Phonics
Maccabee Academy’s phonics program is a comprehensive series of courses designed to provide young learner (K-G2) with the essential foundational skills for reading (decoding) and writing (encoding). Through a stepped-approach, students learn to hear, identify and use the different sounds that distinguish one word from another in the English language. Children can then apply the predictable relationships between sounds and letters to both familiar and unfamiliar words, resulting in fluent reading and writing.
The program includes four distinct semester-long courses that are available to students based on an initial assessment. These courses include:
Level 1 (Beginner)
Target Student: K-G2 ; unable to identify syllables
Course Description: The first course in the phonics program covers a number of the most foundational phonological concepts, including
-open and closed syllable types
-Spelling rule for ll, ss, ff, zz
-ing, ang, ung, ong
-vc-cv and v-cv splits
Books: Decodable books
Level 2 (Intermediate)
Target Student: K-G2; Achieved goals of Level 1
Course Description: In Intermediate Phonics, students will review concepts from Beginner Phonics and learn about new concepts including
-magic e and vowel teams (ee, ea, oa, ai, oe, ay) syllable types
-vc-cv, v-cv and vc-v splits
Books: Decodable books
Level 3 (Advanced I)
Target Student: K-G2; Achieved goals of Level 2
Course Description: In addition to solidifying the knowledge from previous courses, students will learn about:
-r-controlled and three syllable words
-Review vc-cv, v-cv and vc-v splits
Books: Decodable books and leveled texts
Level 4 (Advanced II)
Target Student: K-G2; Achieved goals of Level 3
Course Description: The final course of the phonics program review all important components and introduce final components of phonics:
-le and diphthongs syllable words
-v-v split
Books: Decodable books and leveled texts
As students progress through the course series, they gain a more comprehensive understanding of the English language and become prepared for later courses that emphasize comprehensive literacy or either skills-specific courses in reading or writing.
