Module 3: Literacy Strategies Project PowerPoint

                This PowerPoint provided a lot of information about phonics. Since moving into my first grade classroom a little over a year ago and being introduced to the phonics program they use I have become even more passionate about my phonics instruction. I’m not sure how I was taught phonics as a child, but since I started teaching phonics as an adult I have felt like phonics instruction was missing or not taught effectively to me in school. I think missing the phonics link at an early age caused me to struggle more with spelling and decoding longer, difficult words when I was younger. I appreciated the point stating “Phonics instruction is best taught for two consecutive years (K/1 or 1/2). This reassured me that phonics lessons in my first-grade class are a crucial part of my instruction. I believe the phonics program I use at my school does a good job of covering all areas of phonics instruction. The way it introduces phonics patterns to the students and continues to build upon itself seems to be effective. I see my students apply what we learn in our brief phonics lessons to text during reading and writing throughout the year. Typically this instruction is enough to help the student make significant progress, but occasionally there are students who need more reinforcement and one-on-one instruction and practice. This instruction may occur during morning work or small group time. Also, depending on the skills and the level of assistance the student needs I may provide extra homework for the student and/or provide activities for the parents that can be done at home to support/strengthen the skills taught at school.