Many parents find themselves pondering a common dilemma: “Why can my child speak fluently yet struggle with reading? Why is the process so challenging?” While speaking comes naturally, reading is unnatural and requires guidance. Thus, learning can be tricky and frustrating for kids facing reading challenges. Out of all the ways to help kids learn to read, phonics is a key part of early reading education.
Phonics Program at SSIS
At SSIS, we emphasize literacy from an early age by initiating explicit phonics instruction in Kindergarten. We implement the UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) program from Kindergarten to grade 2, a systematic approach to phonics instruction that enables students to develop essential decoding skills. By Kindergarten, most 5-to-6-year-olds’ language skills are developing, making it an ideal time to connect sounds with letters.
Goals and Assessments
In Early Years we have two specific goals:
(1) At least 90% of students will be ready to read in English by the end of kindergarten
(2) that every student shows growth on all phonics indicators from their benchmark assessments
We use the CORE phonics survey to initially assess students’ understanding of letter-sound relationships and basic phonics skills. After the CORE phonics survey, we monitor weekly progress by assessing encoding with UFLI.
Our Kindergarten teachers have diligently worked to standardize the program implementation by developing and improving their phonetic understanding. We are committed to executing our phonics program with the highest level of integrity, ensuring that every student receives the best possible foundation in reading.
Play-Based Learning
Maintaining a fun and engaging learning environment is essential. Dr. Anaya, the Elementary Assistant Principal who also teaches the phonics class every week, shared his thoughts: ” Rather than implying that play and learning are separate by labeling the experience “play-based,” we should recognize their interdependence in cultivating fun, engaging experiences. In my classroom specifically, I gamify the learning. The idea is to immerse students in an interactive experience with lots of manipulation and movement—learning is play when it’s fun!”
