I have taught for 18 years in either grades K or 1, and I am a real
proponent of systematic phonics instruction as providing a solid base of
letter/sound representation in terms of decoding strategies for beginning
readers. Please check out the National Reading Panel's findings in the area of
phonics. The information is very comprehensive and serves as a good rationale
in terms of a research base for using phonics instruction in your classroom.
Now in terms of "do all children need phonics?", not all children learn in
the same fashion, so I would advocate a more "balanced" approach that would
include whole language instruction as well as the phonics. Afterall, our goal
is for every word to eventually become a sight word. I have found that phonics
instruction is most helpful for my students that struggle; however, my stronger
readers use phonics skills to help them decode more difficult words and when
they are writing to help them spell words.
The bottom line is "gaining meaning" from text. Children can decode words
all day, but if they aren't gaining meaning from what they are reading, then
technically they are not "reading". So yes, teach phonics along side other
word recognition strategies in order to catch all readers. Make sure that
these skills are taught and applied in context of real text. Decodeable
phoncis texts tend to be boring and have very little plot. The children don't
like them either.
You say that you teach 2nd grade so if your K and 1st grade teachers have
provided your children with a solid reading base (including phonics), you can
focus more fully on teaching the comprehension strategies such as those
outlined in Mosaic of Thought. I hope this helps.
Jeanne Garringer
> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:06:36 +0000
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [MOSAIC] phonics question- 2nd grade teacher
>
>
>
> Hello All,
>
>
>
> I'm a second grade school teacher. Throughout my time in school the great
> phonics controversy has popped up more than once. I would like your take on
> the topic. Do all children need to be taught phonics? Why or why not?
>
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
> 2nd grade School Teacher
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