This course is the first in what I hope will be a series of structured literacy courses. My goal is to create a three-year progression that builds deep phonics and spelling knowledge over time. If you're looking for your child to continue developing even more advanced skills, I plan to offer the next level of this course during the 2026-2027 school year.
Abbreviated Scope & Sequence
This course follows a structured, systematic approach to phonics, progressing from foundational skills to more advanced concepts. The focus is on understanding the "why" behind spelling rules, not just memorizing patterns, so students can confidently apply their knowledge in reading and writing.
📌 Foundational Skills
✔ Letter sounds & consonant-vowel relationships
✔ Short vowels & closed syllables
✔ Blends & digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh, ck, etc.)
✔ Bonus letters (ff, ll, ss, zz)
✔ Joined Sounds: "all" words, nasals (an, am), and digraph blends (ng, nk)
📌 Vowel-Consonant-e (V-e) Pattern
✔ Silent e (VCe) words & long vowel patterns
✔ The jobs of "e" (silent e does more than make vowels long!)
📌 Vowel Teams & R-Controlled Patterns
✔ Long vowel teams (ai, oa, ee, ie, etc.)
✔ R-controlled vowels (ar, er, ir, or, ur)
✔ Diphthongs & variant vowels (oi/oy, ou/ow, au/aw, etc.)
✔ Open syllables & vowel-consonant-e patterns
📌 Advanced Phonics & Spelling Rules
✔ Start understanding Schwa sounds & unstressed syllables
✔ Start understanding Soft c/g & other spelling generalizations
✔ Tricky heart words (high-frequency words with irregular spellings)
✔ Suffixes & Base Words
✔ Consonant-le syllables (table, little, gentle)
✔ The 7 syllable types and syllable division rules
📌 Historical & Etymological Context
Although we will NOT deep dive into these topics, we will be touching on them throughout the course as we come across words that are impacted by historical and etymological context.
✔ Why words are spelled the way they are—how English incorporates Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and Greek origins
✔ Influence of borrowed words from other languages
✔ Patterns in word origins that explain tricky spellings
Throughout the course, students will learn why words are spelled the way they are, developing a deep understanding of phonics rules that strengthen both reading and spelling skills.
The skills we develop by recognizing patterns and decoding and encoding words will not only significantly support spelling, but will help build fluency and comprehension. When students learn to think about words as they read, they can read more smoothly, understand texts better, and become confident, independent readers. Sounding out words instead of guessing allows the brain to focus on the meaning of the text, making reading more enjoyable and meaningful! 📖✨