Teach effective phonics using explicit, systematic instruction and practice. Students must learn to match a unit of sound (a phoneme) to the letter or letters that make the sound (a grapheme). Separating the written word into its individual sounds and blending the individual sounds of letters to make words is the foundation of reading.
Phonics instruction is greatly enhanced when it provides ample opportunity for students to practice the sound/symbol relationships they have been taught. Practice with Raz-Plus resources includes reading word lists and phrases, as well as continuous text in books and stories.
How to Use Phonics Resources
When using each set of resources for phonics instruction, you should first introduce and teach the sound and symbol relationship and then allow opportunities for practice with books, worksheets, flashcards, and for writing the symbol and using it in spelling. Use the Phonics Assessments to monitor students' progress in order to focus and differentiate your instruction for each student.
Other Phonics Resources
Use Alphabet Books,
Sound/Symbol Books, and
Read-Aloud Books combination
to make vital connections between letters and sounds to support key
phonics skills. In addition to Decodable Books & Phonics Lessons activities,
Leveled Books
from levels aa–P also contain a phonics activity in their lesson plan.
Word Sorts focused on particular
letters or sounds can also help students classify words according
to the sound and symbol relationships taught.