- Why we prioritise phonemic awareness
- It’s the best predictor of decoding success; learners must hear how sounds connect before mapping to print.
Our blending pathway
- Ear games: robot talk, first/last sound, odd-one-out.
- CV/VC blends first (sa, it, an) to reduce load.
- CVC with tiles → oral blend → print read.
- Pace: slow blend → smooth blend → one-breath read.
- Generalise: swap first/last sound; change vowel; mix known/novel words.
Coaching tips
- Use pure sounds: /t/, not “tuh”.
- Keep vowels short: /a/ not “ay”.
- Prompt with gestures: tap each sound; sweep to blend.
- Praise process: “Great slow blend—now smooth it.”
Success markers
- Child blends 2 phonemes independently; adds a third with minimal pause.
- Child begins to self‑correct and hears when a sound is off.
