Fundations Phonics is the systematic phonics program we use at Goldwood. This is how your child learns to read!  A family letter will be sent home at the beginning of each Fundations unit that explains the unit and skills taught in more detail, along with practice pages to do at home. You can also find these linked below. If you need another copy of the parent letter, please free to email me! Here is an overview of each unit:

Unit 1 - Review each individual letter sound and structure. We focus heavily on handwriting and correct letter formation in this unit. I also integrate sign language into our lessons, so students will know the entire sign language alphabet by the end of Unit 1.

Unit 2 - Blend, read, segment, and spell three-sound (consonant-vowel-consonant, i.e dog, hut) short vowel words. Introduce "trick words"; sentence structure

Unit 3 - Teach/review digraphs wh, ch, sh, th, and ck (i.e. chip, shut). They make one sound even though there are two letters. Digraphs get one underline when marking up words.

Unit 4 - Bonus letters ff, ll, ss come at the end of a one-syllable word if the word has a short vowel (i.e. mess, puff). These letters get a star on top when marking up words. The glued sound -all is also introduced (i.e. ball, tall). This is not a bonus letter because the 'a' does not sound like a typical short a. This sound is boxed when marking up words.

Unit 5 - Introduce glued sounds -am and -an (i.e. man, ham). These sounds are boxed when marking up words.

Unit 6 - Introduce basewords and suffix -s (i.e. pets, shuts). Suffix -s can make two sounds, /s/ and /z/. The baseword is the word that is left over if suffix -s is removed. Students scoop the baseword and circle the suffix.

Unit 7 - Introduce new -ng and -nk glued sounds (ang, ing, ong, ung, ank, ink, onk, unk; i.e. honk, bang, wink).

Unit 8 - Learn the difference between blends (2 sounds) and digraphs (1 sound) (i.e. wish - 4 letters, 3 sounds vs. went  - 4 letters, 4 sounds) .

Unit 9 - Introduce closed syllables. They have one vowel, the vowel is followed by a consonant, and the vowel sound is short. It is marked with a breve. (i.e. wish, chunk, small).

Unit 10 - Students blend and segment words with up to five sounds in a closed syllable. Introduce new suffixes -ed and -ing (i.e. blending, swamped). 

Unit 11 - Vowel-consonant-E pattern (long vowels). Long vowels are marked with a macron (i.e. hope, tapes, pine).

Unit 12 - Students will learn to separate and dissect individual syllables when spelling 2 syllable words. (i.e. backpack, intent)

Unit 13 - Introduce new suffix -es. -Es is used when words end in s, x, z, sh, and ch (i.e. buses, benches)

Unit 14 - Review of all units