Ep. 23 Phonological Awareness, Phonemic Awareness, Phonics: A Nestign Doll Trifecta

Wherever you are on your journey with dyslexia, you may have come across terms like phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, and phonics. In this episode, I’m breaking down the skills within each term, and how each concept relates to an overall understanding of language in relation to dyslexia. 

Phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, and phonics are similar to nesting dolls — one nests inside the other to create a larger whole. This looks like:
• The smallest doll = Phonemic Awareness: The smallest unit of sound, and the most advanced stage within phonological awareness.
• The mid-sized doll = Phonological Awareness: Oral language skills; rhyme and alliteration, words in a sentence, syllables, onset rhyme, and phonemic awareness.
• The largest doll = Phonics: The act of matching oral language sounds to letters and letter patterns.

All language is intricately interwoven — oral language, reading, writing. The brain is hardwired for oral language, but not for reading and writing. Therefore, the first indicator of a reading problem is going to show up in oral language or speech skills. Join me as I deconstruct and define the nesting doll trifecta: phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, and phonics.

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Topics Covered:
• The difference between phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, and phonics
• The importance of phonological awareness and phonemic awareness
• The importance of phonics 
• How oral language, reading, and writing are interwoven