This is the ability to hear and play with the sounds in words. It's like clapping out syllables or rhyming words. Strong phonemic awareness helps children break words down into their smallest sounds, which is a big step in learning to read.

Phonics is about connecting letters to their sounds. It’s like learning the alphabet code. When children understand phonics, they can sound out words and read new ones.

Vocabulary is all about knowing the meaning of words. The more words children know, the better they understand what they read. Building vocabulary helps them learn new things and express themselves clearly. 

Comprehension is understanding what you read. It's like making sense of a story. Good readers can follow along, answer questions, and think about what they've read. 

• Play with Toys!
  • Find a toy to play with, and ask your child to model how to take care of others and materials while playing. Read books and songs about toys sent home from school
• Practice Rhyming
  • Practice rhyming words with the “at” or “ap” sound (cat, bat, hat, etc) (map, nap, lap, etc)
  • Practice rhyming words with the “ip” or “op” sound (lip, sip, tip, etc) (hop, bop, top, etc)
• Skywrite
  • Practice drawing letters in the air with your finger while saying the name or sound of that letter
• I Spy
  • Play I Spy for colors or shapes

• Practice high-frequency words with flash cards.
• Encourage your child to use their knowledge of sound-spelling patterns to sound out words that are not sight words when reading independently (e.g., Nate the Great series, Henry and Mudge).
• Ask your child questions about what they are reading:
  • What is the main idea of this book?
  • Can you tell me 3 details about (topic)?
  • Who are the characters in this story?
  • Where does this story take place?
  • What happens first? What happens last?
• Have your child tell you a story with at least two events. Then, have them write their story down.
• Have your child share an opinion, then have them write about it (e.g., their favorite sport, whether homework is good or bad, or what kind of pet is best).
• Children with processing or intellectual disabilities may benefit from letters cut from sandpaper or written into whipped cream or rice for a more multi-sensory experience.

• Practice high-frequency words with flash cards.
• Encourage your child to use their knowledge of sound-spelling patterns and syllables to decode words that are not sight words when reading independently.
• Ask your child questions about the books they read:
  • Who is the main character? Where does the story take place?
  • What is the problem? How is it solved?
  • What lesson does the story teach you?
  • Did you like or dislike the book? Why?
  • What are some important details in the book?
• Ask your child to tell you a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Then, have them write it down.
• For children with disabilities, ask your child to “write” a high-frequency word in the air with their finger while they’re spelling it or build it with clay, spaghetti, or other household items.

• When reading a fiction book, ask your child:
  • Why do you think the author wrote this? What in the book makes you think that?
  • What is the main message or moral in this book? What makes you think that?
  • Who are the characters in your book? How do they react to the problem or solution? How do they change in the story?
• When reading a nonfiction book, ask your child:
  • What is the main idea of your book? What are the important details?
  • What are some keywords in your book? What do they mean?
  • Do you agree with the author or not? Why?
• Encourage your child to write stories using descriptive details.
• Encourage your child to write about a topic interesting to them, including details and a conclusion.
• Encourage your child to write about their opinion on something, supporting it with reasons.
• For children with more extensive needs, practice comprehension by sequencing photos or pictures of household tasks such as brushing teeth or making meals.

• When reading a fiction book, ask your child:
  • Who are the characters in the story? Can you describe them?
  • What is the lesson you learned from this story? Why do you think that is the lesson?
• When reading a nonfiction book, ask your child:
  • What does the author want you to know? What details support that?
• When reading, ask your child if they know certain words. For example, “What does that word mean? What’s another word for ____?”
• Encourage your child to write about a topic important to them, including an introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion.

• When reading fiction books, ask your child:
  • Why do you think that character is like that? What in the book makes you think that?
  • What is this story mostly about? How do you know? What in the book makes you think that?
  • How do the characters change from the beginning to the end?
  • Who is telling the story? How do you know?
• When reading nonfiction books, ask your child:
  • What are the main ideas in this book? Can you tell me 3 details that support the main idea?
• Encourage your child to write about a topic important to them. Have them include an introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• Ask your child to find a word that they don’t know, and help them figure out what it means.

