Welcome to Step 2
It's time to learn the 44 sounds of English in Step 2 of 7SS2R--7 Sound Steps to Reading. You have learned the names of the letters, now you will learn the sounds of the letters. As you work through Step 2, please keep in mind that the sound of the letter is almost always different from the name of the letter.
These 44 sounds combine to form all the words we read or speak in English. We create hundreds of thousands of English words using just 26 letters and 44 sounds because our alphabet works as a code. It works like a code two ways: Our alphabet allows us to translate, or "decode," from symbol to sound, which is critical to reading and comprehension. It also allows us to “encode” from sound to symbol, which is critical to writing and spelling.
So, how can we master the code to become proficient readers?
Explicit Instruction in Phonics
Reading scientists have concluded that there are five foundational skills for proficient reading. The first of these is phonemic awareness. A reader who has phonemic awareness understands that words are made up of individual sounds. These sounds are called "phonemes." That reader also understands this: when you change a letter, you change a sound, which changes the word. The best way to increase phonemic awareness is to learn the 44 sounds of English.
The second foundational skill is phonics. Phonics teaches the connections between the 26 letters in written words and the 44 sounds of speech they represent. It gives each student the knowledge he or she needs to decode the sounds of English in a written word. Proficient reading isn't likely without this connection.
Phonics teaches the connections between the 26 letters in written words and the 44 sounds of speech they represent. It gives each student the knowledge he or she needs to decode the sounds of English in a written word. Proficient reading isn’t likely without this connection.
Reading scientists also say that phonics instruction must be explicit. Explicit phonics instruction teaches the sounds, rules, and definitions directly and independently. Effective phonics instruction focuses on phonics exclusively. It is never taught as a peripheral part of a reading lesson for a story or book. Just as we don't expect students to figure out addition by showing them pages of numbers, we should no longer assume a student will "catch on" to phonics from their exposure to pages of words.
After decades of research, reading scientists have declared this method ineffective, and the education data certainly agrees. Therefore, the focus of Step 2 is explicit instruction in phonics. Each student should take whatever time he or she needs to learn the 44 sounds completely. It is fundamental to becoming a proficient reader.
Why Is Phonics So Important?
There are good reasons for focusing quickly, thoroughly, and explicitly on phonics instruction. The first is to establish phonemic awareness. Step 1 introduced the symbols of the alphabet. Now, Step 2 systematically connects those symbols to predictable sounds.
The second reason for early, explicit phonics instruction is also important: the vast majority of our English words are phonetic. Phonetic words align with phonics rules and can be accurately decoded. Estimates are that about 85% of our words are phonetic. Thus, a student can consistently decode 85 out of 100 words.
Finally, phonics helps the student recognize unphonetic words in the other 15%. We have many foreign words, derived from other languages. They result in nonstandard spellings and sometimes unusual pronunciations. Our phonics instruction and subsequent steps in the program feature many of these exceptions to the rules.
Learn the 44 Sounds of English Systematically
Step 2 has twelve lessons. Each presents a small groups of sounds to make them easier to digest. The lessons move from sounds made by an individual letter to blends and more complicated combinations.
What's in Each Lesson of Step 2?
Each lesson includes:
- Sounds--a new group of letters or combinations of letters, each of which creates a specific sound and each with a representative graphic reminder;
- Letter Combinations--practice combinations using only the sounds from the current lesson and then adding review of the sounds from previous lessons;
- Words--first, a group of one-syllable words limited to the new group of sounds, a second group of one-syllable words comprised of all the sounds so far;
- Sight Words—words that must be memorized because they are not phonetic; the initial sight words will be simple, common words that students will see often and learn quickly;
- Reading Practice—a section of actual reading practice, which, at the beginning may be nonsensical since it will only include words that can be decoded from the sounds and sight words presented so far; however, as more sounds and sight words are learned, later reading passages will be more coherent and more complex; and finally
- Rules and Definitions—to help students understand phonetics and language; these reinforce the principles shared in each section and begin to make broader connections in reading and language arts.
- Review--At the end of each segment of Step 2 are the "Review" and "Sounds So Far" segments. These help new readers strengthen the sounds and concepts they have just learned. However, these two segments in particular are useful to students and adults who are not new to reading but are not great readers. These two sections can help struggling readers to grasp the sounds and improve their reading. Older students will not want to sit through all the individual lessons, but should be able to improve their reading with practice of the review sections.
Our Goal:
We want every new reader and every struggling reader to reap the benefits of structured phonics and become a proficient reader.
Each student should take whatever time he or she needs to become confident with the symbols and sounds. The student who is younger or who has greater difficulty reading should write the letters and words while saying the sounds. They should also take as much as needed before moving on.
This is the largest and most important step in 7 Sound Steps to Reading. It takes time and practice to master, but mastery will come.