-recognize letters and sounds
-recognize and apply basic phonics sound patterns and rules (digraphs, diphthongs, 
suffixes, final stable syllables, spelling rules, various ways to spell vowel sound)
-blend and segment words
-apply knowledge of letters and sounds to read new words
-recognize essential sight words
-spell simple words using the phonics components

I have been a public school elementary teacher for over 20 years.  In that time, I taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade reading.  I have taught phonics skills to hundreds of students over the years.  Teaching reading and phonics is a passion I have and I will use activities and strategies in this class that have proven to be effective in helping students improve their reading ability over the years.