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Phonics Instruction Simplified - PLUS A FREEBIE!!


The phonics debate is in full-swing.  I think they are calling it "the science of reading" now, and the idea of "balanced literacy" is taking a beating.  I taught first grade for 17 years using what I would call a balanced literacy approach, and yes, PHONICS was a critical element of my daily reading program.  I am rather shocked at the assumption that primary teachers are not teaching phonics, because that is not what I witness in my role as an early literacy coach.  I also do not believe a phonics program is the magical silver bullet that is going to fix the literacy crisis in our country.   I really think the problem is much bigger than that.  But I digress....

The point of this post is to help you to see that phonics instruction, although really important to the success of our early readers, is not rocket science.  It involves a few important success factors that can be easily incorporated into your daily literacy routines.  Let me be clear:


  • YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE TRAINED IN THE ORTON GILLINGHAM METHOD.  
  • YOU DO NOT NEED TO PURCHASE AN EXPENSIVE PROGRAM.  
  • YOU DO NOT NEED TO PRINT OUT A LOT OF PHONICS WORKSHEETS!  
  • YOU DO NOT NEED TO SPEND AN HOUR EVERY DAY TEACHING PHONICS.
This post is based on the latest research-based practices in literacy instruction, and the brilliant work of Wiley Blevins, who has spent his entire career helping to clarify best practice in phonics instruction.  I highly recommend his latest book, A Fresh Look at Phonics, which outlines critical success factors for phonics instruction, as well as common causes of phonics instruction failure.


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