What it is: Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words, a key foundation before learning letter-sound relationships. Why it matters: Strong ...

Clarification: A previous version of this story had a different image. It has been updated for clarity. Walk into any kindergarten classroom this fall, and there’s a good chance students will be ...

A third-grader works through a phonics lesson in Washington, Ill. Editor at Large As a teacher in Oakland, Calif., Kareem Weaver helped struggling fourth- and fifth-grade kids learn to read by using a ...