Becoming a fluent reader requires a firm foundation in beginning reading skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, and sight word recognition. In this ongoing class, we will build strong skills in each of these areas. We will begin each class practicing phonemic awareness while segmenting (breaking apart) words into individual sounds, blending (putting together) individual sounds to make words, and substituting sounds within words. Visual representations, such as finger taps, blocks, and Elkonin Squares will be used during these activities to help your brain make connections and solidify these skills. Next, we will build phonics skills in each class by spelling and reading words with the target phonogram or spelling pattern. Tools, such as letter cards, magnetic letters, a white board and marker, a Google Slide presentation, etc. will be used to provide a visual when manipulating the words during phonics practice. We will practice reading these words with increasing speed and accuracy. Then, we will practice reading full sentences containing the skills and words practiced throughout the lesson. Finally, we will complete an activity designed to practice the phonics skills learned in class. Because this is an ongoing class, each class will be a “stand alone” lesson, meaning you do not have to attend the lesson before to be successful in the current lesson. To keep the class fresh and interesting for the students who attend regularly, I may switch up the activities, and each class may not have the exact same format. Below is a list of topics that will be covered over the course of about 17 weeks. I included dates for when the first few classes are scheduled to take place. Once we have completed all of the material, the class will cycle back through each lesson. So if you join in the middle of the curriculum, you can still attend the classes that you missed. I will post an up-to-date list of materials needed for each week on the classroom announcements page. I hope you will join me in class, so we can build a strong foundation in reading together!
 
Consonant Blends with r: br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, tr (Th 8/31/23)
Consonant Blends with l: bl, cl, fl, gl , pl, sl (Th 9/7/23)
CVCe Words: Long Vowels with “Magic e” (Th 9/14/23)
Consonant Digraphs: sh, ch (Th 9/21/23)
Consonant Digraphs: th, wh (Th 9/28/23)
Vowel Digraphs: ay, ai (Th 10/5/23)
Vowel Digraphs: oa, oe, ow (Th 10/12/23)
Vowel Digraphs: oi, oy (Th 10/19/23)
Vowel Digraphs: aw, au (Th 10/26/23)
Vowel Digraphs: ow, ou (Th 11/2/23)
Silent Consonants: kn, gn, wr (Th 11/9/23)
Vowels with "Bossy r": er, ir, ur (Th 11/16/23)
The Three Sounds of “ed”: /ed/, /d/, /t/ 
The Three Sounds of “oo” 
Long i Spelled: igh / Long a Spelled: eigh 
Consonant Digraph: ck 
Ending Blends with n: ng, nk, nd, nt 
Consonant Digraph: tch 
Consonant Digraph: dge 
Soft c 
Soft g 
The Three Sounds of “ch” 
Bossy r: or, ar 
Vowel Digraphs: ey, ei 
Vowel Digraphs: ew, eu 
The Three Sounds of “ea” 
Digraphs: qu, ph 
Vowel Digraph: ie
Vowel Sounds of "y"
Double Consonants: ff, ll, zz, rr, nn, tt, pp, ss
Six Sounds of “ough”
Digraphs: ti, ci 
Digraph: si