What is UFLI Foundations? 

UFLI Foundations is an explicit and systematic program created by the team at the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI—pronounced “you fly”). The program introduces students to the foundational reading skills necessary for proficient reading. It follows a carefully developed scope and sequence designed to ensure that students systematically acquire each skill needed and learn to apply each skill with automaticity and confidence. 

The program is designed to be used for core instruction in the primary grades or for intervention with struggling students in any grade. How does it work? UFLI Foundations provides teachers with detailed but easy to follow lesson plans that follow this eight-step routine: 

1. Phonemic Awareness 

2. Visual Drill 

3. Auditory Drill 

4. Blending Drill 

5. New Concept 

6. Word Work 

7. Irregular Words 

8. Connected Text 

Steps 1 through 4 serve as a warm-up and review of previously taught concepts. Step 5 is an explicit introduction to a new concept, including guided practice reading and spelling words. Steps 6 through 8 are opportunities to apply concepts through reading and writing activties at the word and text level.

UFLI Parent Resource HUB can be found here: https://ufli.education.ufl.edu/resources/parent/