The Science of Reading: An Introduction to Phonological Awareness

This workshop introduces educators to the critical role of phonological awareness in the Science of Reading framework, focusing on how the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken language underpins reading success. Participants learn the progression of skills from basic word and syllable recognition to more advanced phonemic manipulation, supported by classroom-ready activities and instructional strategies. The session also explores the integration of sound walls, articulation techniques for the 44 phonemes of English, and evidence-based practices aligned with New Jersey Student Learning Standards. By the end, attendees will be equipped to design targeted, multisensory instruction that strengthens students’ foundational reading abilities.

• Gaps in early reading instruction related to phonological and phonemic awareness.
  
  
• Difficulty for students in decoding, spelling, and reading fluency due to weak sound-symbol connections.
  
  
• Limited teacher use of research-based strategies and tools like sound walls to support articulation and phoneme recognition.
  

1. Phonological & Phonemic Awareness Progression – Participants will be able to identify, teach, and assess the full continuum of skills, from rhyming and syllable segmentation to isolating, blending, and manipulating phonemes.
   
   
2. Articulation & Sound Wall Integration – Educators will learn to model correct phoneme production using physical articulation cues, vowel motions, and sound wall organization to help students connect speech to print.
   
   
3. Evidence-Based Instructional Practices – Attendees will gain strategies for implementing systematic, standards-aligned activities such as Elkonin boxes, phoneme games, and explicit blending/segmenting exercises to improve reading outcomes