Level 3 Phonics-Based Reading: Decoding and Spelling Advanced Code Words

🌟 This class focuses on phonics, phonemic awareness, decoding, multi-syllable words, advanced decoding skills, auditory processing, and spelling.

This class is taught using the Phono-Graphix method of reading instruction which is very similar to Orton Gillingham. This is a phonics-based approach that focuses on the sound-to-symbol relationship students need to master in order to become strong readers and spellers. 

📖 The Phono-Graphix reading method has been proven 98% effective at addressing reading problems at any age or ability level. Phono-Graphix is research-based, developmentally appropriate, simple, concrete, and affordable. This program addresses the fundamental skills of decoding, encoding, auditory processing, code knowledge, and sequencing.

Level 3 is for learners who are ready to learn the Advanced Code.  Students will also learn to segment the sounds in order to spell the words they are learning to read. 

👉🏻The Advanced Code which will be taught extensively in levels 3 and 4 in the Phono-graphix program, refers to any time two or more letters represent one sound. (When we see the two l's in "bell", we only make one /l/ sound. This also refers to vowel teams, and other digraphs, but also includes three and four-letter spellings of one sound like the -igh in "right" and -ough in “bought".)

👀In each class meeting:

📝 Students will create word lists featuring a particular target sound, or spelling pattern. Students are expected to keep a journal for this class. A spiral-bound notebook or a folder with brads to keep word lists in is required. Writing the words is an essential activity as it addresses the multi-sensory element of the class and serves as a tool for review.

📖 Learners will participate in or be assigned a “sound search” with text on screen using the annotate tool, or with their independent reading book and word list. They are responsible for identifying more examples of spellings for our target sound and adding them to their word list.

👉 Slides are used to present lesson content and sample reading texts. 

🎲 Intermittent games will be used to review past content. The games we play in class are not highly competitive. In most games we play, students will work together to solve a task, or submit individual answers to challenges in the chat box

📖 Students will have the opportunity to read aloud. I only take volunteers. Reading aloud in class is not mandatory, although highly recommended. 

🎤 Students can expect to have microphones on and will be encouraged to participate in discussions.  I respect each child's individual learning style so I only call on volunteers unless specifically asked by the parent to encourage participation.

🌟 Word lists are provided in a pdf format for families to use in order to support their learners. Word lists used in this class make great spelling lists. Once this level is completed, learners will be ready to enroll in my 2nd or 3rd-grade spelling classes. 
After completing this fifteen-week class, learners are encouraged to continue with this Phono-graphix course by enrolling in Level 4.

🗓 Schedule for content delivery:
Week 1-Focus on /sh/ , /th/ , /ch/ and /ck/
Week 2-Focus on the sounds of Long O and /ow/, Word Analysis lesson 1
Week 3-Focus on the sound /er/ and the consonant sound /r/.
Week 4-Focus on the sounds for X and QU as well as Long E
Week 5-Focus on Long A and phoneme manipulation, Word Analysis lesson 2
Week 6- Focus on the sounds /oo/ and short /oo/ (put, foot, would) and Overlap of the sound picture, OO
Week 7- Word Analysis lesson 3, Short U sound focus and Overlap of the sound picture OU
Week 8-Focus on Short E and Long I, Overlap of the sound pictures EA and IE
Week 9-Word Analysis lesson 4, Overlap of the sound picture Y
Week 10-Focus on the sounds /oy/, /z/, /s/, /y/
Week 11-Focus on Short O
Week 12-Focus on Long U, and over lap of the sound picture EW
Week 13-Word analysis lesson 5 and focus on the sound /l/, and /k/
Week 14-Focus on the consonant sounds /d/, /g/, /m/, /f/
Week 15-Focus on the consonant sounds /n/, /w/, /j/, /v/

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🌟Level 4 is for learners who have mastered the advanced code and are ready for attacking multi-syllable words. A specific process is taught for breaking longer words down into smaller chunks to make them easier to read and spell. (6 week class)

Note: This method teaches students to use “chunks” to sound out long words. A “chunk” is similar to syllables in that each chunk includes one vowel sound but I do not refer to them as syllables as we do not follow strict syllable rules to accomplish the task. Breaking words into syllables between two letters that represent one sound like in pil-low causes confusion for emerging readers who think they need to make two separate /l/ sounds. The sound goes into one chunk or the other, not both. Breaking words into syllables like the example above is now an obsolete practice due to technology wrapping words from the end of one line, to the beginning of the next. 

Level 4 Continues with instruction in “special endings”. The Phono-graphix program refers to special endings as chunks that normally occur at the ends of words that don’t sound out correctly like: -tion, -sion, -cious, -xious, -sure, -sia. Knowing these special endings is like knowing an irresistible shortcut for sounding out longer words. Knowing that the -tion in “convention” sounds like /shun/ saves students all the time of trying to sound out /t/, /i/, /o/, /n/ when those sounds don’t blend together to make /shun/ as pronounced in the word. 

📝 After completing Levels 1-4, I recommend students take my “Daily Skills Practice with Reading, Spelling, and Grammar” in order to apply and practice all the reading skills and the word attack strategies learned in this series of flex classes. The “Daily Skills Practice with Reading, Spelling, and Grammar” class is offered in an ongoing-live format, as well as a flex class. If you do not see a time /day listed for this class that fits your needs, please reach out to me as I may be able to open another time slot, or know of a spot coming available soon. This is my most popular class and I am more than happy to accommodate new learners.

Please see the listings for Levels 1 and 2 of this class if you feel your child is not ready for this level class. 

phonics, decoding, spelling, phonemic awareness, digraphs, vowel teams, multi-sensory