The PHONICS Road Level One

phonics road level one curriculum
phonics road level one video

Purchase Items

Setting the Foundations

Learning to build English in the same way a carpenter learns to build a house, the Apprentice begins by learning the tools of his trade - single vowels and consonants, vowel teams and consonant teams. The Master Contractor, Barbara, with help from the Foreman, guides him through Blueprints (spelling list) as he learns to Hear-Say-Write-Read® over 500 words according to Building Codes®, singing our rules with Rule Tunes®.

Writing begins with learning the simple figures needed to form letters. He progresses from building words to writing sentences, then simple paragraphs. Spelling from writing is followed by reading complete sentences with fluency and understanding. 20 First Readers® are provided for your student to read aloud and illustrate himself - a great way to track reading comprehension in a young student.

Scope and Sequence

Testimonials

  • By week 18, my son was in love with spelling and reading. Just 18 weeks prior, he would cry if we mentioned either. The joy on his face after he reads a sentence is priceless. He reads to his older siblings and they share in his joy. He recently informed us that he used to feel ashamed of himself because he couldn’t read, but now he knows he’s not just ‘math smart’. This product is worth every penny and much, much more. - Mandy A.

  • The Phonics Road has filled in all the gaps, answered all my questions and has given me the confidence I need to continue teaching. The Phonics Road is all I need. It always bothered me that almost all the curriculum I previewed teaches reading, spelling, writing and phonics separately. I am so thankful that I found The Phonics Road! - Secily W.

  • As a stand-alone song, I thought each song would not be easy to learn. The trick is really implementing the song within the lesson. That is what really brings the song to life—using it in context with the word AND the children. For me, that has been the most fun to see as the year has progressed—the students recognizing the correct song for a word without me telling them first. - Joanne B.

  • It isn’t written in what the course offers but… as a teacher, I gained the most from Barbara’s coaching in patience and how to redirect and correct your student’s errors. Throughout the video presentations, she would give examples of errors your student may make. This was so helpful because it was expected for students to make errors and kept me from thinking the program wasn’t working when mine did. - Georgia M.

    Foreman's Construction Guide (Teacher's Blueprints)

    (Click the images below to enlarge them.)

    history english language

    A Brief History of the English Language: This 16-page article traces the unique characteristics of English spelling in a historical setting that naturally explains the need for the methodology behind The PHONICS Road curriculum.

    plot plan

    Plot Plan: Barbara systematically teaches the details of the study to your students (and you) face to face through daily video presentations delivered to you on a 64GB USB Flash Drive, easy to view on any computer. A detailed written Plot Plan provides the daily schedule for student viewing. 

    blueprint

    Blueprints: These are the completed spelling list pages for the Foreman divided into daily lesson plans in a weekly format that act as answer keys to the work we do in the video presentations. These are not random words but follow the long established Extended Ayres Spelling List of the high-frequency words in their order of usage. Students build from simple words in Level One all the way through high school words in Level Four. The small musical notes you see next to most of the words indicate a Rule Tune® sung on the video presentations throughout the entire study. 

    phonics codes

    Building Codes: Every good carpenter must build according to specific codes, and this is also true for a student building words as he learns why English is built the way it is. We complete these charts together throughout the year as each new rule is introduced. Most are set to Rule Tunes® for easy memorization and application. 

    phonics drill cards

    Color-Coded Drill Cards: 72 color-coded drill cards with extra large print are included for easy oral drills as needed throughout the four-year study. They are used to introduce the Apprentice to the tools of English: single vowels and consonants as Simple Tools; vowel teams and consonant teams as Power Tools.  

    Apprentice Building Manual (Student Workbook)

    student phonics blueprint

    Blueprints: All the custom paper needed for the entire year to record the 500+ spelling words as each one is taught and analyzed. 

    student phonics building code

    Building Codes®: Custom blank charts that illustrate various spelling rules ready for the Apprentice to build as guided by Barbara. 

    student composition page

    Composition: Custom blank pages used for recording original sentences and the final composition projects at the end of the year. 

    student first readers

    First Readers®: 20 four-page stories that the young student reads aloud and then illustrates himself. No more reading pictures and guessing at words. This is an excellent way to combine reading and art to track reading comprehension for young students.

    student clipboard

    Handy Dandy Clipboard with Wet Erase Pen: Every Apprentice has his own trace and erase clipboard and black pen that can be used throughout the four years for writing practice and spelling tests.

    student tool cards

    Student Tool Cards: A color-coded set of all the letters and letter teams for kinesthetic word building; especially good to use for younger students not yet proficient with handwriting.