A Fresh Look at Phonics, Grades K-2
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Description
“In most instances, there isn’t one main cause of a systematic breakdown in phonics instruction. Rather, a combination of causes can create a perfect storm of failure.”
—Wiley Blevins
Picture a class of kindergarteners singing the alphabet song, and teaching phonics seems as easy as one-two, three, A, B, C, right? In a Fresh Look at Phonics, Wiley Blevins explains why it can get tricky, and then delivers a plan so geared for success, that teachers, coaches, and administrators will come to see owning this book as a before and after moment in their professional lives.
In this amazing follow up to his renowned resource Phonics From A-Z, Wiley uses the data he has collected over two decades to share which approaches truly work, which have failed, and how teachers can fine-tune their daily instruction for success.
You will learn to focus on the seven critical ingredients of phonics teaching that produce the greatest student learning gains— readiness skills, scope and sequence, blending, dictation, word awareness, high frequency words, and reading connected texts. Then, for each ingredient, Wiley shares:
- Activities, routines, word lists, and lessons that develop solid foundations for reading
- Ideas for differentiation, ELL, and advanced learners to ensure adequate progress for all learners
- Help on decodable texts, what not to over-do, and what you can’t do enough of for your students’ achievement
- Interactive “Day Clinic” activities that facilitate teacher self-reflection and school wide professional learning
In a final section, Wiley details the ten common reasons instruction fails and shows teachers how to correct these missteps regarding lesson pacing, transitions, decodable texts, writing activities, assessment and more. A Fresh Look at Phonics is the evidence-based solution you have been seeking.
Wiley Blevins, Ph.D., is a world-renowned expert on early reading, and author of the seminal book Phonics From A-Z among many other works. He has taught in both the United States and South America, and regularly trains teachers throughout Asia. He holds a Doctorate in Education from Harvard University, and has worked with numerous educational scholars, including Jeanne Chall, Isabel Beck, Marilyn Adams, Louisa Moats, and Dianne August, and others.
Contents
Section 1: The Key Ingredients for Phonics Success
Section 1: The Key Ingredients for Phonics Success
Success Ingredient 1: Readiness Skills
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 2: Scope and Sequence
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 3: Blending
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 4: Dictation
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 5: Word Awareness Activities (Word Building and Word Sorts)
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 6: High-Frequency Words
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 7: Reading Connected Text
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Plus One More Essential Success Ingredient: You!
- Section 2: 10 Common Causes of Phonics Instruction Failure
Introduction
Introduction
Reason 1: Inadequate or Nonexistent Review and Repetition
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 2: Lack of Application to Real Reading and Writing Experiences
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 3: Inappropriate Reading Materials to Practice Skills
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 4: Ineffective Use of the Gradual Release Model
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 5: Too Much Time Lost During Transitions
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 6: Limited Teacher Knowledge of Research-Based Phonics Routines and Linguistics
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 7: Inappropriate Pacing of Lessons
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 8: No Comprehensive or Cumulative Mastery Assessment Tools
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 9: Transitioning to Multisyllabic Words Too Late
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 10: Overdoing It (Especially Isolated Skill Work)
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Closing Thoughts
Closing Thoughts
References
References
Resources
Blevins Companion Website
http://resources.corwin.com/blevinsphonicsAdditional materials
Description
“In most instances, there isn’t one main cause of a systematic breakdown in phonics instruction. Rather, a combination of causes can create a perfect storm of failure.”
—Wiley Blevins
Picture a class of kindergarteners singing the alphabet song, and teaching phonics seems as easy as one-two, three, A, B, C, right? In a Fresh Look at Phonics, Wiley Blevins explains why it can get tricky, and then delivers a plan so geared for success, that teachers, coaches, and administrators will come to see owning this book as a before and after moment in their professional lives.
In this amazing follow up to his renowned resource Phonics From A-Z, Wiley uses the data he has collected over two decades to share which approaches truly work, which have failed, and how teachers can fine-tune their daily instruction for success.
You will learn to focus on the seven critical ingredients of phonics teaching that produce the greatest student learning gains— readiness skills, scope and sequence, blending, dictation, word awareness, high frequency words, and reading connected texts. Then, for each ingredient, Wiley shares:
- Activities, routines, word lists, and lessons that develop solid foundations for reading
- Ideas for differentiation, ELL, and advanced learners to ensure adequate progress for all learners
- Help on decodable texts, what not to over-do, and what you can’t do enough of for your students’ achievement
- Interactive “Day Clinic” activities that facilitate teacher self-reflection and school wide professional learning
In a final section, Wiley details the ten common reasons instruction fails and shows teachers how to correct these missteps regarding lesson pacing, transitions, decodable texts, writing activities, assessment and more. A Fresh Look at Phonics is the evidence-based solution you have been seeking.
Wiley Blevins, Ph.D., is a world-renowned expert on early reading, and author of the seminal book Phonics From A-Z among many other works. He has taught in both the United States and South America, and regularly trains teachers throughout Asia. He holds a Doctorate in Education from Harvard University, and has worked with numerous educational scholars, including Jeanne Chall, Isabel Beck, Marilyn Adams, Louisa Moats, and Dianne August, and others.
