Phonics is the study of the sounds of language. In order to read and write you have to recognise the 44 sounds of English, and be able to 'sound out words' phonetically, segmenting them into individual sounds or phonemes (c-a-t) and blending them back together (cat). Children's awareness of phonemes develops through their appreciation of rhyme. Through playing with words like cat, mat, hat, rat they gradually come to recognise that the initial sound (c, m, h, r) is different each time. Rhythmic delivery of words in songs and rhymes also helps point up these initial phonemes - when a child chants It's easy-weasy-peasy-deasy! the rhythm of the chant supports the rhyme, which supports phonemic awareness. This is why action rhymes, marching rhymes and simple dances, where rhythm is expressed through movement, are particularly memorable and effective.
Extract from article by Sue Palmer, Primary Education Advisor, CBBC (BBC Television Corporation)
Extract from article by Sue Palmer, Primary Education Advisor, CBBC (BBC Television Corporation)
Jump to full article at:
Rhyming skills
Our game REMEMBER REMEMBER helps children with rhyming skills:
Please click on the image to find out more, or use the links below to see our other games.