Printable Fluency Resource -- English  Printable Fluency Resource -- Spanish

ACT 20 Resources for reading fluency AT HOME

We are excited to support you and your child in gaining literacy experiences and skills inside and outside of school. We hope these resources will provide your family with information and activities about what your child is learning in school and the areas they will need to focus on to improve their reading proficiency and skills. We are pleased to work with you in building a family of readers and writers. As part of the Act 20 legislation, schools are providing parents with information to support their children's literacy in the following areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency. The School District of Janesville is also in the process of creating a website for parents. 

What is Fluency?

"Fluency" means reading smoothly, at a good pace, and with expression. It should sound like the way we talk naturally. Fluency helps students better understand what they're reading because cognitive load isn't tied up in stopping to sound out every word. When students are struggling to decode words, it takes up a significant amount of cognitive space, leaving less room to process the text's meaning. Fluency is about reading accurately and with the right tone of voice, not just reading quickly. Fluent readers pay attention to punctuation and read the sentences accordingly. Fluency is a combination of rate (words per minute), accuracy (number of words correct), and prosody (reading with feeling).

Online Resources

• Storyline Online: This resource features videos of celebrities reading children's books aloud. It helps children hear stories read with expression and fluency, providing a model for their own reading.
• Epic!  While Epic! is a subscription-based service, it offers a free tier with access to a limited selection of books. It includes a variety of read-aloud books that can help children improve their reading fluency.
• Unite for Literacy. This site provides access to a library of free, narrated picture books. The narration helps children hear fluent reading and follow along.
• Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR)    A collection of digital activities for use with pre-kindergarten through 5th-grade children.
• UFLI Parent Hub: This collection of web-based language and literacy resources was compiled and curated by UFLI faculty and graduate students.
• Reading Rockets: offers articles, tips, and activities on developing fluency. A great resource for parents looking for a deeper understanding of how to support their child’s literacy skills.
• Home Reading Helper: A resource for families to support their child's development with at-home reading activities, organized by skill and grade level.

EASY Fluency ACTIVITIES to try at home

• Read Aloud Together: Take turns reading aloud with your child. Model fluent reading with expression and proper pacing, then have the child mimic the style. Demonstrate how to attend to the punctuation (pausing at the end of sentences, adding expression based on the punctuation mark).
• Echo Reading: The caregiver reads a sentence or paragraph aloud with expression, and the child repeats it, echoing the same expression and fluency.
• Choral Reading: Read a book together in unison. This helps the child feel more confident and supported while practicing fluency.
• Word Recognition Games: Use flashcards to create a game where children quickly recognize and read sight words. Games like "Sight Word Bingo" can make this activity fun.
• Record and Listen: Have the child read a short passage and record it. Then, listen to the recording together and discuss ways to improve fluency, such as smoother reading or better expression.
• Discussion and Feedback: Encourage feedback to say when your child reads: • You sounded just like the character would sound!
  • I could hear you take a break after the punctuation marks! • Great job reading in phrases, not word by word!
  • Your speed is just right - not too fast or too slow!
• High-frequency/Heart Word Practice: High-frequency words are commonly occurring words in written and spoken language and are foundational to literacy development. Practice reading these words in isolation or in short phrases (i.e., “We were here.” “Look for some.” “Who will make it?”)
• Beat the Clock: Time your student on their first, second, and third reading of a passage.  They will gain confidence as they see instant progress!  Remind them that good readers reread text to deepen understanding.
• Repeated Readings: Repeated reading is a practice where a child reads the same text multiple times until they achieve a certain level of fluency. The goal is to help students read smoothly, accurately, and with proper expression. This technique is particularly beneficial for young readers, like those in first grade, who are still developing foundational reading skills.

How do repeated readings help?

