Video

This video shows what we did to teach kids the letters m, n, and r. It's a fun-focused way to introduce letters to young children. Note that we focus on sounds, letter formations, and PA (hearing the sounds within words)

In this video, we can observe an English language learning student use Dr. Christina Williams' Dynamic Dictionary to find the word teacher. Leaning on what he knows about how words work, he sifts through dozens of words to find the word he wants to use in his writing. See Dr. Williams' video called Dynamic Dictionary to see how it works.

Watch the coaching that helped to move this reader forward with his accuracy and comprehension. If your students look at you as they're reading, they're compensating and are NOT leaning on the code to read the words on the page. Redirect to the text. Remind them of the phonics rules (of thumb) that you've taught them. Offer reminders about the rules, but do not hint at what the word might say. ...

How to promote phonemic awareness in Writers Workshop

A y at the end of a longer word usually says /ee/,

Bossy r, usually bosses o’s when following w’s!

Open vowel y When you have a short little word that ends with a y, the y usually says /I/.

Learn about the phonics -focused Foundations for Literacy kits available at our West Chester location. Kit 2 is shown, here. That’s Magic e, o-o x 2, a-r, o-w x 2 o-u, o-r

Inside Book Bums and a peek at the Foundations for Literacy Two kit.

A peek inside of the West Chester Book Bums and inside the Foundations for Literacy II kit.

Submission from Dr. Christy Williams for OCTELA 2021

Dr. Christy Williams shares a bit about the challenges for teachers when changing to teaching kids to read using explicit, systematic phonics.

Foundations for Literacy 1 handwriting, week 1

Foundations for Literacy 1.2 alphabet

Foundations for Literacy 2.3 a-r

Foundations for Literacy 1.1 PA

Foundations for Literacy 2.1 Magic e

Foundations for Literacy 2.5 o-r

Foundations for Literacy 3.3 Two Vowels Together

Foundations for Literacy 2.4 ow & ou

Foundations for Literacy 2.2 oo x 2

Foundations for Literacy 1.4 Making Words

Foundations for Literacy 1.5 digraphs

Foundations for Literacy 1.3 short vowels

Foundations for Literacy 3.1 a-w & a-u

Foundations for Literacy 3.2 Bossy r

Foundations for Literacy 4.1 o-i & o-y

Foundations for Literacy 3.5 a-l

Foundations for Literacy 4.5 Flip Flops