Kindergarten Phonics Tips: Listen and Learn

Phonological awareness and phonemic awareness—the ability to recognize and manipulate individual sounds—are essential building blocks to learning how to read. It may not be an obvious connection to reading, but listening to music with lyrics can provide lots of opportunities to practice reading-related skills such as rhythm, intonation, and fluency.

Listening to and repeating rhyming lyrics is not only entertaining, it can also provide opportunities for children to practice identifying and manipulating sounds. In your everyday routines driving to and from school, preparing meals, or cleaning up, listen to music together! Ask your child if they can hear and understand the lyrics. Can they repeat and sing along?