• Improves Speed and Accuracy: By reading the same text several times, students become familiar with the words and phrases. This familiarity helps them read more quickly and accurately over time.
• Builds Confidence: As children notice their own improvement with each reading, their confidence in their reading abilities grows. They begin to see themselves as capable readers, which encourages them to read more.
• Enhances Comprehension: Once students can read the text fluently, they can focus more on understanding the content rather than just decoding words. This leads to better comprehension and retention of information.
• Develops Expression and Pacing: Repeated readings help children learn how to read with expression, paying attention to punctuation and the natural flow of language, making their reading more engaging and meaningful.

EASY PHONICS ACTIVITIES to try at home (LETTER NAMING/LETTER SOUNDS)

• ABC Song: Practice singing the traditional ABC song with this video: https://bit.ly/42y3xfU, or try creating your own tunes focusing on specific letters and sounds.  Create a playlist of songs for your child that reinforces the alphabet.
• Letter/Sounds Song: Sing the letters and sounds as students practice in class. 
• Wonders ABC Song: This resource shows the letters, sounds, and actions that teachers use in the classroom daily in grades K-2. 
• Alphabet Scavenger Hunt: Identify objects around the house that start with each letter of the alphabet.  Give your child a list of letters. Have them find an object that starts with each letter (e.g., 'A' for apple, 'B' for book). Encourage them to say the sound of each letter as they find an object.
• Letter Sound Hopscotch: Create a hopscotch grid with letters instead of numbers. Have your child hop to each letter and say its sound as they land on it.
• DIY Flashcards: Create flashcards with letters on one side and a picture of an object that starts with that letter on the other. When the chosen picture has personal meaning for the child, the paired association becomes easier for him/her to recall. Go through the flashcards together, saying the letter and its sound.
• Storytime Sound Hunt: Identify sounds within words during reading time. As you read, pause to ask your child to find words that start with a specific sound. Discuss the sounds and letters together.
• Letter of the Day: Focus on one letter each day to reinforce recognition and sound. Integrate the letter into daily activities (e.g., write it on a note, find foods that start with it, create art projects around it).
• Kitchen Letter Baking: Learn letters and sounds through hands-on activities. Shape the dough into letters. Say the sound of each letter as you create them. You can also practice writing the letters in sugar, flour, soap, shaving cream, etc., and saying their sounds.
• Sound Mapping: Draw some boxes to map letters and sounds. Push a penny into each box, say the sound, then write the letter that makes that sound. Finally, blend the sounds to a word.
• ABC Letter Hunt: As you take a drive, go for walks, bike, etc., look for letters on road signs, license plates, billboards, etc., as you go on your route. Start with “a” and see how far you can make it through the alphabet.
• Before and After: Pick a letter from the alphabet and see if your child can name the letter that comes right AFTER that letter in the alphabet. See if they can name the letter that comes right BEFORE that letter in the alphabet.

Printable Phonics Resource -- English    Printable Phonics Resource -- Spanish

ACT 20 Resources for Early Phonics AT HOME (LETTER NAMING/LETTER SOUNDS)

We are excited to support you and your child in gaining literacy experiences and skills inside and outside of school. We hope these resources will provide your family with information and activities about what your child is learning in school and the areas they will need to focus on to improve their reading proficiency and skills. We are pleased to work with you in building a family of readers and writers.

As part of the Act 20 legislation, schools are providing parents with information to support their children's literacy in the following areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency. The School District of Janesville is also in the process of creating a website for parents.

What is Phonics?

Phonics is about connecting letters to their sounds. The goal is for students to automatically identify these letters by name and sound. It’s like learning the alphabet code. When children understand phonics, they can sound out words and read new ones.

Online Resources

Starfall offers engaging phonemic awareness activities that focus on letter sounds and word building through interactive games and songs. ABCya provides a range of phonemic awareness games suitable for young children. Activities include sound matching, rhyming, and word creation. Reading Rockets offers articles, tips, and activities on phonemic awareness. A great resource for parents looking for a deeper understanding of how to support their child’s literacy skills. UFLI Parent Hub. This collection of web-based language and literacy resources was compiled and curated by UFLI faculty and graduate students. Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) A collection of digital activities for use with pre-kindergarten through 5th-grade children. 

