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Systematic phonics instruction is a valuable and essential part of a successful classroom reading program. National Reading Panel, 2000






These books have filled a large gap in our reading programme. They fit beautifully with our phonics-based reading and word building.
 Joy Ribbans; second grade; Century Montessori School; Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada




Phonics
A balanced reading program includes direct and explicit instructional strategies for teaching phonemic awareness and phonics. The Reading A-Z program provides instructional resources for teaching the sounds and symbols of language and their relationships to one another. Sounds and their corresponding symbols are taught in a series of lesson plans using various strategies and aided by flashcards and worksheets. Students are given an opportunity to practice what they have been taught in a series of decodable books that are aligned to lessons which are: 

  • Systematic
  • Direct, with explicit instructions
  • Provide word manipulation practice
  • Provide blending and segmenting practice

Lessons
Lessons follow a prescribed sequence; they are systematic. They are explicit in that each of the 68 lessons spells out what should be done in each instructional session. The lessons are organized according to the following sequence: 

Each lesson begins with tips for introducing and teaching phonemic awareness, or the sound. The symbol is introduced and connected to the sound using various teaching techniques. Students are given an opportunity to write the symbol and use it in spelling.

When appropriate, high-frequency words and word families are taught.

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Worksheets
Each lesson is accompanied by a set of worksheets to reinforce:
  • Phonemic awareness
  • Sound/symbol relationships

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Flashcards
The use of a variety of flashcards are incorporated into the lessons, such as:

  • Picture cards for phonemic awareness
  • Letter cards for word building and blending/segmenting activities
  • Word family (phonogram) cards
  • Decodable word cards
  • High-frequency word cards

Suggested strategies for using the cards are written into each lesson.

Phonogram Flashcards
Phonogram Flashcards are available for use in teaching word building. Six flashcards accompany each of the five short vowel lessons.

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Decodable Books
Students need practice decoding the sound/symbol relationships they have been taught. The Decodable Books provide an opportunity for students to read continuous text in a story and book format while confronting words that have the phonics elements they have been taught. The decodable books also expose children to high-frequency words.

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Read-Aloud Books
Read-Aloud Books each target a specific sound. These books are an excellent accompaniment to any phonics lesson that corresponds to a particular book's target sound. The books are also a good way to build critical phonemic awareness skills.

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Sound/Symbol Books
Sound/Symbol Books present some of the sound and symbol relationships introduced in the Reading A-Z phonics lessons. These books target:
  • Initial consonants
  • Long and short vowels
  • Consonant blends and digraphs
  • Vowel digraphs and diphthongs

Sound/Symbol Books can also be used as stand-alone reinforcements of important sound/symbol relationships that lead to successful decoding. Students can use the last page in the book to draw an object and then label the object by using a word containing the featured sound/symbol relationship. And, as with all Reading A-Z books, each student can have her or his own copy to take home and read.

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