Phonemic awareness is defined as one of the components that assist with reading and spelling comprehension. Research suggests that the acquisition of identifying sounds in a word lays the framework for phonics, then growing into fluency and encoding skills. Researchers have suggested that educators of early education programs introduce, practice and then teach their students to apply phonemic awareness skills in order to support early emerging literacies.
The Yopp-Singer assessment identifies students abilities to break down phonemes in a word then used as a predictor of future reading achievement. In the test, teachers are given various words to read aloud to students and in return, the students are expected to identify the individual sounds in those particular words. The 22 question-based assessment predicts future reading achievement as evident through the research.
Measuring the validity of the Yopp-Singer assessment the study incorporates a sampling of a group of kindergartners in a middle-income school district located in southern California. Overall, the study earned a high score indicating that the test was tried and true. Another study measuring the Yopp-Singer’s integrity consists of a group of youngsters reading achievement throughout their elementary careers. The focus of the study connects the Yopp-Singer assessment to both a nonsense word reading test and some of the subtests from a normed referenced standardized test proving the validity of the phonemic awareness assessment.
Implementing the Yopp-Singer assessment along with norm-referenced screenings will provide early elementary educators and related services information that will assist with student programming. Identifying phonemic awareness abilities and deficits will provide professionals with the information needed for tailored literacy services. If a student presents himself with strong abilities to recognize sounds in word that student may have acquired the beginning thread of know-how in order to connect the next bridge in literacy; phonics skills. Or perhaps a student may present himself with the inability to recognize sounds in the middle sounds of words. The educator will tailor the instructor to support that area of weakness in order to build fluent phonemic recognition. Early education providers are charged with the task of assessing phonemic awareness skills in order to begin supporting the early emergent reader. Integrating the Yopp-Singer assessment method will help educators plan their instruction.
Theory to Practice 