Phonics
A balanced reading program includes direct and explicit instructional strategies for teaching phonemic awareness and phonics. The Reading A-Z program provides instructional resources for teaching the sounds and symbols of language and their relationships to one other. Sounds and their corresponding symbols are taught in a series of lesson plans using various strategies and aided by flashcards and worksheets. Students are given an opportunity to practice what they have been taught in a series of decodable books that are aligned to each lesson.
- Systematic
- Direct, explicit instructions
- Word manipulation
- Blending and segmenting
Lessons
Lessons follow a prescribed sequence; they are systematic. They are explicit in that each of the 58 lessons spells out what should be done in each instructional session. The lessons are organized according to the following sequence:
Each lesson begins with tips for introducing and teaching phonemic awareness, or the sound. The symbol is introduced and connected to the sound using various teaching techniques. Students are given an opportunity to write the symbol and use it in spelling.
When appropriate, high-frequency words and word families are taught.
Worksheets
Each lesson is accompanied by a set of worksheets to reinforce:
- Phonemic awareness
- Sound/symbol relationships
- Writing of the symbol
Flashcards
A series of flashcards for each lesson includes:
- Picture cards for phonemic awareness
- Word cards with words that have the symbol in initial, medial, and final positions
- Symbol cards for word building and blending/segmenting activities
- Word family (phonogram) cards
Suggested strategies for using the cards are written into each lesson.
Phonogram Flashcards
Phonogram flashcards for use in teaching word building. Six flashcards accompany each of the five short vowel lessons.
Decodable Books
Students need practice decoding the sound/symbol relationships they have been taught. The decodable books provide an opportunity for students to read continuous text in a story and book format while confronting words that have the phonics elements they have been taught. The decodable books also expose children to high-frequency words.
Read-Aloud Books
Read-Aloud Books each target a specific sound through the use of alliteration. The alliterative feature makes these books an excellent accompaniment to any phonics lesson that corresponds to a particular book's target sound. The books are also a good way to build critical phonemic awareness skills.
Sound/Symbol Books (School/Group and District Licenses)
Sound/Symbol Books present the sound and symbol relationships introduced in the 58 Reading A-Z phonics lessons. These books target specific sound/symbol relationships.
- Initial consonants
- Long and short vowels
- Consonant blends and digraphs
- Vowel digraphs and diphthongs
Sound/Symbol Books are a nice complement to the phonics lessons or can be used as stand-alone reinforcements of important sound/symbol relationships that lead to successful decoding. Students can use the last page in the book to draw an object and then label the object by using a word containing the featured sound/symbol relationship. And, as with all Reading A-Z books, each student can have her or his own copy to take home and read.