Topic: Phonics

5-minute review: What is “analogy-based phonics”?

Quote: “In analogy-based phonics, the aim is to teach students to use known words to decode unknown words. For example, to decode the unknown word ‘snap,’ the student might think of the known word ‘map.’ Analogy-based phonics is systematic when a planned set of phonic elements is taught sequentially (Ehri, et al., 2001; Stahl et al., 1998). Phonic elements might include common spelling patterns as well as initial consonants, digraphs, and blends. I further define analogy-based phonics as systematic when teachers provide students with sufficient opportunities to transfer decoding skills to novel words containing spelling patterns that have been taught. finally, analogy-based phonics is strategic when, through teacher modeling, children learn that when they are reading and come to a word they do not know, they can try to ‘think of a word they do know’ (i.e., a word with the same spelling pattern).” p. 234.

Quote: “In conclusion, this study suggests that analogy-based phonics instruction can be effective for low-and normally achieving grade 2 students when it is systematic and strategic and implemented by regular teachers as part of a balanced literacy program. Systematic means (a) teaching a planned sequence of phonic elements including common spelling patterns and initial sounds, and (b) providing sufficient opportunities for students to transfer decoding skills to novel words containing spelling patterns that have been taught. Strategic means that teachers explicitly model an analogy decoding strategy.

Source: TG White, “Effects of Systematic and Strategic Analogy-Based Phonics on Grade 2 Students’ Word Reading and Reading Comprehension.” Reading Research Quarterly (April/ May/ June 2005), 234-255.

Comment: I think I can visualize how to incorporate analogy-based phonics into the regular beginning reading program, but it’ll take a lot of work. RayS.