Users & The Guide
Goals for Users
Guide Contents
Users and The User's Guide
This page discusses the contents of the guide (which is available only to users) and some goals for teachers and their students. We hope that you will use anything you find compatible with the school's curriculum and that you will appreciate our recommendations. The guide covers relevant information about the English language, our materials, what words to teach, and when to teach them, in a very practical way that matches up to all of our resources. For now, if you'd like to focus on what you'll use to teach your students, click over to the page on our materials.
Guide Contents
The guide contains a Spelling Strategy page, a Word Order page, and Word Cards for each word that act as a pronunciation guide. For example, the Word Cards tell you that is has a regular /i/ sound for i, that it has an irregular /z/ sound for s, and that it should be learned by memorizing the names of the letters, instead of the sounds. They should serve as a quick reminder of what to avoid while providing student-friendly language if you would like to provide the students with clarification.
The Spelling Strategy page has words categorized as regular (which can be sounded out), truly irregular (like is), or seemingly irregular to a student due to an incomplete knowledge of letter-sounds (like the which must be learned much earlier than long e or th). This page helps you understand why words are categorized as Spell With Sounds or Spell With Names.
The Spelling Strategy page has words categorized as regular (which can be sounded out), truly irregular (like is), or seemingly irregular to a student due to an incomplete knowledge of letter-sounds (like the which must be learned much earlier than long e or th). This page helps you understand why words are categorized as Spell With Sounds or Spell With Names.
The Word Order page says what word to learn 1st all the way to the 500th and is different than many sight word lists, having been created not only with a focus on high frequency words, but also with a prioritization of the Spell With Sounds words. We've gone so far as to actually prioritize the Spell With Sounds words that are most easily sounded out, so you'll find on, at, it, and in at the very top among is and the, both of which are Spell With Names words. The Word Order page also includes guidance on what letter-sound correspondence to focus on over a sequence of words.
The Word Cards act as a pronunciation guide for each letter of each word. If there is a rule for the letter-sound, the card also includes an explanation of the rule. The language is meant to be student friendly so that you'll have effective words in mind to assist you when discussing the words.
Goals for Users and Their Kids
For the kids, a primary goal is for them to use letter-by-letter reading with speed and accuracy. Another is for them to use alternate letter sounds when the letter position is different (no vs. on) and when recognizing other letters that change the sound we say (like with s before h, shop). The 3rd important goal is learning there are some words we sound out (the Spell With Sounds words) and some we don't (the Spell With Names words).
For the teachers, the goal is to provide them with simple resources they can use for individual students, groups, or the entire class. We hope that the use teachers can make of the materials is immediately evident to them and that their inclusion in the curriculum can be as trouble-free as possible. Of course, any concerns can be directed to us via the contact form at your convenience.
For the teachers, the goal is to provide them with simple resources they can use for individual students, groups, or the entire class. We hope that the use teachers can make of the materials is immediately evident to them and that their inclusion in the curriculum can be as trouble-free as possible. Of course, any concerns can be directed to us via the contact form at your convenience.
User's Guide Overview
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