Module 5: Reading Reflection

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Where does phonics instruction fit within a comprehensive literacy program? When and how would you teach phonics?

In the past decade there have been many studies in  understanding the correlation of phonics and reading comprehension.  Some people wonder if phonics instruction is even essential. Is it working?  The text does a wonderful job in sharing studies that show where phonics instruction fits within a comprehensive literacy program.  There is strong evidence that teaching phonemic awareness alone does not have much effect on reading comprehension (Weaver, p. 315). 

Learning phonics is not a precondition to reading (Weaver, p.315). So where does this leave phonics in the classroom? Phonics should be taught with reading comprehension.  Weaving the two together is a great way to teach students phonemic awareness and reading comprehension.  When students learn about the words they are reading it will help them when it comes to reading comprehension.

So when and how do I teach phonics? My schools uses Words Their Way an immersive program in which the students are surrounded by words that are used frequently in their reading and writing. The students are put into groups based on their “level”.  The students then are able to sort the words based on sounds.  When I am teaching my group I make sure to focus not only if they can sort words, but if they actually know what the words mean.

I do not like teaching phonics by having the students sort the words by their sounds.  I think that phonics instructions should be more woven with our reading and writing workshop.  I have however seen a huge improvement in spelling when the students are taught phonics and to notice spelling patterns or asked to sound out rimes and onsets.

Weaver, C. (2002). Reading Process & Practice (3rd ed.). Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann