Simple Daily Phonics Routine


If you are teaching phonics on your own, consistency is going to be key.  Having a consistent routine like the one can help keep you on track (and can help make planning easier, inshaa Allah).

1. Introduce the Phonogram

  • Show the phonogram, say the phonogram name and give its sound - have student repeat the sound (several times)
  • Show student word list of words that contain the phonogram; read the words, have student read the words
  • Have student trace or write the phonogram several times; have student say the sound the phonogram makes as he/she traces or writes.

2. Sound Practice

  • Have student identify words that start with or contain the phonogram
    • Give student a worksheet or other activity where pictures are shown and they must circle/identify which words start with or have the phonogram in them. 
    • You can alternatively call out words and student must tell you (or alternatively trace/write the phonogram) when a word contains the phonogram.

3. Reading Practice - Words

  • Have student read the words several times (I like to make a gameboard or ladder and write the words in the gameboard spaces or rungs of a ladder so it doesn't feel so much like a drill to read the words).

4. Reading Practice - Sentences

  • Have student read sentences that have words that contain the phonogram.

5. Spelling (optional)

  • Have student sort the word list (for example, by the short vowel it contains, number of letters, etc to give students face time with the words.
  • Have student alphabetize the words (to give students more face time with the words)
  • Have student complete a word search or crossword puzzle (again, for more facetime)
  • Give student dictation on the words (another way is to give student the definition or clue for the word and they must write the word from their list that matches)

6. Sentence Writing

  • Have student compose sentences with the words on their word list (can break up into more than one day if the list is long). You might give student a theme to write around for motivation. Try to have student use varied sentences (statements, questions, commands, exclamations). You can have student pick out the subject and predicate of their sentences, parts of speech, etc for grammar review. If you've just worked on a particular grammar concept, have your student incorporate that into their sentences.

7. Craft (optional)

  • Make a craft that is related to a word that contains the phonograms (and incorporate words that fit the  phonogram pattern on the craft; example, if learning the phonogram "p" make a construction paper pizza craft, the words that contain the phonogram could be written on paper pepperonis.)

Tips:

Begin each session with review of previous phonograms (can be as simple as using flashcards) and end each session with review of the current phonogram (can be as simple as having student tell the sound the phonogram makes)

If student needs more than 1 day with a phonogram, use the routine over again substituting in new activities to keep it fresh.

With this routine, you are hitting many areas each time: sound recognition, sight recogntion, reading, spelling, writing, grammar, and listening.