Below, you can click on a link to a very helpful article from Reading Rockets.

Phonemes are the individual sounds that each letter makes. We spend lots of time working on this in kindergarten. Your child may know the names of letters, but it is also important to know the sounds that each letter makes in order to learn to read.

At home, you can play around with words and sounds. Make up silly sentences… “My mom makes marvelous meatballs” “Silly Sally sings silly songs”

Ask your child to listen for the 1st sound in a word. “Do you hear the “t” sound in the word “top”?

When reading a leveled book together, if your child comes to an unknown word and asks you for help, help them point to the first letter of the word. Ask “What sound does that letter make?” Help them to make the sound…look at the picture..stretch the sounds..put them together. ALWAYS use the picture for support!