Phonics from A to Z: A Practical Guide

This book is one of my most treasured resources - so much so that I keep one handy in my first grade classroom and another at home. If you are looking for a practical and highly informative book on teaching phonemic awareness and phonics - this is one of the very best. The author knows the subject well. He gets right to the point and organizes the information in a very useful format. To name just a bit of what this book contains: clear phonemic awareness scope and sequence, word family lists, essential teaching strategies, effective lesson formats, game ideas, pronunciation guides, phonetic word lists, definitions, assessment tools, etc. I give this book to friends, student teachers, new teachers, and also recommended it as a "must-have" in staff development courses I've taught.

As a parent, you read to your children. But how do they learn to read? It's not one of those activities that is learned through observation. This book covers the steps that may seem transparent but are being assimilated through school, TV, etc. While the book is geared toward teachers, the instruction is clear, concise and reinforced by examples. Now I read for my child's instruction as well as enjoyment. I also create simple word games to play when we are away from home. As a result, I have seen a marked increase in my (3 year old) child's interest in and aptitude for both spelling and reading.

This book is very comprehensive. It includes wonderful ideas that can be applied in the classroom. In addition, it gives wonderful insight on the phonetic process. Assessments are included as well reading problems and possible solutions to these problems. This is a wonderful book to have in your personal reference library. I refer back to it at least once a month.

I did extensive research on phonics and took out numerous ones from the library to find the one I thought would be best for my simple, friendly teaching style. I was hoping to find 1 to meet the needs of an emergent reader and be able to carry us through to middle school. This one will do it for you! Awesome curriculum supplement to non-homeschooled kids!

I teach reading in special education learning disabilities class and I found this book to be the most comprehensive and teacher-friendly phonics resource available. It covers all the really important information a teacher needs to know in order to teach phonics. I found it an invaluable tool for quickly finding word lists, sound explanations, lesson plans for teaching phonics, sound-letter expectancies, the latest research available on teaching phonics, phonemic awareness activities, phonemic awareness assessment... the list goes on and on... I would recommend this book to any reading teacher. Thanks Wiley for creating such a great teaching tool!