UFLI Phonics Focus
This week we will be getting to know some of our UFLI materials as we review how to properly form the letters t,b,f, n,m,i,u, c and o.
As we dive into our phonics and writing review, we will be using special line terms to help your kiddo form their letters correctly and confidently!
When we practice handwriting, we refer to the handwriting grid using these four lines:
Sky Line (Top line): Where tall letters start (like b, t, and f).
Plane Line (Middle dashed line): Where many lowercase letters start or touch (like n, m, and i).
Grass Line (Bottom line): The baseline where most letters sit.
Worm Line (Line below the grass): Where "tail" letters drop down below the baseline (like g, p, and q).
How you can support at home: When your kiddo practices writing at home, try using these terms to help prompt them! Asking questions like "Does that letter start at the Sky Line or the Plane Line?" or "Does its tail reach down to the Worm Line?" is a great way to reinforce proper letter stroke habits.
UFLI Overview
In first grade, we use UFLI Foundations for our phonics lessons. Each lesson follows a consistent structure to support our kiddos as they grow into confident readers.
Here’s what a typical UFLI lesson looks like:
🔄 Review – Practice previously learned sounds, letters, and words.
✨ New Skill – Introduce a new sound-spelling pattern.
📖 Word Reading – Blend sounds together to read new words.
♥️Words- We will get a set of sight words/heart words each week. These are words that do not follow a spelling pattern so we have to know them by heart 🙂
📝 Spelling & Dictation – Practice writing words and sentences with the new pattern.
📚 Connected Text – Read sentences or short passages to apply the new skill in context.
This routine helps build confidence and gives every kiddo the tools they need to become strong, successful readers! I will also be updating our classroom website each week with our current UFLI focus, so we are all on the same page and you can have meaningful conversations with your kiddo at home. 😊
Wonders
This week we will in in week 2 of “Smart Start”. Below are the details of what we will be covering over this week! Each lesson and material we read will all be connected to our Essential Question each week!
Big Idea
Develop a love for reading and thinking about reading.
Essential Question
What can you imagine?
Genre
Fairy Tales: fairy tales are a kind of folktale that tells a story of good versus bad and has magical and imaginary elements.
Reading Skill
Reread: read the text again to gain understanding or get more information.
Ask and answer questions: ask questions before, during, and after reading to help better understand the text.
Characters: the people or animals in stories
Vocabulary
