308. Phonics & Phonemic Awareness: Closing Gaps in Upper Elementary

Your Literacy Block: Part 3

If you've ever wondered whether phonemic awareness and phonics still matter in upper elementary, this episode is for you!

While these foundational skills are often associated with primary grades, many students in third, fourth, and fifth grade continue to struggle because of gaps in their word recognition skills. In this episode, we're unpacking the difference between phonemic awareness and phonics, why both are essential for reading success, and how teachers can provide targeted support without overhauling their entire literacy block.

In this episode, we'll discuss:

• The difference between phonemic awareness and phonics
• Why foundational reading skills still matter in grades 3–5
• How gaps in word recognition impact fluency and comprehension
• Scarborough’s Reading Rope and the role of word recognition
• Practical phonemic awareness activities for upper elementary students
• Effective phonics routines and instructional strategies
• Ways to provide targeted support without adding more to your plate

Resources Mentioned:

⭐The Stellar Literacy Collective: stellarteacher.com/slc