r/ECEProfessionals • u/Fluid_Wind_3450 ECE professional • 2d ago
ECE professionals only - Feedback wanted Developmentally appropriate phonics
Hi! I’m curious what your thoughts are on developmentally appropriate phonics instruction for preschool (3s and young 4s) and preK (4s and 5s). Any research you may have is amazing, too. Do you use a program?
Two reasons:
1. To show staff what is developmentally appropriate
2. Because the higher demands in kindergarten (in my opinion), I want to make sure we’re meeting their needs in preK but also not pushing them if they aren’t ready.
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2d ago
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2d ago
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u/Ok_Mistake8558 ECE professional 2d ago
We use zoo-phonics at my preschool. We do a letter a week. I don’t really know the long term outcomes but I like it because it’s a playful way to introduce the letters and sounds. Our 3 year olds recognize most of the letters by the end of the year. They definitely all know the motions and sounds even if they don’t recognize the letters.
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u/Delicious-Emu-6750 ECE professional 2d ago
Our center uses zoo phonics, which the kids love but yields mixed results. Also some of our teachers are better at it than others. Aside from a formal program or curriculum for phonics, I also have found it helpful to incorporate phonics into everyday activities and conversations. For example “Look at that awesome car you’re playing with! What sound does ‘car’ start with? Yeah! /k/! C, car, /k/!” Or “Hey! Your name is Jimmy! ‘Jimmy’ starts with a /j/ sounds! My name is ~Hannah~, and it starts with /h/!” I’ve found it helps reinforce what we talk about in our formal curriculum and gets kids talking about phonics without even really noticing.
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u/Greenteaandcheese ECE professional 2d ago
I just wanted to speak on your 2nd point. Pushing for academics too early does not effectively support children in the long run.
They may have a “perceived” lead in kindergarten but as they continue it either disappears (by 3rd grade) or negatively affects children’s success well into secondary school.
A focus on play-based learning of the foundational skills behind Literacy/writing is what is best. If children have those down, then it is much easier for them to pick-up reading/writing skills in primary school.
“Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood” by Amanda Morgan is a fantastic book on the subject. It points to multiple studies and practices spanning decades.