Instruction
Phonics provides systematic, explicit, and adaptive instruction. It is mastery-based and automatically differentiates instruction to be appropriate for each student. The program algorithmically controls the lessons, activities, and remediation a student receives, ensuring that each student progresses at an appropriate pace.
Each lesson starts with an instructional presentation from the reading coach and can be re-taught using an alternative instructional presentation. Between 9 and 15 different instructional presentations are available. Every lesson includes visual elements and support from a coach.
Before advancing to more complex topics, students are retested to confirm their understanding. Students who struggle with a lesson objective receive a targeted Remedial Lesson or additional Phonemic Awareness instruction (grades 1+).
Activities
After each instructional presentation, students engage in up to four activities to apply the concept taught. There are 12 activities: Build, Find, Copy, Match, Edit, Split, Spell, Join, Finish, Order, Read, and Add. These practice activities are tailored to the lesson's specific objectives.
Each unique activity requires students to select, match, or type their answers. When answered correctly, the coach gives positive feedback, and the activity proceeds to the next question. Mastery is achieved when all questions are answered correctly on the first attempt.
If a student answers incorrectly, the coach provides error-specific feedback, and the student tries again. The feedback becomes more targeted after a second incorrect attempt, giving the student a final chance. If the third attempt is incorrect, the correct answer is provided.
Pathing
Kindergarten students begin Phonological Awareness Lessons first, followed by the associated Phonics Lesson. All lessons are automatically assigned.
First-grade students begin with Phonics Lesson 1. All lessons in Phonics Set 1 are assigned.
Second-grade students and above take a pretest for the first set of lessons. The test determines what skills the student has mastered before starting the program. Lessons are assigned based on the student’s performance on the pretest.
Assessment
Pretest
When second-grade students and above start Phonics for the first time, they begin with a pretest for Set 1. Each lesson set starts with a pretest that assesses the specific skills of that set. Students are shown six words per page and asked to spell the target word, using either an on-screen or computer keyboard to submit their response.
Post-Test
When a student completes all lessons in a set, a post-test is given to assess readiness for the next level, using the same method as the pretest. Any lesson not mastered is automatically reassigned, followed by a practice activity. If the overall test score is below 80%, lessons where the student scored less than 80% are reassigned to a single activity. After mastering the reassigned lessons, the student retakes the post-test to confirm progress.
