Implementation Guidelines

Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself is used as a supplement for mainstream K–3 students or for remediation in K–6. The following is an abbreviated implementation timeline. A full timeline is also available. Overall, the amount of time teachers need to spend teaching any concept should be based on the ability of their students to master that concept; this information is presented only as a guide.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten students study Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself up through the teaching of blends. It is suggested that 30 minutes per day be allowed, perhaps broken into two 15-minute segments. In addition to learning phonics and phonemic awareness, your students will be acquiring handwriting, listening, reading, and language arts skills.

First Grade

First grade students should spend 60–90 minutes per day on Discover Intensive Phonics instruction, which incorporates not only phonics skills but also reading, spelling, handwriting, creative writing, vocabulary development, grammar, problem-solving, and listening skills. Divide the time into three 30-minute segments, using at least one half-hour for games and activities in the reinforcement of phonics, reading, and creative writing skills. Enrichment Activities are listed at the end of each lesson. This program can be adapted to your current reading series as a support system.

Second Grade

Second grade students should spend 30-45 minutes per day learning and reviewing concepts with specific emphasis on decoding multi-syllabic words. Quickly review consonant-vowel slides, word formation, and blends in Volume One. It will serve as a diagnostic to determine if any individual student needs extra help with a specific skill. If he/she does, use the computer courseware, volunteers, teacher’s aides, or parents to assist. If the entire class is confronted with a problem, take time to correct it, because the alphabetic code is essential to good reading. Move to Volume Two as soon as possible, and continue instruction to the end of the course.

Third Grade

Because they have extensive background in letter names and sounds by now, third grade students spend just 30 minutes per day with the program. Third graders review and solidify the phonics skills taught in Volume Two, beginning with the Five Phonetic Skills. Increased time is spent teaching grammar skills, parts of speech, and exceptions found in Section 13.

Fourth through Sixth Grades, Remediation, and Special Education

Direct Instruction and computer software can be combined to meet the needs of at-risk students. The amount of direct instruction time devoted depends on available teacher time. See Reading Horizons implementation guidelines for software suggestions.