Literacy and Phonetics
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Literacy and Phonetics, and Phonics Rules
Literacy and phonetics go together. Although many words cannot be decoded using phonics alone, most words can. Knowing some common rules for letter sounds and common letter combinations is a big plus in sounding out new words, which is a big plus in emergent reading.
Most letters only represent one sound. Some letters represent two sounds. The letter X represents four sounds. Sometimes a letter is actually silent, or changes the sound it represents when it's combined with certain letters.
I was a literacy tutor for adults for six plus years and I'll be sharing some tips for both the literacy tutor and for literacy students. May you find something helpful and useful. Blessings.
Contents at a Glance
A special note to and for learners.
You are a learner.
And if you need a helpful affirmation along the way, it is, "I can learn. I have learned many things already."
It's okay to start with Small words.
Also knowing that the letter C, when followed by the letter A in the same syllable, will represent the same sound as the letter K represents, is an extra plus.
Whereas the letter C followed by the letter i in the same syllable, represent the same sound as the letter S in the word silly.
Any size word is made up of common letter groups. Multiple letter groups added together make bigger words, called multi-syllable words.
So understanding and recognizing smaller letter patterns can be helpful in decoding and sounding out multi-syllable words.
Vowels and syllables, some basics;
and when W and Y act like vowels:
The letters W and Y can also act like vowels depending on the word they are in and their location in the word. Y acts like a silent E in the word play, like a long E, as in the word silly, and as a long I, as in the word byte. W acts like a silent E, as in the word grow.
In the English language, all words and the majority of syllables, at least 99.9% of the syllables have a vowel in them. An exception is the word rhythm, in which there are two syllables and only one vowel.
Other than the word rhythm, there will be at least one vowel in each syllable and up to three. Your jaw will drop with the voicing of each new syllable.
Consonants, some basics
Most consonants are usually known for a specific sound: B, D, F, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, T, V, and Z, with only a few exceptions.
Three consonants can also represent a hard or soft sound; they are C, G, and S. The C can be hard as in the word cat or soft as in the word city. The G can represent its hard sound as in the word go, or its soft sound as in the word gel. The S can represent its hard sound as in the word seal, or its soft sound as in the word rise, in which the S sounds like the Z sound. See more below under General Spelling/Phonics Rules.
The X represents four sounds. X sometimes represents the Z sound as in xylophone, says its name as in x-ray, sounds like the K sound as in tuxedo, or the CKS sound as in fox.
B, K, and W are also sometimes silent is in the words climb, knew, and wrap.
Alphabet Sounds
General Spelling/Phonics Rules
Short Vowels - A single vowel followed by a single consonant is usually short, as in bag.
Silent E or Long Vowels - A single vowel followed by a single consonant and the vowel E, is usually long, as in lake.
Two vowels together - When two vowels are between two consonants, the first vowel is usually long and the second vowel silent, as in boat.
The letter B is silent when it is at the end of the word and following the letter m, as in crumb, pronounced crum with a short U.
Hard C Sound - C sounds like the K sound when it is followed by A, O, or U, as in cat, cob, and cut.
Soft C Sound - C makes the sound like S when it is followed by E, I, and Y, as in cent, city, and cyan.
Hard G Sound - G makes its hard sound when it is followed by A, O, or U, as in gap, got, and gum. It can also make its hard sound when it is followed by E or I, as in get and give.
Soft G Sound - G usually sounds like the sound of J when it is followed by E, I, and Y, as in gem, gibe, and gym.
The letter K is silent when it is paired with and precedes the letter N in a word or syllable, as in knee.
S makes its hard sound when it is at the beginning of a word and not followed by H, as in seal.
S usually makes its soft sound, meaning it sounds like the Z in haze, when it comes at the end of a word or syllable and when it comes between two vowels, as in has and praise. Some common exceptions to S on the end of the word are bus and this.
The letter W is silent when it is paired with and precedes the letter R, is in write.
X says its name in the word x-ray. The sound of X sounds like a Z in the beginning of other words, as in xylophone. The sound of X at the end of most syllables and words sounds like the sound of CKS, as in fox. Now say the word docks. X also represents the sound of K as in the word tuxedo, pronounced tuk-see-doe, with a short u, long e, and long o.
Learning letter sounds and rules through song is a fun way to learn,
and sing along.
Phonetic Alphabet Book
What do you think?
Please read this sample chapter and give your feedback. Thank you.
Sample Chapter A from The Phonetic Alphabet Book
A is the first letter of the alphabet. A is a vowel.
A represents its short sound as in at and tap. A represents its long sound as in ate and cape.
