The importance of phoneme awareness for acquiring the alphabetic principle and for learning to read has been documented since the 1970s, gaining broad recognition when the National Reading Panel Report was published in 2000. Since then, instruction to foster phonological awareness has become routinely recommended for the early grades. However, the widespread practice in schools is to target awareness of larger phonological structures such as words, rhymes, syllables, and onset-rimes before focusing on phonemes, with attention to the phoneme not occuring until well into the kindergarten year or first grade. 

In this webinar, Dr. Susan Brady will discuss studies that raise questions regarding whether following this "continuum" is necessary and/or beneficial for students. In addition, the session will cover the developmental sequence of phoneme awareness per se, the importance of conducting phoneme-awareness activities with letters, and the benefits of this approach for all students.

This edWebinar will be of interest to teachers, librarians, and school and district leaders of kindergarten through elementary levels. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation. 

Register today!