PBS Kids features educational games and videos that incorporate phonics and phonemic awareness, using popular PBS characters to engage children. Sounder and Friends  Join Sounder & Friends™ for some fun activities that can be done at home or in the classroom! Click on the links below each title to download the activity plans. Wonders ABC song. This resource shows the letters, sounds, and actions that teachers use in the classroom daily in grades K-2. Home Reading Helper: A resource for families to support their child's development with at-home reading activities, organized by skill and grade level.

ACT 20 Resources for phonemic awareness AT HOME

We are excited to support you and your child in gaining literacy experiences and skills inside and outside of school. We hope these resources will provide your family with information and activities about what your child is learning in school and the areas they will need to focus on to improve their reading proficiency and skills. We are pleased to work with you in building a family of readers and writers.

As part of the Act 20 legislation, schools are providing parents with information to support their children's literacy in the following areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency. The School District of Janesville is also in the process of creating a website for parents.

What is Phonemic Awareness?

Phonemic awareness is the ability to identify, hear, and manipulate the individual sounds, called phonemes, in spoken words. It is a key foundational skill for learning to read and a subset of the broader category of phonological awareness, which also includes skills such as recognizing rhymes, syllables, onsets (beginning sounds), and rimes (ending chunks).

Online Resources

• Starfall offers engaging phonemic awareness activities that focus on letter sounds and word building through interactive games and songs.
• ABCya provides a range of phonemic awareness games suitable for young children. Activities include sound matching, rhyming, and word creation.
• Reading Rockets offers articles, tips, and activities on phonemic awareness. A great resource for parents looking for a deeper understanding of how to support their child’s literacy skills.
• UFLI Parent Hub: This collection of web-based language and literacy resources was compiled and curated by UFLI faculty and graduate students.
• PBS Kids features educational games and videos that incorporate phonics and phonemic awareness, using popular PBS characters to engage children.
• Sounder and Friends Join Sounder & Friends™ for some fun activities that can be done at home or in the classroom! Click on the links below each title to download the activity plans.
• Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR)  A collection of digital activities for use with pre-kindergarten through 5th-grade children.
• Home Reading Helper: A resource for families to support their child's development with at-home reading activities, organized by skill and grade level.

EASY Phonemic awareness ACTIVITIES to try at home

• Alphabet Knowledge: Practice recognizing and naming all uppercase and lowercase letters in the alphabet. Strong letter recognition builds confidence and encourages engagement in literacy activities.
• Practice Rhyming: Practice rhyming words with these sounds: “at” (cat, bat, hat, etc.), “ap” (map, nap, lap, etc.), “ip” (lip, sip, tip, etc.), “op” (hop, bop, top, etc.).)
• Rhyme Time: Say a word and ask your child to think of as many rhymes as possible. Turn it into a song or a chant to make it more engaging. Encourage creativity! Even if the word isn’t real (nonsense word), it’s great practice.
• Blend sounds into words: Blending the sounds seen or heard in a word to create the whole word. For example, the sounds /d/-/o/-/g/ (pause between each sound) make the word “dog”.
• Sound Safari: Go around your house or yard and encourage your child to listen carefully and write down the sounds they hear. Together, identify the beginning sound of each item (e.g., "b" for bird, "t" for truck). This game can also be played on a walk in the park or during errands.
• Sound Matching: Gather a variety of objects or pictures. Ask your child to group them by their beginning sounds (e.g., car, cookie, cup). This can be a fun sorting game and helps with sound recognition.
• Mystery Word Game: Say a word but pause between each sound (e.g., c-a-t). This is called segmenting. Ask your child to guess what the word is. This helps blend sounds to form words. If blending words is difficult for your child, try Successive Blending or Progressive Blending techniques in the following boxes.
• Successive Blending: a technique in which children blend sounds progressively as they hear the next sound. For example, with the word "sand," a child would start with /s/, then blend /a/ to make /sa/, then/n/ to make /san/, and finally add/d/ to say "sand." This method helps build confidence as each part of the word is smoothly integrated with the next.
• Progressive Blending: Progressive Blending involves integrating sounds as complexity gradually increases. It starts with simple consonant-vowel combinations and progresses to more complex patterns. For example, a child might blend /s/ and /i/ to form "si," then add /t/ for "sit." This scaffolded approach supports children in managing more complex word structures as they advance.
• Storytime Sound Hunt: Read a book with your child. Ask them to listen for words that start with a specific sound. For example, "Listen for words that start with 'm '."
• Clap the Syllables: Say a word and clap out the syllables with your child. For example, "butterfly" would be three claps: but-ter-fly. Start with simple words and gradually work up to more complex ones.
• Before and After: Pick a letter from the alphabet and see if your child can name the letter that comes right AFTER that letter in the alphabet. See if they can name the letter that comes right BEFORE that letter in the alphabet.

