PHONICS GUIDE

 

The purpose of this description of how to make the phonetic sounds is to aid in isolation of sounds for the child. Phonics will help the child to sound our new words not recognized in sigh reading. The purpose of describing the position of the tongue, the jaw, the throat, and lips as well as the shutting off of air, is to allow a pure, isolated sound to be heard by the child. Sounds such as b,d,p become bah, pah, or puh when the air is not stopped before the tongue or jaw are moved. 

The present methods of teaching reading are employing the technique of giving the sounds first, then the names of the letters

/a/ apple                   mouth half open, sound should come from the throat, raise the back of the tongue, make the sound, shut off the air before moving jaw or tongue.

/b/ bat                      make sound with lips, hold jaw and mouth position until air has stopped sound, base of tongue is raised as air is stopped.

/c/ cat                      mouth slightly open, base of tongue is raised, drop to emit air, shut off air to make sound.

/d/ dog                      mouth slightly open, place tongue tip against roof of mouth, drop tongue tip as sound emerges from the throat, shut off air to stop sound.

/e/ egg                  mouth slightly open sides of the tongue touch teeth, emit air and shut off air without moving tongue, jaw, or lips.

/f/ fan                      upper teeth against the lower lip, emit air, stop air before moving lips or jaw.

/g/ gap                      mouth slightly open, base of tongue raised, drop tongue base as the sound is emitted. Do not change jaw or lip position until the sound stops.

/h/ hat                      open lips slightly, drop jaw and tongue, emit the air from the throat, stop air before changing position of lips, do not raise the tongue to stop the sound.

/i/ in                          mouth slightly open, sides of the tongue touch the teeth, emit air and shut off air without moving tongue, jaw, or lips.

/j/ jam                      part lips, place the tongue against the roof of the mouth, lower tip of tongue as you make the sound, stop the sound by stopping the air, do mnot move the jaw.

/k/ kit                        mouth slightly open, raise base of tongue, drop and emit air, stop the air to stop the sound. Do not drop jaw. Make a sound slightly harsher than the c sound.

/l/ lip                         mouth slightly open, place the tongue tip against the roof of the mouth. Keep it there, make the sound in the throat, drop the base of the tongue as the sound is made. Shut off the sound by raising the base of the tongue.

/m/ mama                 place lips together, drop the jaw and tongue, make the sound in the throat, do not move the tongue, jaw, or lips until the sound is shut off.

/n/ nut                       open lips, place tip of the tongue against the teeth, make the sound, shut off the air, do not move tongue until the air is shut off and the sound has stopped.

/o/ on                                    open mouth slightly, drop jaw and tongue, make the sound in the throat, do not move jaw or tongue until the air is shut off and the sound has stopped.

/p/ pan                      place lips together, drop jaw and tongue, as the air is emitted, open lips, do not move the jaw or the tongue.

/qu/quit                     open lips slightly, emit ‘k’ sound, drop base of the tongue to form a ‘u’ sound, shut off air as the base of the tongue is dropped.

/r/ run                       hold the jaw up, mouth slightly open, lips back slightly (as a beginning smile), the tongue against the sides of the teeth, base of the tongue dropped. Emit air, shut off air to stop the sound.

/s/ sat                       jaw up, the tongue behind the teeth, the base of the tongue dropped. Make the sound with the tongue against the teeth, stop the air to stop the sound by stopping the air in the throat and by dropping the tip of the tongue.

/t/ tip                                    mouth slightly open, place the tip of the tongue against the roof of the mouth, make the sound by emitting air and dropping the tongue tip, shut off the air by raising the tongue base, do not move the jaw until the sound stops.

/u/ up                                    mouth slight open, emit air as the base of tongue is dropped, shut off air and stop the sound before moving lips and jaw.

/v/ van                       lower from teeth placed against the upper lip, emit the sound and air from the throat, stop the air and sound before moving the lips or jaw.

/w/ wing                    lips rounded as ‘o’, emit sound and air from the throat, stop the sound and air before moving the lips or jaw

/x/ xenia                   ‘z’ sound, lips parted slightly, drop base of tongue as the sound comes from the throat, raise the tip of the tongue as the air reaches the front of the mouth, drop the base of the tongue stop air before moving the tongue or lips

/y/ yes                       raise the jaw, the tongue, part lips and pull the corners of the mouth back as the beginning of a smile, raise the base of the tongue as the sound and the air are emitted, shut off the sound and the air by dropping the base of tongue.

/z/ zebra                  lips parted, tip of the tongue behind the teeth, drop the base of the tongue, emit the sound from the throat, shut off the air, before moving tongue tip.

Montessori Research and Development ... Language Arts Manual Volume 2