Does your child know how to read CVC words, such as bed, pig, and hot? If so, your learner is likely ready to learn consonant blends and digraphs! (If your child has difficulty sounding out CVC words, I have another class that may be better suited for your learner: Phonics FUNdamentals: Blend, Read, & Write CVC Words with Word Families)  

In this twice weekly, 14-week course, we will learn to blend, read and write words with consonant blends and digraphs, as well as CVCC (consonant-vowel-consonant-consonant) words. We will use a systematic approach while incorporating a variety of multisensory techniques and fun activities! A few sight words will be included along the way. 

We will start by doing a fun phonemic awareness activity to help us to hear the target sound, such as singing a silly song or doing a funny chant.

Next, we will review each sound in the word, dramatizing each one. For example, we will “fan” ourselves while making the /f/ sound and “lick” an imaginary lollipop while making the /l/ sound. We will practice writing the letters in the air.  

Next, we will do hands-on activities as we sound out each phoneme (each sound in the word) and blend them together. Some examples of these activities are:

- Press in a bubble in a popper toy for each phoneme; for example: /m/ [pop!], /a/ [pop!], /n/ [pop!].

- On a handout (provided) showing rows of boxes, I will demonstrate how to slide a token into a separate box for each phoneme; for example: /s/ (slide). /i/ (slide), /t/ (slide). Please note: The learners are not required to do this activity alongside me. While I am sharing my 2nd camera, it is difficult for me to see whether your child is doing this correctly or not. However, if a parent or other helper is available to supervise, your child would love to play along! (Please remember that per Outschool policy, parents must stay off camera while helping.) 

- After sliding a magnetic token to each phoneme box, we use a magnetic wand to “zap” the word. (The students LOVE this!) 

- Tap on a different part of our arm as we say each phoneme, then “wipe” our arm quickly as we say the word

Every class has fun, different activities! For example, we might:

- Clap every time someone says a word beginning with "cl-"
- Hear a funny Jack story as we learn the "-ack" family
- Sing and act out a song as we learn "-all" words such as all, fall, and ball. 

Each class will feature a slide show presentation illustrating the phonemes and words we are studying.

Every learner will be given chances to speak, demonstrate, and read throughout class.

After some classes, learners will be provided with an e-book to practice. I have written these books and other materials especially for this class so the students can get as much practice as possible. Each lively and engaging e-book features one or more word families/phonics patterns. Kids love reading them again and again! By the end of the course, your child will own a large library of e-books valued at more than $100! 

There will occasionally be bonus resources provided along the way, such as printable puppets and activity sheets.

Over the 14 weeks, we will be reviewing, learning, and practicing dozens of different phonics patterns: 

Week 1
     - Review short a word families: -ad, -am, -an, -ap, -at
     - Review short e word families: -ed, -en, -et
Week 2
     - Review short i word families: -ig, -in, -ip
     - Review short o word families: -og, -op, -ot
     - Review short u word families: -ug, -un
Week 3
     - -all word family
     - -off/-uff word families
Week 4
     - -ell word family
     - -oll/-ill word families
Week 5
     - pass, bass, etc. word family
     - -ess word family
Week 6
     - -iss/-uss word families
     - -azz/-izz/-uzz word families
Week 7
     - -ack word family
     - -eck/-ick word families
Week 8
     - -ock word family
     - -uck word family
Week 9
     - sm- and sp- blends
     - sn- and st- blends
Week 10
     - bl- and cl- blends
     - fl- and gl- blends
Week 11
     - pl- and sl- blends
     - cr- and pr- blends
Week 12
     - br- and fr- blends
     - dr- and gr- blends
Week 13
     - CVCC word families: -act, -amp, -and, and -ant
     - CVCC word families: -end, -ept, -est, -elt, -elk
Week 14
     - CVCC word families: -imp, -isk, -ilt, -ind, -ift
     - CVCC word families: -ost, -oft, -ont, -ond, -olf, -ump, -unt

Your learner will have so much fun learning to read! I hope to see your learner in class!

Mrs. Laura