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Phonics, Reading and Literature Curriculum

Reading Readiness and Movable Alphabets


Many reading readiness programs fail to include or suggest one of the most valuable tools for helping children learn letters and sounds--movable alphabets. A movable alphabet consists of letters of the alphabet —plastic, wooden, posterboard, magnetic, sandpaper, felt, etc. It is very helpful to have vowels in a different color than consonants to demonstrate the special role vowels play. Following are reviews of two movable alphabets.

Phonics Programs

Featured resource

First Start Reading

First Start Reading (FSR) is an intensive phonics, introductory course that begins with letters and sounds and continues through short vowel words. It also teaches manuscript printing, but you can delay that instruction if a child does not yet have the small motor coordination required. FSR is intended for kindergarten, but first graders who have not yet learned their phonograms could start here too. Read full review

Beginning Readers

Phonics Workbooks

Readers and Literature for grades 1-8

Literature for High School

Reading Comprehension and Skills Supplements

Reading comprehension skills are best handled with oral questions to ensure comprehension at early levels. Until a child is reading about 100 words a minute, his comprehension is usually not very good, so do not be overly concerned if a younger child is concentrating on decoding and not doing very well on comprehension.

If you choose not to use a complete reading program (with readers and workbooks), but use either real books or readers without companion workbooks, you might wish to supplement reading with comprehension activities by using one or more of the following books.

Novel and Play Study Guides

Games, Supplements and Other Helps

How to Choose Literature/Reading Books and Booklists