Level 4 Phonics-Based Reading: Decoding and Spelling Multi-Syllable Words

🌟 This class focuses on phonics, phonemic awareness, multi-syllable words, spelling, advanced decoding skills, chunking, word work, and special endings.

🎬 This class is offered in the Self-Paced format in which all content will be delivered through videos and pdf documents. There are no live class meetings.

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 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 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. 

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 in 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. 

Students will need pencils and paper to follow the video lessons. The lessons can be repeated as many times as needed in order to master the skills taught. 

Word lists are provided in a pdf format for families to use in order to support their learners. 

Once learners have completed each video lesson, they are expected to post a response to the weekly progress questions posted on the classroom page. Creative sentences, drawings, or video responses to the progress questions are great ways for learners to share what they’ve learned with each other!

Word lists used in the videos make great spelling lists. Once this level is completed, learners will be ready to enroll in my 3rd, 4th, or 5th-grade spelling classes.

After completing this 6-week class, learners are encouraged to enroll in my Reading Fluency, Multi-syllable Decoding, Vocabulary, and Comprehension class to apply their newly learned skills and knowledge.

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If you feel your child is not quite ready for this level, please see my listings for Levels 1, 2, and 3.

📝 After completing Levels 1-4, I recommend students take my “Daily Skills Practice with Reading, Spelling, and Grammar” class to apply and practice all the reading skills and the word attack strategies learned in this series of phonics-based classes. The “Daily Skills Practice with Reading, Spelling, and Grammar” class is offered in an ongoing-live format, and Self-Paced 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.