ACT 20 Resources for phonics and decoding AT HOME

We are excited to support you and your child in gaining literacy experiences and skills inside and outside of school. We hope these resources will provide your family with information and activities about what your child is learning in school and the areas they will need to focus on to improve their reading proficiency and skills. We are pleased to work with you in building a family of readers and writers.

As part of the Act 20 legislation, schools are providing parents with information to support their children's literacy in the following areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency. The School District of Janesville is also in the process of creating a website for parents.

What is Decoding?

Decoding is a key skill for learning to read that involves taking apart the sounds in words (segmenting) and blending sounds together. It requires both knowledge of letter-sound relationships and the ability to apply that knowledge to successfully identify written words and derive meaning.

Online Resources

• Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR): A collection of digital activities for use with pre-kindergarten through 5th-grade children.
• Home Reading Helper:  A resource for families to support their child's development with at-home reading activities, organized by skill and grade level.
• Teach Your Monster to Read:  A fun, interactive game that covers the first steps of reading, from matching letters and sounds to reading full sentences.
• UFLI Parent Hub: This collection of web-based language and literacy resources was compiled and curated by UFLI faculty and graduate students.
• IXL: From phonics and reading comprehension to writing strategies and more, IXL helps learners develop the communication skills needed for success in school, college, and career.

Easy decoding Activities to try at home

• Sound Mapping: Draw some boxes to map letters and sounds. Push a penny into each box and say the sound, and then write the letter that makes that sound. Finally, blend the sounds into a word.
• Word Errors: When an error is made, WAIT to give your child a chance to work on correcting it independently. When you are certain they will keep going and not correct their error, stop them by saying something like, “Try that again,” or “Make it match.”
• Word Solving Discussions:  Things to say when working on words:
  • You kept your eyes on the words!!
  • You tried more than one strategy on your own!!
  • Nice job trying a different vowel sound!!
  • Super work making your eyes go through the beginning, middle & end of that word!
  • Lovely job sticking with it when it felt hard!

IF YOUR CHILD IS STUCK ON A WORD, TRY THESE PROMPTS:

• DECODE: Decode before using other strategies. “Start with the letters.” “Look at the letters first.”
• LOOK:  Look carefully at each part of the word. “Make every sound.” “Look at every letter.”
• STAY:  Stay focused on the print. “Keep your eyes on the letters.” “Stick with it until the end.”
• BLEND: Blend all the sounds together. “Put the sounds together.” “Smooth it out.”
• LEAP: Leap from the phonetic approximation to the word. “What does that sound like?”
• CHECK: Check the word to move on or problem-solve more. “Does that make sense?” “Does that sound right?”
• REBUILD: Rebuild, meaning after problem-solving. “Reread the sentence.”

We have important information to share about Act 20, an important piece of legislation aimed at strengthening early literacy across Wisconsin.

Janesville's Early Literacy Plan aligns with Act 20, reinforcing and enhancing reading instruction from the earliest grades. Our plan builds upon existing literacy practices, providing a structured framework to ensure every child receives the support they need to thrive academically.

Our dedicated teachers and staff are committed to continuously refining literacy instruction. Act 20 offers an opportunity to fine-tune our strategies and timelines, allowing us to better serve all students. It also emphasizes the power of collaboration—bringing together families, educators, and the community to support students’ literacy development.