Episode 14: Phonics- Do’s and Don’ts
With all of the rules out there on how to teach phonics, it can all feel overwhelming. I’ve put together a reference of Do’s and Don’t’s when it comes to teaching phonics so you can feel confident in your instruction.
DO follow a scope and sequence
Ensure that the scope and sequence goes from simple concepts (letter sounds, CVC words, digraphs) to more complex concepts (vowel teams and diphthongs).
Ideally, a scope and sequence should be decided and agreed upon by your follow grade level coworkers.
Snag my scope and sequence here so you can be on your way to confident instruction!
Take a listen to Podcast #9: Letter Sounds Your Questions Answered! to have a more detailed look at what you should look for in a scope and sequence.
DO teach phonics explicitly
Be purposeful, direct, and explicit in your instruction.
Have conversations with your students about how words work.
Give students tons of opportunities to transfer this knowledge to their reading and writing.
This space is where the learning happens!
DO NOT teach phonics sporadically
We can’t teach phonics whenever time allows or when we feel like it - we must create time for it.
We can’t teach to a leveled text or random skills - we must follow a scope and sequence that’s purposeful and has direction.
DO model activities and routines for students
Model activities and routines for kids so that they know what to look for and how to do the activities.
Follow the “I Do - We Do - You Do” mindset and model.
DO NOT spend too much time the modeling
Be sure to stay in the “You Do” portion for the longest period of time.
Independent time is where the learning happens!
DO teach phonics in whole group
Whole group instruction can be effective when it comes to phonics.
This is where students are exposed to the grade-level content that they will be assessed on at the end of the year.
Not all students will “catch” everything during whole group time, but it remains beneficial.
DO take time to review
We must build time into our lesson to review previously-taught skills.
We cannot expose our students just once to material - we must keep coming back to it.
DO use manipulatives
These are great to use with blending and segmenting
Manipulatives help students learn phonics in a hands-on way.
DO NOT overuse them
If you’re finding that you’re doing a lot of switching out of materials during transitions, then tone it down.
Find some student favorites and stick to those manipulatives.
DO choose high-quality activities
High-quality activities include ones that are researched-based.
Choose ones that apply phonemic awareness, connecting sounds to symbols.
Blending/segmenting, word chaining, and phoneme-grapheme mapping are always great activities.
Apply these skills to reading through decodables and to writing through dictations.
Choose 4-5 activities and use them continuously so you and your students know what’s coming. Routine is KEY!
DO educate yourself
The knowledge that a teacher has about phonics does in fact affect his or her ability to teach it correctly.
Consider taking a basic course in phonics or reading to help you become the best teacher you can be.
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