In this ongoing 3-day a week class (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday), emerging readers* will work toward the ultimate goal of becoming an independent reader while also making friends in a cheerful classroom environment. Incoming students should already be able to recognize the letters of the alphabet and be familiar with all of their phonetic sounds at a minimum. However, the students are not expected to be able to read very many, if any, words in the beginning. Each class will continue to reinforce the phonetic sounds of the alphabet along with teaching the proper way to write upper and lowercase letters. We will also practice blending a new word family each week along with increasing the students' vocabulary by defining the words’ meaning in each family.  We will learn a group of new sight words weekly to help build a collection of words that cannot be sounded out. Sight words are both common, frequently used words and foundational words that students will use to build their reading vocabulary base. We will also read short stories together every week and answer comprehension questions related to the story. During class, students will use on-screen pictures and games to learn and practice their reading and writing. The after-class printouts** will help the students practice their reading, writing, and blending skills.  If you don’t have a printer, don’t worry, written work can be done on plain paper. Every class will end with an open free talk session that allows the children to share a favorite toy or anything else they are excited about. I always make sure that every child feels included and has the opportunity to speak in class if they are comfortable doing so.  Good listeners are always welcome too:) 

A typical class will include:
- Class greeting
- Day of the week and day's activity agenda
- Top 18 - These are the 18 most commonly used words in the English language 
- 6 new sight words (spelling, writing, reading, reading it in a printed sentence, and making up our own sentences orally with sight words. )
- Phonics (we rotate between alphabet sounds, digraphs, blends, etc.)
- CVC practice
- We usually have a theme lesson (like days of the week)
- Story Time
- Reading Comprehension related to the story.
- Story-related discussion when appropriate
- Show and Tell 


* The skill level for this class is pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. This class is also appropriate for a 1st grader who needs a little extra support. If your student can read 85% of this paragraph independently:

The kids like to play.
They play in the park.
They go down the slide and 
swing on the swings.

This class is NOT the correct placement for them. Please consider enrolling your student in my more advanced class - Learn to Read with Phonics, Sight Words, and Friends! 1st & 2nd Grade (and 3rd graders who need extra support.)  https://outschool.com/classes/learn-to-read-with-phonics-sight-words-and-friends-1st-and-2nd-grade-u4clC0gH?sectionUid=47adfb58-eac7-47fc-91b5-2ff7be996226&showDetails=true

** A weekly at-home packet will also be provided before the first class of every week so that learners can practice what they have been learning in the classroom. The after-class work is provided as an enhancement to the class, not as a homework requirement. I will leave it up to the parents' discretion if they feel their learners will benefit from the after-class activities. The extra practice will greatly help speed up the learner's reading progress.

*** Since this is an ongoing class please remember that learners enter this class at different levels. There is no beginning and no end. Additionally, if they remain in the class for a long period of time (which is typical) their skills will improve as they learn to read. Please do not compare your learners to other learners. Your learners only competition is themselves - no one else. I will do my absolute best to meet each learner at whatever level they are at and work to improve their abilities.