PL2. The Why of Teaching Phonics & Word Recognition

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Welcome

This module is designed to assist all educators and interested stakeholders in helping students acquire the knowledge and skills to become proficient readers. Specifically, this module explores the research and theoretical frameworks that underpin the critical importance that word recognition plays in the development of students’ ability to comprehend text.

Estimated Time: 3 hours

  • The Why of Teaching Phonics & Word Recognition
    • Pre-Assessment
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. Phonics and The Simple View of Reading
    • 3. What is Phonics?
    • 4. Why Teach Phonics?
    • 5. Who is Phonics for?
    • 6. How do Sight Words fit into Phonics?
    • 7. Summing It Up
    • Post-Assessment
How to use this Module

Prerequisites

While this course has no prerequisites, we highly recommend the completion of The Simple View of Reading module or sufficient background knowledge of the Simple View of Reading before beginning this course.

Module Description

This module is the second module in a twelve-part Primary Literacy Series focusing on literacy learning in kindergarten through fifth grade. The module’s content focuses on the research and theoretical framework behind the word recognition component of Gough and Tunmer’s Simple View of Reading. After completing this module, we encourage you to enroll in The What of Teaching Phonics & Word Recognition to learn about instructional routines and practices that exemplify explicit and systematic phonics. 

In this module, the following topics are discussed:

  • The connection between phonics instruction and the theoretical frameworks of reading
  • The research behind phonics instruction
  • Key terms used within phonics
  • Effectiveness of phonics instruction
  • How sight words fit into phonics
 
Quote by Dr. Martin Kozloff, "When a child memorizes ten words, they can only read ten words. If a child learns the sounds of ten letters, they will be able to read 350 three-sound words, 4,320 four-sounds words, and 21,650 five-sound words."

Although this module will likely be most helpful for K-3 educators, educators in all grades and content areas may find this module to be beneficial.

This module aligns with the following recommendations in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Practice Guide – Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade:

  • Recommendation 2: Develop awareness of the segments of sounds in speech and how they link to letters
  • Recommendation 3: Teach students to decode words, analyze word parts, and write and recognize words
  • Recommendation 4: Ensure that each student reads connected text every day to support reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension 

Learning Objectives

Number 1

Match key literary terms such as phonics, decode, encode, phonemes, graphemes to their definition.

Number 2

Determine the number of phonemes in a given word.

Number 3

Reflect on the effectiveness of using specific decoding prompts with a student.

Number 4

Differentiate between sight words, high-frequency words, decodable words, and irregular words.

Course Navigation, Design, and Policies

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As you go through the course, you will have the opportunity to click the Mark Complete box at the end of each section. When you do this, the sections you have completed will be crossed off in your outline, and you will be taken to the next section of the course.

Your progress will automatically be saved within the learning management system, and you can view your course progress through the progress bar located near the top of most sections.

Exiting and Resuming a Module

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Note Feature within the Modules

Throughout each module, you will notice some Reflection boxes that provide various prompts. Each reflection will be in a grey box with an image of a pen/lightbulb. A built in feature of each module is the ability to take notes and save them for your future use. This feature can be used within any part of the module, but is especially helpful for the reflection activities.

To access the note feature, simply click on the purple Take Notes button fixed in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. When you click on this button, a Take Notes box will appear. This box can be moved anywhere on the screen. Within the box, there is a SAVE button as well as a Print Button.

The easiest way to print all the notes you take from the entire module is to click View All Notes. When you click View All Notes, you will be taken to a page like the one below.

Click the boxes of the Notes you would like to print, and then click Download Selected. All your notes will be downloaded into one document separated by headers.

Purpose and Structure of Modules

All Ohio’s comprehensive learning modules are relevant to any educator working to support students’ literacy development. In each module, you will find in-depth narrative text, linked resources, realistic scenarios, reflection activities, and embedded audio and videos.

Each module is self-paced. The approximate time for completion of the module is listed in the Simple View of Reading Module text box on the home page of the module. 

Additional information included on each module’s home page include:

  • Required prerequisites for the module.
  • A more detailed description of the module.
  • Helpful downloadable resources for the module including an outline of the module’s content and supporting resources, a step-by-step guide to assist you in navigating the professional learning modules, and an in-depth information about the purpose and key elements of the Ohio Literacy Library.
Certificates and Badges
Certificates

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Badges

When completing professional development modules within All Ohio, you can earn badges based on your engagement in and mastery of content within each comprehensive learning module. You earn Achievement Badges when you demonstrate proficiency with module content (i.e., obtaining a score of at least 85%), whereas Engagement Badges are awarded based on your level of participation on the site.

Your earned Certificates and Badges will be displayed on your “All Ohio Dashboard.”
Academic Honesty
High standards of honesty and integrity are expected when completing professional development within this learning management system. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, dishonesty in the completion of activities and/or claiming credit for work not done or done by others.  Any violation of these expectations can result in removal from this learning management system.
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