Suggested Age

5 – 7 years

Prerequisites

None

Purpose

The purpose of this class is to introduce students to the basic building blocks of our written language, so they may enjoy reading and writing independently. Specifically, we will:

• Introduce the 70 basic phonograms that make up all words
• Instruct in the use of phonogram knowledge to sound out and read words
• Develop neat penmanship by practicing writing strokes, sounds, and words

The One Day Academy phonics program is heavily based upon Romalda Spalding’s The Writing Road to Reading and Wanda Sanseri’s Spell to Write and Read and Teaching Reading at Home and School. This approach is based on the idea that students can read words that they can spell and have interacted with on multiple sensory levels.

In addition, we assign weekly word families for students to practice as well as “sight words,” many of which follow the regular phonics and spelling rules. Early mastery is encouraged, since these words are seen very often seen.

Success with this approach to reading, writing, and spelling depends upon parents’ daily interaction with students: practicing phonograms and sight words, writing phonograms, reading word lists and eventually spelling every day. Phonogram sounds, sight words, and handwriting strokes will be introduced for parents to practice with student each day.

Curriculum &Texts, available at www.pahlowsenglish.com

• Phonics 1 Course Workbook, by Sarah Hulsey (for use at home)
• 1 set of Spalding Phonogram Cards (available at www.pahlowsenglish.com)