Module 5: Reading Reflection

Where does phonics instruction fit within a comprehensive literacy program? When and how would you teach phonics?

I think that phonics is something that can be integrated in many places of a comprehensive literacy program. I do not feel that phonics should be isolated and taught alone. Phonics can be a part of read-alouds, shared reading, and guided reading groups. Students can also apply and practice the phonics skills that they already know during sustained reading. During writing workshop, phonics can be reinforced here as well during write-aloud, shared writing, guided writing, and conference time.

This school year, I will be teaching first grade again. Our entire team sets aside 5 to 10 minutes in the morning where we sing some phonics songs. After this, phonics is integrated into reading and writing. I feel that in the beginning, having the brief time to practice phonics skills is appropriate. This year, I would like to pull back the amount of time spent on phonics as a separate component, and I want to work more on integrate phonics into reading. I would really like to focus on phonics during guided reading groups. Here, I will be able to differentiate. My higher leveled groups may not need any extra phonics practice, but my lower groups may need to have more reinforcement. We are receiving a new curriculum this year for reading, so I am interested in the resources that it will provide and hope that it has some ideas for integrating phonics as part of the reading program, and not specifically isolating phonics on its own.