Phonology is the study of how sounds are organized and used in natural languages. Phonology is how we perceive segments of words that correspond to speech sounds (Parker & Riley, 2010).
So what is phonological awareness? It is the ability to identify, think about and mentally manipulate the parts of words. For example, at the syllable level one breaks down the word hello - hel - lo. If one looks at the phonemic level, the word zip is /z/ /i/ /p/, each sound is considered by the brain.
Why should middle school teachers care about phonology?
Struggling middle school readers often lack basic decoding skills. This stage of reading development cannot be bypassed, eventually everyone who is trying to read must understand how the written language represents the sounds of speech (McKenna, 2002).
Most middle school students who are still struggling with decoding know basic letter-sound relationships but do not have the strategies for dealing with unfamiliar words when they are encountered.
Many middle school teachers assume that by the times students get to middle school they do not need instruction in phonology and have a depth of understanding of this very complex skill. This assumption is false. The guidelines page will provide needed information on the development of phonology and the activities link provides some practical classroom activities to help middle school students continue phonological development.