“Phonemic awareness” means understanding how sounds work in words. The student who has phonemic awareness can hear the individual sounds in words. It is an auditory skill, and is very important for reading success.

One of the most basic phonemic awareness skill is the ability to rhyme. This article covers three good ways that you can encourage rhyming at home or in the classroom.

1. Read aloud books containing rhyme. Here are some suggestions for some fun books to read aloud.
Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis and Daniel Kirk
In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming
Whiskers and Rhymes by Arnold Lobel
Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky
There's a Wocket in My Pocket by Dr. Seuss
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
Moose on the Loose by C. P. Ochs
Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
Never Take a Pig to Lunch by Nadine Bernard Westcott

Plan on reading the book at least twice. The first time, read for enjoyment. Let the child hear the story or poem straight through, without stopping to analyze it.

The second time you read the story or poem (either during the same sitting or another session), point out some of the words that rhyme. “Grass – pass. Those two words rhyme!” Have the child repeat some of the pairs of rhyming words so they can get a feel for rhyming.

Occasionally stop at the end of a line and see if your child can guess what word is coming next. It is generally quite predictable.

2. Play rhyming games. You say “cat” and he says “bat.” Then switch roles. He gives you a word, and you say a word which rhymes with it. You will probably have to come up with some nonsense words in order to find rhymes for some of the words that kids come up with – they may say “turtle” and you say “purtle.” That is fine, because the goal is to play with the sounds. Silliness can make this game more interesting.

3. Get a pile of raisins or Cheerios. For each right answer, the child gets one. He fills in the answer:
A bug is under the ___ (rug).
That ape is eating a ____ (grape).
Did you ever see a bear sitting in a _____ (chair)?
Can a goat sail in a _____ (boat)
The poor little kittens, they lost their _____ (mittens)
Do not try to eat with your _____ (feet)

You can drive far in a ____ (car)
The duck took a ride in the _____ (truck)