Are you looking for effective, engaging phonics activities that are taught explicitly and systematically? If so, I’ve got you covered! In this post, I’m sharing my go-to science of reading aligned small group instruction tool: Phonics Focus Files. 

The Phonics Focus Files were developed specifically for K-2 teachers who want an all-in-one small group tool that can be used to practice, assess, and review phonics skills systematically and explicitly.

For a long time, phonics has received a bad rap. Why is that? Because most phonics curriculums lack a carefully planned scope and sequence. A piecemeal approach to phonics is ineffective.

Research shows that explicit phonics instruction significantly improves reading comprehension. The National Reading Panel (2000) conducted a meta-analysis to review and evaluate research on the effectiveness of various approaches for teaching children to read. Their findings showed that students who received systematic and explicit phonics instruction were better readers at the end of instruction than students who received non-systematic or no phonics instruction (Ehri, 2006; Armbruster, Lehr, and Osborn, 2001). 

So what does this all mean?

This means it is imperative that we start with the simplest sound in a word and build out from there. Explicitly teaching phonics one skill at a time will help your students more easily grasp difficult concepts without being overwhelmed.

The Phonics Focus Files do just that! This small group instruction tool follows a carefully planned scope and sequence to ensure students are only reading words that contain phonics patterns that are being taught or were previously taught. This ensures minimal confusion and allows students to become proficient one skill at a time. 

How to use the Phonics Focus Files:

To use these materials, you simply download and print the materials for each student. I recommend placing all of the materials your students will need in a folder or binder. It’s helpful to store the folders in a bin or tub and have them ready to go at your small group instruction table. 

Here’s how a teacher who uses the Phonics Focus Files sets up her small group table. See the folders below? All of the materials needed for each small group are stored inside.

It’s also helpful for you to have a copy of the teacher script sheets ready to go (these are provided to you for every phonics skill too). Here’s an example of what they look like.

Let’s breakdown each of the phonics activities included:

Say the Sound

The first practice activity is to say the sound. First, introduce the phonics sound. Students will trace the grapheme that represents the phoneme. Then, they will say pictures that have that sound-spelling. 

Blend the Words

Next, students will work on blending. Focus on each individual sound, then slowly blend until the sounds make a whole word. 

Here is the script for this particular activity:

“Now we will blend, or put together sounds, to make words. I’ll start!”

Point and say: /j/ /o/ /ke/ ”joke”, /d/ /o/ /ze/“doze”. Then say, “You try!”

Have students blend each word. If students have difficulty blending any words, tap each letter and say the sound with them. “Now we will highlight all the long o spelled “o_e.” After students highlight, blend the words with them again.

Picture Word Pair-Up

For this activity, encourage students to be detectives for the picture word pair-up. Name the picture for the students, then ask them to say each sound in the word they hear. Once they figure out the sounds within the word that matches the picture, allow them to decide which of the three words is the word that matches the picture based on their knowledge of letters and the sounds they represent. 

Here’s the script for this activity:

Now it’s time to be a word detective! Are you ready? As I say the picture name, I want you to say the sounds you hear in the word.” Model the top example. Look at the picture together and say “dome.” Say the sounds you hear in dome: /d/ /o/ /me/. “Now let’s read each word: /t//o/ /ne/ tone, /b/ /o/ /ne/ bone, /d/ /o/ /me/ dome. Which word matches the picture? Let’s circle it and write it on the line! Your turn!”

Climb the Ladder

Next up? My favorite activity in the Phonics Focus Files: Climb the Ladder! Students love this activity too. 

By changing one or two letters, but keeping the others, words can change into new words. For instance, by changing one letter in the word “ran,” you can get the word “rag.” A brand new word, with a completely different meaning. Use the words provided to help students decide which letter sounds should be changed to make the new word on the ladder. 

Tap, Map, and Graph

For this activity, students will tap the picture they see. Then they will say the sounds they hear within the word the picture represents. Finally, they will write the letters in the sound boxes. 

Listen, Say, & Write

For this activity, students listen to a word without seeing the picture. They will say the word after you, then write the letters corresponding to the sounds they hear in the word. 

Making Words

Encourage students to use the knowledge they’ve just acquired of the specific phonics skill to create new words. Building new words (real or nonsense) and saying them aloud can be a really fun and silly activity your students will love!

Read & Answer

Finally, your students get to read a story that features the phonics skills they’ve worked on with you. These are fully decodable passages. Every single word has been hand plucked and written by me (I made sure the passages made sense and were engaging for students). Provide time for students to predict what the story is about. Then, after students have read the story, you can move on to comprehension. Students can answer the accompanying questions about the story or retell it to the class or a partner. 

What phonics skills are included in the bundle?

Every single K-2 phonics skill is included in the bundle. You can download the full scope and sequence by viewing the preview here! 

If you’re interested in using these materials in your classroom, you can download the bundle here at 65% off. 

What are the benefits of using the Phonics Focus Files?

There are many benefits to using this  Phonics Focus Files resource in your classroom. This is a no-prep, systematic, explicit, multi-sensory phonics resource. There are specific lessons and activities designed for each phonics skill you teach. With the teacher’s guide and provided resources, everything is controlled and structured to allow students to easily learn the phonics skills. The materials are easy to implement and flexible; you can decide on the number of activities you wish for students to complete in one lesson.

If you have any questions about how to implement these activities in your classroom, please leave me a comment below or contact me at lyndsey@lyndseykuster.com.

Happy teaching!