Teaching Phonics & Word Recognition: The What
Phonics instruction involves teaching students the relationships between letters and sounds. Students use knowledge of letter-sound relationships to sound out (decode) written words accurately. This module provides information about the components of strong phonics instruction as well as the parts and pieces that do not fit into strong phonics instruction (est. completion time: 3 hours).
Prerequisites
Completion of The Why of Teaching Phonics & Word Recognition (Part 1) comprehensive learning module. Taking courses in the recommended order helps you build a strong foundation in important concepts and practices related to teaching phonics and word recognition.
Module Description
This module is the second part of a five-part series on Teaching Phonics and Word Reading Instruction. Part 2, the “what” of phonics instruction, focuses on the practices and components that exemplify explicit and systematic phonics instruction. In this module, you will learn about effective instructional techniques, reflect upon your current practice, and evaluate how well your reading program aligns with research on effective reading instruction.
The following topics are discussed in the text, linked resources, embedded audio, and video:
- The elements of explicit and systematic instruction
- A phonics scope and sequence
- Quality texts for reading practice
- An explicit phonics lesson sequence
- The importance of using research-aligned instructional materials
Although this module will likely be most helpful for K-3 educators, educators in all grades and content areas may find this module to be beneficial.
This module aligns with the following recommendations in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Practice Guide – Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade:
- Recommendation 2: Develop awareness of the segments of sounds in speech and how they link to letters
- Recommendation 3: Teach students to decode words, analyze word parts and write and recognize words
- Recommendation 4: Ensure that each student reads connected text every day to support reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension
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