A Fresh Look at Phonics, Grades K-2

Section 1: The Key Ingredients for Phonics Success Success Ingredient 1: Readiness Skills Background and Key Characteristics Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success Common Instructional Pitfalls Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices Next Steps to Leap Forward Success Ingredient 2: Scope and Sequence Background and Key Characteristics Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success Common Instructional Pitfalls Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices Next Steps to Leap Forward Success Ingredient 3: Blending Background and Key Characteristics Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success Common Instructional Pitfalls Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices Next Steps to Leap Forward Success Ingredient 4: Dictation Background and Key Characteristics Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success Common Instructional Pitfalls Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices Next Steps to Leap Forward Success Ingredient 5: Word Awareness Activities (Word Building and Word Sorts) Background and Key Characteristics Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success Common Instructional Pitfalls Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices Next Steps to Leap Forward Success Ingredient 6: High-Frequency Words Background and Key Characteristics Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success Common Instructional Pitfalls Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices Next Steps to Leap Forward Success Ingredient 7: Reading Connected Text Background and Key Characteristics Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success Common Instructional Pitfalls Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices Next Steps to Leap Forward Plus One More Essential Success Ingredient: You! Section 2: 10 Common Causes of Phonics Instruction Failure Introduction Reason 1: Inadequate or Nonexistent Review and Repetition The Problem How to Fix It Reason 2: Lack of Application to Real Reading and Writing Experiences The Problem How to Fix It Reason 3: Inappropriate Reading Materials to Practice Skills The Problem How to Fix It Reason 4: Ineffective Use of the Gradual Release Model The Problem How to Fix It Reason 5: Too Much Time Lost During Transitions The Problem How to Fix It Reason 6: Limited Teacher Knowledge of Research-Based Phonics Routines and Linguistics The Problem How to Fix It Reason 7: Inappropriate Pacing of Lessons The Problem How to Fix It Reason 8: No Comprehensive or Cumulative Mastery Assessment Tools The Problem How to Fix It Reason 9: Transitioning to Multisyllabic Words Too Late The Problem How to Fix It Reason 10: Overdoing It (Especially Isolated Skill Work) The Problem How to Fix It Closing Thoughts References