Short vowel patterns for A include:
A followed by a consonant
Sam mat bag tap
AI as short A
plaid
AU as short A
laugh
Long vowel patterns for A are:
A, consonant, silent e as long A
same make plate grape wade
AI as long A
aim aid rain train grain
Note: The AI pattern represents three different sounds. The AI represents the short A sound in plaid, and the long A sound in aim, and also the short E sound as in the word said.
AY as long A
say pray lay stay may
Note: The AI pattern is found at the beginning or the middle of the word. The AY pattern is predominantly found at the end of the word. An exception is the word crayon.
Other vowel patterns that represent the sound of long A are:
EA as long A
steak break great
Note: The EA pattern can represent the sound for long A, short E, and long E. See the Alphabet section Ee.
EI as long A
vein
EIGH as long A
weigh weight freight neighbor
Note: The EI in the above words stands for the long A sound and the letters GH are silent.
EY as long A
they prey
Note: the EY pattern can also represent the long E sound as in key. See the Alphabet section Ee.
A with R
When A is paired with and immediately precedes the letter R, the A appears to be silent, as it sounds like you are just saying the letter name R:
AR
are car far star
When the letter E immediately follows the letters AR, then the ARE pattern can also sound like you are saying the word air:
ARE as the AIR sound
care share stare dare
A is also paired with IR, (AIR)
AIR
hair fair lair
A with U as a Dipthong
A is also used in another pattern, representing a new sound; a dipthong, a blend of two vowel sounds in one syllable. Such a pattern is AU.
AU
cause pause August
Note that the AU represents the same sound that the AW represents in paws.
Reader Feedback for Chapter A of the Phonetic Alphabet Book
To read more chapters of the Phonetic Alphabet Book, as they are posted, visit Phonetic Alphabet Book by Cheryl Paton.
Did you find the sample chapter helpful?

Yes, and would recommend it and/or purchase it.
It needs...or I would recommend:
GypsyOwl says:
I love the details. Very helpful.
I would love to see more of these.
One thing I think this needs is breaks in the content.
Perhaps two breaks (by splitting the lesson into three parts) separate each part with pictures or other visual ways to help remember the lesson.
IF not...perhaps font formatting would break up the content a little bit to make it easier to follow through the Chapter. :D
More than one way to spell a sound
Some general info and a re-cap
Verbs show some kind of action or doing. Adverbs describe verbs.
Nouns are things. Adjectives describe nouns. Pronouns are substitutes for nouns.
Letter patterns make up words. Words are divided into syllables. Phonics are the sounds that the letters represent. The letters are made up of vowels and consonants. Vowles can be long, say their name, or short.
Grammar Word Search Puzzle
- Word search puzzle
- Click on the link.
Then click on the beginning and then the end of each word as you find them.
Phonics for Children or the Young at Heart, on Amazon
Phonics for the Older Student on Amazon
Make learning letters fun!
Great design for students and teachers alike!
Click on the shirt to see more alphabet color options:
Bookmark Cards to Celebrate the Reader in You or Someone Else
Encourage Literacy
Phonics for Babies has gotten a lot of recommendations.
The best thing is to start young and to make reading fun.
Phonics for Babies: First Words
Amazon Price: $4.67 (as of 06/02/2012)![]()
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Did you learn something? Did you find some helpful information?
If you have a question, I'll do my best to answer it for you.
See phonics products on Amazon.com.
Like artistic products? Visit CherylsArt on Zazzle.
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Irenemaria Oct 7, 2010 @ 1:45 pm | delete
- All is interesting. I have worked with children for years and know this is good information!
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kab
Sep 8, 2010 @ 5:45 pm | delete
- This lens is being featured today on The Squid Calendar.
:)
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Pukeko
Aug 15, 2010 @ 5:05 pm | delete
- Love it Cheryl. I think some fun illustrations would help your books popularity :)
Here in New Zealand Claw and Door rhyme. Kiwi's don't understand how it is that I can't understand this.
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CreativeArtist Aug 15, 2010 @ 6:01 pm | delete
- Thanks Rhonda, and Hmm. Claw and door?
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aishu19
Aug 15, 2010 @ 12:17 am | delete
- This is an excellent write up on phonetics... and the sample from your book is great
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Manora1 Mar 31, 2008 @ 11:48 am | delete
- Great lens. Awesome information about Literacy and Phonetics. More informative. Thanks for your hard work to pull all the information into your lens and for sharing. I like this lens and rated 5*. A similar kind of interesting and informative site about Online Studies is at Online Studies If your time permits please step into this site to surf more information about Online Studies.
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Evelyn_Saenz Feb 16, 2008 @ 9:03 am | delete
- Great lens! You might also enjoy Starry Starry Night and White Foot the Woodmouse where you will find lots more ideas for teaching beginning reading skills. I can hardly wait to read more of your lenses.
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About Me
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