Literacy Resources

Literacy Essentials

The journey from spelling to reading

How Literacy Essentials Works

Our phonics program begins with spelling, teaching students to encode (write) spoken words using phonograms—symbols representing sounds. By learning the 72 phonograms, students match sounds to symbols, enabling them to spell words correctly. Reading naturally follows as students decode the words they’ve learned to spell.

What Sets Our Program Apart

• Spelling is taught explicitly with rules, not by memorizing lists.

• Spelling tests assess understanding of phonics, not rote memorization.

• Parents may find our symbols and methods unfamiliar, but they are essential to mastering literacy systematically.

How Parents Can Help

1. Read Aloud: Share quality children’s literature with your child.

2. Encourage Reading: Have your child read aloud to you and provide gentle corrections.

3. Stay Engaged: Communicate with teachers about concerns.

4. Observe: Volunteer in the classroom or observe literacy instruction in action.

5. Support a Growth Mindset: Reinforce that literacy takes effort and perseverance.

What We Do and Don’t Do

We DO:

• Teach phonograms and spelling rules.

• Link spelling to reading for deeper understanding.

• Focus on writing (encoding) before reading (decoding).

We DON’T:

• Practice sight words or memorize spelling lists.

• Use letter names over sounds.

• Send spelling lists home for practice.