🌟 This class focuses on phonics, phonemic awareness, letter sounds, blends, segmenting, decoding, VCC words, CVCC words, CCVC words, and other early reading skills.

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.

Students will use their own letter tiles or the Google Jamboard (interactive whiteboard) provided to follow the lessons. PDF letter tiles will be provided but need to be printed and cut apart by an adult before the class begins.

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

During each class meeting, students will decode and practice blending and segmenting sounds in VCC, CVCC, and CCVC words. Learners will use a wipe-off board and marker or pencil and paper to "map" the sounds on paper to write words. 

During the third class meeting, learners will have the opportunity to read sentences with the words they've mastered over the week. Every learner will have an opportunity to read and participate, however, they also have the option to pass. Please communicate the level of participation you expect from your child to the teacher before class. Participation at one's own comfort level is respected.

Visual aids, props, intermittent games, and slides will be used. Please be advised that this class uses a multi-sensory approach to learning to read, however, singing is NOT an activity used in this class. The main focus of the class is for students to learn reading skills, experience reading and spelling VCC, CVCC, and CCVC words, and gain confidence in reading sentences with these words.

📝Word lists used in this class make great spelling lists. Once this level is completed, learners will be ready to enroll in my 1st-grade spelling class. 

After completing this four-week class, learners are encouraged to continue with the Phono-graphix course by enrolling in Levels 3 and 4.

🗓Topic schedule:
Week 1-VCC words (Vowel-Consonant-Consonant pattern)
Week 2-CVCC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant-Consonant pattern)
Week 3-CCVC (Consonant-Consonant-Vowel-Consonant pattern)
Week 4-Mixed review with word reading and sentence reading practice.

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🌟 Level 3 is for learners who have mastered the blending, segmenting, and phoneme manipulation of Level 2 words and are ready to learn the “advanced code” as explained above. Learners do not need to complete Levels 1 and 2 before taking Level 3 if the family is confident they can read CVC, VCC, CCVC, and CVCC words proficiently.

In Level 3, students will learn digraphs like sh, th, ch, ck, wh, ph, gh, etc. As well as vowel teams like ea, ou, au, ai, oi, etc. They will also learn combinations of vowels and consonants that represent one sound like -igh, -aigh, -ough, -eigh, etc. (15 week class)

🌟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.

❓ If you think your child is not quite ready for Level 2, I offer a Level 1 class as well. Level 1 is for learners who do not yet know all the sounds that match the letters in the alphabet. They will learn all the sounds and how to blend them together to make Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) words. Students will also learn to segment the sounds in order to spell the words they are learning to read. You can enroll in that class here: https://outschool.com/classes/level-1-phonics-based-reading-letter-sounds-decoding-blending-segmenting-M39ikD2d#usp7IL6ySc

phonics, phonemic awareness, multi-sensory, blending, segmenting, phoneme manipulation, auditory processing, spelling, decoding