Resources
Below are five literacy resources that provide research based instructional ideas and information about teaching phonics skills.
Below are five literacy resources that provide research based instructional ideas and information about teaching phonics skills.
This page from Reading Rockets provides an overview of the goals of phonics instruction, how phonics programs should look and what they should provide, as well as a video of a reading expert working with an early-stage reader on short vowel sounds, blending and manipulating sounds, reading whole words, and fluency. The site also provides other phonics instruction resources such as classroom strategies, professional development webcasts, research and reports, etc. The information provided by Reading Rockets supports researched-based instruction because it emphasizes the purpose of phonics and the need for students to receive explicit instruction to learn it.
This page from We Are Teachers introduces the two approaches to teaching phonics, which are incidentally and systematically. The recourse provides 5 activities including both approaches that teachers and parents can do to support their student's phonics development. These activities utilize research-based instructional strategies such as cooperative learning, movement, and hands-on learning.
The phonics section of this article includes critical information to consider when teaching phonics to English Language Learners. It also describes approaches teachers can use to teach phonics while still supporting and respecting their first language. Beyond written information, a video is provided featuring a book talk about chapter 5 "Phonics Development Among English Learners" of Literacy Foundations for English Learners by Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan. While this link takes you directly to the section on teaching phonics to English Language Learners, the rest of the article includes similar information to teaching the other 4 pillars of literacy to ELLs and book talks on other relevant chapters as well. This resource supports research-based instructional information by explaining how ELL students can transfer knowledge learned between both languages to support their overall phonics development.
This resource is a blog written by a former first grade teacher. On the page provided she discusses the purpose of phonics intervention and provides 13 strategies that teachers and parents can use for phonics intervention. Each of the strategies listed includes the purpose for using it, because each child's learning needs are unique. This blog supports research-based instruction with explanations and tips for teachers on the best ways to support students' phonics development using the strategies.
The link above will take you to a YouTube video of a whole group phonics lesson. While the teacher explains that the video was posted for parents to be able to support their students' phonics development at home, it is a great resource for teachers as well. The approach this teacher takes to give students an opportunity to practice R-Blends can be used to practice other blends, digraphs, and even CVC words. The teacher utilizes many research-based instructional strategies within the lesson that support student learning. Some of these strategies include modeling, turn-and-talk, guidance and feedback, interactive instruction, and movement.