, they learn how to read on their own, ask questions of their own and seek answers of their own.
Learn How To Read All The Way With Professor Pup and Friends
Before advancing to these last steps, children must master phonics to learn how to read. Fortunately, the process to learn how to read does not have to be difficult for children, or even you.
Professor Pup’s Academy makes it simple for teachers and parents to help children learn how to read. Our programs do not require any additional training, and are easy to use and fun for children.
Professor Pup’s interactive tablet-based programs include tiered lessons featuring Professor Pup and his friends. Our characters provide instant corrective feedback, companionship and encouragement each step of the way, so children learn how to read without ever feeling alone, bored or scared.
For young children ready to begin their path toward reading, we offer the following programs for iPad and Android:
- Professor Pup’s Phoneme Farm
Professor Pup’s Phoneme Farm introduces pre-k children to the first step toward reading: phonemic awareness. The forty-nine-lesson program immerses children in a farm-themed setting filled with interactive activities, songs, and games that make the learning process fun! Once children have completed the program, they have built a strong foundation for success and are ready to move on to phonics.
- Pup’s Quest for Phonics
Pup’s Quest for Phonics introduces young children to the fundamentals of reading. Forty tablet-based lessons bring phonics to life with music, animated stories, hands-on activities, and memorable characters. Throughout the program, children come to understand the link between phonemes and graphemes. As a result, they recognize what sounds look like on the page. Professor Pup provides immediate corrective feedback and encouragement to guide children toward reading success.
- Pup’s Quest 2: Emerging Reader
After Pup’s Quest for Phonics, children build upon phoneme and grapheme awareness in the sequel program. They learn more complex phonemes, practice spelling and learn how to read basic sentences. Once students complete Pup’s Quest 2 they are prepared to practice reading.
For an exciting and productive approach to learning to read, try Professor Pup’s Academy. Join the educators and parents who have seen their children grow to be successful learners and readers through our phonics programs.
Parents, please download Pup’s Quest for Phonics at the Google Play Store or at the App Store. You get the first five lessons for free, so you can see if the program is right for you.
Teachers, please visit our teachers page. We offer the a 30-day risk-free trial for your classroom.