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Playing with Language Sounds: Literacy Foundations 3

Literacy foundations include play with the sounds within oral language. Research shows that children who can play with the sounds of oral language have an easier time when they begin to read, but children usually need intentional teachers that build play with sounds into the classroom. In fact, playing and learning about the sounds of language might be even more important than learning letter names.


Awareness of the sounds of language is called Phonological Awareness. Note that spelling is not always connected to the sound of language:

  • Word awareness: I ate grapes has three separate words

  • Syllable awareness and blending: Angela has three syllables; Cup-cake is the word /cupcake/

  • Alliteration: Jeremy, Jordan, and giraffe start with the same sound /j/

  • Rhyming: cat and mat or go and blow have the same ending sounds

  • Onset-rime blending and segmentation: /c/ can be blended with /at/ to create cat; the /k/ sound can also start the word kitten

  • Phonemic awareness: the word hat has three separate sounds /h/, /a/, /t/. So does the word chip: /ch/, /i/, /p/

Children typically learn to play with whole words before moving on to individual sounds. Many three and four year-olds are able to recognize and play with rhyme, syllables, and alliteration. A few older preschoolers might begin blending and segmenting words into phonemes. Children can learn multiple skills at the same time! As they become more aware of print, they will begin to associate certain sounds with individual letters or letter clusters, but the foundational skill is being able to hear and distinguish between sounds in oral language.


Teachers can help children play with the sounds of language in developmentally appropriate ways:

  • Use books and read-alouds! Find books with word play and intentionally encourage children to listen to and play with the sounds (a great resource here to find books with specific sounds and phonological elements!). Reading a book like Silly Sally by Audrey Wood, teachers can help children learn to anticipate and complete rhymes: "Silly Sally went to TOWN, walking backwards upside _____" Teachers can point out alliteration: "SSSSilly and SSSSally start with the same sound. Can you think of any other words that start with a SSSSS sound?" Use repeated readings to extend the learning.

  • Use songs, tongue twisters, and rhymes! Songs like Willoughby Wallaby Woo can help children learn to play with the beginning sounds of words (the onset) and with rhyme. "Willoughby Wallaby Woo, an elephant sat on you; Willoughby Wallaby Woscar, an elephant sat on Oscar!" Point out to children how the sounds are similar.

  • Use high interest words to connect letters with sounds. Names are a great way to introduce letter-sound connections, because they are familiar to children. Practice stretching and blending words: Some sounds are easy to stretch: /mmmm/ or /sssss/. "Today we have /mmmmm-uffins/ and /mmmmm-ilk/ for breakfast! It must be an M day! What else could we eat with an /mmmm/ sound?"

  • Focus as much (or more) on the letter SOUNDS as their names: Some letter names don't resemble their sounds at all (think H, Y, or W) and some letters also make different sounds (think A or C) or even multiple sounds at once (think X which says /k/,/s/) . This is confusing! It's easier to introduce letters that make their sound as part of their name and have one main sound like B, T, or P, but if you encounter a tricky letter just let children know what makes it special.

  • Help children pay attention to how the sound is made by calling attention to their mouth, tongue, and lips. "/mmm/ and /nnnn/ sound a lot alike, don't they? But look at the different shape my mouth makes."

  • Model linking words and letters with sounds in print: "I want my letter to start with the words 'Dear Families.' Dear starts with the /d/ sound. /D/,/d/,/d/,/dear/ will start with D"

  • Use sounds in transitions: "If your name starts with /w/, you may go wash your hands. If your name rhymes with /pin/, you may go wash your hands."

  • Play games with sounds: Play board games like rhyme matching or Zingo or use oral games during wait times like I'm Thinking of..., Scavenger Hunts, or I Spy: "I Spy something that starts with a /d/ sound"

  • Get silly! Children think word play is funny!. Use silly faces and dramatic mistakes. "It's time to go outside. Do you have on your /C/at and /K/ittens?"

Be careful of words (or names) that are oddballs! For example, Phoebe starts with the letter P, but the sound /f/. Charles starts with a C, but the first sound is /ch/. Children can learn keywords to help them remember the most common sound. This is what the Fundations kindergarten program does - it ties a picture to the letter and its sound: D, dog, /d/ or T, top, /t/.


Above all, word play is FUN for preschoolers. Children don't need much encouragement to discover the joys of playing with the sounds of language. Teachers who are intentional about introducing different sounds into interactions can build children's foundations for literacy.


Sample Song/Chant List for Phonological Awareness


Sample Book List for Phonological Awareness

  • Bee Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park (rhyming, alliteration)

  • Tanka Tanka Skunk by Steve Webb (syllables)

  • Did You Take the B from My _ook? by Beck Stanton (phoneme deletion)

  • Hungry Thing by Jan Slepian and Ann Seidler (phoneme substitution)

  • Cock-a-Doodle-Moo! by Bernard Most (phoneme substitution)

  • Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas (rhyme)

  • Dr. Seuss's ABC by Dr. Seuss (rhyme, alliteration)

  • Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy (alliteration, rhyme)

  • B is for Baby by Atinuke (alliteration)

  • Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party by James Dean (alliteration)

  • Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas (rhyme)

  • Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino (rhyme)

  • Jamberry by Bruce Deegan (rhyme)

  • One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root (rhyme)

  • Guess Again! by Mac Barnett (rhyme)

  • Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein (onset-rime)

  • Poetry books: Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, Chris Harris, etc.

  • SO, SO many more!


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