Since we began our school year, I have continually emphasized how the frequently used words (sight words) and phonemic awareness are the “secrets to reading AND writing”. Sometimes it is hard for students to see this as they are learning to read and write, but the more they practice and continue to learn, this will become evident. Phonological awareness is the integration of all the phonemes (sounds), vowels, digraphs, rules, syllables (closed, open, vowel team, r-controlled, diphthong) in how words are spelled. We will continue to learn these rules as the year progresses. In the meantime, please continue to have your child review the frequently used words (sight words). An updated list can be found on the “Our Learning (Literacy)” under the “Frequently Used Words” heading.

As in the message conveyed in the story, “The War Between the Vowels and the Consonants” by Priscilla Turner, stringing only consonants simply makes sounds and noises. However, when consonants and vowels are used together, they create words. Stringing several words together creates sentences, and when we have several sentences together, we can make paragraphs. The more familiar students become with these components, the stronger they will be as they progress through the grades. These are the foundational skills needed to become not only proficient readers, but proficient writers as well. For this reason, it is important that you child know all of the basic phonemes that were taught from the middle of September to the middle of November. Continue to have conversations with your child about the phonemic lessons they have been learning. Please see the “Our Learning (Literacy)” page under the “Phonemic Awareness” heading to refer to, to help you with these conversations. Also, encourage your child to look for these when your are out and about around the community (e.g., reading street signs, store windows and awnings, billboards).

The English we know and use is a tricky language as it is a combination of different languages (German, Greek, Latin). Each of these languages brings their own rules and therefore, we need to navigate through them to become proficient. There are many exceptions to the rules we know in addition to many homophones. The more we read, the more vocabulary we develop, which helps to strengthen our skills. There is spell check but if we are not sure which witch to use or which there, their, or they’re to use, the spell checker will be useless. I have noticed that “your” and “you’re” are often interchanged in text messages I receive (from adults). For this reason, it is crucial to not only continue encouraging our children to read many kinds of books but also be aware of how the words are composed (which phonemes, vowels, digraph, rules, and syllables (closed, open, vowel team, r-controlled, diphthong) are in the words). It is important to be aware of what is happening in words and to not take this skill for granted. And as noted in the book, The Magic of Letters by Tony Johnston, knowing the letters and how they work is the like unlocking the magic to a world of print.