In this episode, we’re erasing the first or second word in compound words to discover what’s left. It’s a playful and interactive way to build phonological awareness while keeping learning fun and exciting. Let’s jump in and see how many words we can break apart!

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating debate sparked by recent research on phonemic awareness and its role in teaching children to read. We explore the groundbreaking 2024 meta-analysis from Texas A&M University, which underscores a critical finding: while auditory phonemic awareness instruction (breaking down and blending sounds like in the word cat) builds foundational skills, its effectiveness plateaus after building auditory skills like compound, rhyming, and syllable level processing. After these levels the phoneme sound should be paired with its visual letter to develop phonemic awareness.

We discuss why incorporating images of letters alongside sounds makes a significant difference in developing reading and spelling skills, particularly for young readers. And why developing rhyming skills, compound word awareness, and syllable division is the perfect start to a solid literacy foundation.

Pack your bags for Level Two, Story Four of Sound Story: Phonemic Awareness, where we’re heading on a vacation adventure through the airport! In this episode, your child will practice dividing compound words as they explore the bustling world of travel. From check-in to take-off, each stop on the journey is designed to make learning fun while building essential phonemic skills. Perfect for repeat listening, this episode offers a ticket to excitement and discovery—all while strengthening language awareness.