Why Memorizing Sight Words Doesn't Work: The Power of Phonemic Awareness

As parents and educators, we all want to help our children succeed in reading. One common approach many have tried, is teaching children to memorize sight words—those high-frequency words that children are often told to recognize by sight, rather than sound out. While this may seem like a quick way to get kids reading, research shows it’s not the most effective strategy. In fact, teaching children the phonemic sounds, or the building blocks of language, provides a much stronger foundation for reading success. So, why doesn’t memorizing sight words work? And what are phonemic sounds? Let's explore.

What Are Phonemes?

A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound in spoken language. There are 44 phonemic sounds in the English language, even though there are only 26 letters in the alphabet. Maybe that's why learning English can be challenging for a lot of people! Phonemes include the individual sounds that we hear in words, from simple consonant sounds like /b/ in "bat" to complex vowel sounds like /ai/ in "rain."

Here’s a breakdown of the 44 phonemes:

• Consonant Sounds (25 total): These include sounds like /p/ (as in "pat"), /b/ (as in "bat"), and digraphs like /ch/ (as in "chat").

• Vowel Sounds (19 total): These include both short and long vowel sounds, as well as diphthongs (a blend of two vowel sounds in one syllable) like /oi/ in "coin" and /ou/ in "cloud."

Some phonemes can be spelled in multiple ways, which is why understanding these sounds is so critical. When children learn to identify and manipulate phonemes, they gain the skills necessary to sound out and decode unfamiliar words.

What is Phonemic Awareness?

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate phonemes in spoken words. This skill is an essential pre-reading skill because it allows children to break down words into their individual sounds and blend those sounds together to form words. Phonemic awareness is not the same as phonics, though the two are related. Phonemic awareness focuses purely on sounds, while phonics connects those sounds to the letters that represent them.

Research shows that phonemic awareness is one of the most reliable predictors of future reading success. Children with strong phonemic awareness are better equipped to decode words, leading to better fluency and comprehension later on.

Why Teaching Phonemes Is Better Than Memorizing Sight Words

Memorizing sight words focuses on rote memorization, but it doesn’t teach children the underlying skills they need to decode new words. While some children may be able to memorize a large bank of sight words, they can struggle when they encounter unfamiliar words, especially those that don’t follow predictable patterns. Without understanding the sounds that make up the words, children are left guessing. And the truth of the matter is, MANY of the sight words can be easily decoded, when children have an understanding of the letter sounds that make up the word. Those that don't follow the rules, can be taught.

Teaching phonemes empowers children to tackle any word they come across by breaking it into sounds. Once they know the sounds, they can blend them together to form words. This method not only improves reading accuracy but also boosts confidence.

Sounds Before Letter Names: Why It Matters

When it comes to teaching reading, there’s an ongoing debate about whether to teach letter names or sounds first. I believe both are important, and I teach them simultaneously. However, I prioritize teaching sounds first because sounds are what children need to read. Knowing that the letter “m” says /m/ helps a child decode words, while knowing it’s called "em" does not.

Starting with letter sounds avoids confusion and ensures that children focus on the skills they need to actually read. Once they master the primary sounds, we introduce the more complex letter names alongside those sounds. By giving children this solid foundation, they can confidently move forward to more advanced skills, such as blending sounds to form words.

How Phonics to Fluency Helps

In my Phonics to Fluency course, we begin with the basics of phonemic awareness. Phase one focuses on the 26 primary letter sounds, helping children build the foundation they need for future reading success. This foundational phase ensures they are equipped to recognize and manipulate sounds before moving on to more complex phonics skills. My goal is to avoid any confusion by starting with primary sounds, which sets the stage for later fluency.

The Phonics to Fluency course is designed with a research-based, multi-sensory approach, ensuring that children not only learn the skills, but they enjoy the process. By using a blend of videos, live lessons, and fun activities, we engage children in a way that keeps them motivated and excited about learning to read.

Building a Lifelong Love of Reading

In summary, while memorizing sight words may seem like a shortcut, it often leads to long-term struggles in reading. Teaching children phonemic awareness—starting with the 44 phonemes—gives them the tools they need to become confident, independent readers. By focusing on the sounds that letters make, rather than their names or memorizing words by sight, children build a stronger foundation that will serve them well throughout their reading journey.

If you're looking for a comprehensive program that starts with these key phonemic sounds and moves through all phases of reading development, consider joining Phonics to Fluency. Phase one will get your child started with the primary sounds they need to master, setting the stage for future reading success.

Let’s help our children not just read words, but truly understand them!