Phonics – Teaching & Assessing
OVERVIEW OF PHONICS
Phonics was identified as one of the FIVE pillars of reading by the National Reading Panel in 2000. Yet, many programs still do not teach phonics explicitly.
Phonics helps kids understand the structure of our language which helps with both reading and spelling. It is important to follow a scope and sequence when teaching phonics, however, there is no right or wrong way to teach the skills. There is no research showing that one scope and sequence is better than another.
LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE?
Following a scope & sequence of skills when teaching phonics is important. This way, the skills build on one another and kids are not expected to read words with patterns they have not been taught yet. Plus, they get to review the skills you have previously taught.
I want to note that there are times I will deviate from my scope & sequence. For example, TH is often taught later in most scope & sequences, however, kids are typically exposed to many TH words early on. If this is the case, I find it helpful to just teach TH early so that I am not requiring my students to memorize a word or pattern.
If your school does not provide you with a scope and sequence, you can grab my FREE one here!
SoR 101 Members please remember you can get this inside the membership & all of the resources linked in the scope & sequence are available for you inside the membership as well!
Phonics Fact of the Day
HELPFUL TOOLS
You have probably heard many people say that “English doesn’t make sense” but actually, it does! It’s just that we were never taught the patterns so it seems as if there are a ton of exceptions to every phonics “rule” or pattern.
These two books have helped me tremendously when explaining phonics to my students.*
*Affiliate links
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