Miriam Recommends

Reading Rods^® Alphabet and Phonemic Awareness Kit

Catherine Snow (1998) describes several kindergarten literacy goals. One major goal is "By the end of kindergarten students should be familiar with the forms and format of books and print resources and be able to recognize and write most of the alphabet; they should also have some basic phonemic awareness…"

We know that young children learn best in a joyful, playful, interactive, hands-on environment. The Reading Rods Alphabet and Phonemic Awareness Kit supports such an environment. These interlocking rods provide both uppercase and lowercase letters and key pictures for each letter. Research indicates that students more readily develop the alphabetic principle when they are able to match each letter to a key picture and word. Reading Rods provides this opportunity. Students are able to learn the names, forms, shapes, and alphabetic sequence of letters; to match letters and words with pictures; and to distinguish sounds (phonemes) in words— all through hands-on, playful activities that they can do individually, with a partner, or in a small group.