58. Teaching Phonemic Awareness: A Guide for Educators with Dr. Jane Ashby

Phonemic awareness (PA) interestingly is one of the most debated areas of literacy instruction. Should it be taught with letters, without letters, or both? Which tasks matter most? And how much is enough?

In this episode of Literacy in Color, Michelle sits down with Dr. Jane Ashby, professor, researcher, and first author of Teaching Phonemic Awareness in 2024: A Guide for Educators. This conversation brings clarity to the ongoing dialogue around PA instruction and the growing body of research that surrounds it.

Key Takeaways:

  • What phonemic awareness is (and how it differs from phonics)
  • Signs that a student may need explicit PA instruction past first grade
  • Why deletion and substitution tasks matter for striving readers
  • Teaching PA with letters vs. without letters – and why asking “for whom” matters
  • How to interpret recent meta-analyses 
  • A clear message (and one non-negotiable) that every teacher can take back to their classroom

Helpful Resources:

Connect with Dr. Jane Ashby:

  • Email: drjaneashby@gmail.com

Connect with Me:

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