Contents
Section 1: The Key Ingredients for Phonics Success
Section 1: The Key Ingredients for Phonics Success
Success Ingredient 1: Readiness Skills
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 2: Scope and Sequence
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 3: Blending
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 4: Dictation
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 5: Word Awareness Activities (Word Building and Word Sorts)
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 6: High-Frequency Words
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 7: Reading Connected Text
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
Plus One More Essential Success Ingredient: You!
- Section 2: 10 Common Causes of Phonics Instruction Failure
Introduction
Introduction
Reason 1: Inadequate or Nonexistent Review and Repetition
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 2: Lack of Application to Real Reading and Writing Experiences
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 3: Inappropriate Reading Materials to Practice Skills
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 4: Ineffective Use of the Gradual Release Model
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 5: Too Much Time Lost During Transitions
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 6: Limited Teacher Knowledge of Research-Based Phonics Routines and Linguistics
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 7: Inappropriate Pacing of Lessons
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 8: No Comprehensive or Cumulative Mastery Assessment Tools
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 9: Transitioning to Multisyllabic Words Too Late
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Reason 10: Overdoing It (Especially Isolated Skill Work)
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
Closing Thoughts
Closing Thoughts
References
References
Resources
Blevins Companion Website
http://resources.corwin.com/blevinsphonicsAdditional materials
Reviews
A Fresh Look at Phonics, Grades K-2
Common Causes of Failure and 7 Ingredients for Success
June 2016 | 304 pages | Corwin
| Format | Published Date | ISBN | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperback | 01/02/2026 | 9781506326887 | $43.95 |
| Lifetime | 01/02/2026 | 9781506353548 | $40.00 |
“In most instances, there isn’t one main cause of a systematic breakdown in phonics instruction. Rather, a combination of causes can create a perfect storm of failure.”
—Wiley Blevins
Picture a class of kindergarteners singing the alphabet song, and teaching phonics seems as easy as one-two, three, A, B, C, right? In a Fresh Look at Phonics, Wiley Blevins explains why it can get tricky, and then delivers a plan so geared for success, that teachers, coaches, and administrators will come to see owning this book as a before and after moment in their professional lives.
In this amazing follow up to his renowned resource Phonics From A-Z, Wiley uses the data he has collected over two decades to share which approaches truly work, which have failed, and how teachers can fine-tune their daily instruction for success.
You will learn to focus on the seven critical ingredients of phonics teaching that produce the greatest student learning gains— readiness skills, scope and sequence, blending, dictation, word awareness, high frequency words, and reading connected texts. Then, for each ingredient, Wiley shares:
- Activities, routines, word lists, and lessons that develop solid foundations for reading
- Ideas for differentiation, ELL, and advanced learners to ensure adequate progress for all learners
- Help on decodable texts, what not to over-do, and what you can’t do enough of for your students’ achievement
- Interactive “Day Clinic” activities that facilitate teacher self-reflection and school wide professional learning
In a final section, Wiley details the ten common reasons instruction fails and shows teachers how to correct these missteps regarding lesson pacing, transitions, decodable texts, writing activities, assessment and more. A Fresh Look at Phonics is the evidence-based solution you have been seeking.
Wiley Blevins, Ph.D., is a world-renowned expert on early reading, and author of the seminal book Phonics From A-Z among many other works. He has taught in both the United States and South America, and regularly trains teachers throughout Asia. He holds a Doctorate in Education from Harvard University, and has worked with numerous educational scholars, including Jeanne Chall, Isabel Beck, Marilyn Adams, Louisa Moats, and Dianne August, and others.
Table Of Contents:
- Section 1: The Key Ingredients for Phonics Success
- Success Ingredient 1: Readiness Skills
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
- Success Ingredient 2: Scope and Sequence
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
- Success Ingredient 3: Blending
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
- Success Ingredient 4: Dictation
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
- Success Ingredient 5: Word Awareness Activities (Word Building and Word Sorts)
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
- Success Ingredient 6: High-Frequency Words
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
- Success Ingredient 7: Reading Connected Text
- Background and Key Characteristics
- Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
- Common Instructional Pitfalls
- Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
- Next Steps to Leap Forward
- Plus One More Essential Success Ingredient: You!
- Section 2: 10 Common Causes of Phonics Instruction Failure
- Introduction
- Reason 1: Inadequate or Nonexistent Review and Repetition
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
- Reason 2: Lack of Application to Real Reading and Writing Experiences
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
- Reason 3: Inappropriate Reading Materials to Practice Skills
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
- Reason 4: Ineffective Use of the Gradual Release Model
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
- Reason 5: Too Much Time Lost During Transitions
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
- Reason 6: Limited Teacher Knowledge of Research-Based Phonics Routines and Linguistics
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
- Reason 7: Inappropriate Pacing of Lessons
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
- Reason 8: No Comprehensive or Cumulative Mastery Assessment Tools
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
- Reason 9: Transitioning to Multisyllabic Words Too Late
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
- Reason 10: Overdoing It (Especially Isolated Skill Work)
- The Problem
- How to Fix It
- Closing Thoughts
- References