The Importance of Phonemic Awareness: The Robinson Reading System

When it comes to learning how to read, phonemic awareness is foundational. Research from the Science of Reading (SoR) confirms that without a strong ability to hear, identify, and manipulate sounds in spoken language, children struggle to connect those sounds to letters and words on a page.

The Robinson Reading System (RRS) places phonemic awareness at the core of its instruction, ensuring that students develop a deep understanding of the sounds of English before encountering the complexities of standard English spelling. This linguistic approach makes reading instruction more accessible, particularly for struggling readers and children with dyslexia.

Image: Student holds a Robinson Reading System® book.

What is Phonemic Awareness?

Phonemic awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the smallest units of sound (phonemes) in spoken words. It is an essential pre-reading skill because it allows children to:

✅ Identify individual sounds (e.g., /c/ in cat)

✅ Blend sounds together to form words (e.g., /c/ + /a/ + /t/ → cat)

✅ Segment words into sounds (e.g., cat → /c/ /a/ /t/)

✅ Manipulate phonemes (e.g., changing the /c/ in cat to /m/ to make mat)

Studies show that students who develop strong phonemic awareness before learning letter-sound relationships are far more successful in reading and spelling (National Reading Panel, 2000).

How the Robinson Reading System Compares to Other Programs

Many reading programs incorporate phonemic awareness but do not prioritize it as explicitly or systematically as RRS.

Approach	How Phonemic Awareness is Taught
Balanced Literacy (Whole Language)	Assumes phonemic awareness will develop naturally through exposure to print; lacks explicit instruction.
Traditional Phonics Programs	Introduce some phonemic awareness but move too quickly into letter-sound relationships, often leaving struggling readers behind.
Orton-Gillingham (OG)	Includes phonemic awareness but primarily focuses on teaching phonics rules and spelling patterns.
Robinson Reading System (RRS)	Builds a strong foundation in phonemic awareness by explicitly teaching the most common spellings of the sounds of English first.

Why Phonemic Awareness is Critical for Struggling Readers

🔹 Children with dyslexia often struggle with phonemic awareness, making it difficult for them to connect sounds to letters. RRS ensures these students have a solid foundation in sound recognition.

🔹 Many struggling readers rely on memorization rather than decoding. Without phonemic awareness, they may guess words instead of truly reading them. RRS prevents this by reinforcing decoding practice.

🔹 Phonemic awareness training improves spelling skills. Because RRS integrates phonemic awareness with spelling, students develop both decoding and encoding skills simultaneously.

Conclusion: Phonemic Awareness is the First Step to Reading Success

The Science of Reading has proven that phonemic awareness is the strongest predictor of reading success—and the Robinson Reading System builds this skill explicitly and systematically.

By teaching the sounds of English first explicitly and at the level of each student, RRS ensures that every student, regardless of ability, has a strong foundation for reading and spelling success.