A Sound Start

This text is a resource for any teacher who wants to include explicit phonemic awareness instruction in an early reading program. The authors present three separate sets of phonemic awareness lessons, complete with scripted directions and reproducible learning materials and assessment tools. Incorporating a variety of fun and engaging activities, each set of lessons is field-tested and research-based. Included are developmentally sequenced lessons for the whole class and small groups, more intensive lessons for children struggling with phonemic awareness, and class lessons on the consonant phonemes to help children hear and process the sounds of American English. The lesson sets can be used independently or in combination with each other, and can easily be adapted to meet the needs of specific classes.

Author Biography

Christine E. McCormick, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, where she teaches courses in developmental psychology, early childhood assessment, and early reading. She has a doctoral degree in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota and is a former Montessori teacher and school psychologist. Widely published, she brings to this book over 25 years of experience in developing early reading materials for young children.

Rebecca N. Throneburg, PhD, is Associate Professor of Communication Disorders and Sciences Department at Eastern Illinois University, where she teaches courses in normal language development, phonological awareness, and language and literacy. Her doctoral
degree in speech-language pathology is from the University of Illinois. She conducts research in the school setting regarding service delivery and collaboration among professionals.

Jean M. Smitley, MS, is Associate Professor of Communication Disorders and Sciences Department at Eastern Illinois University, where she teaches a course in phonetics and phonological development. She has also collaborated with kindergarten teachers to provide phonological awareness training to kindergartners. Her master’s degree is from Eastern Illinois University, and she has focused on reading development and disabilities in her postgraduate course work.