Knowledge and Skills Statement
Use a Decoding Inventory Assessment
Have a list of words for students to read that focuses on specific blends. Record the number of words they read correctly and use the following scoring guide:
Mastery—80%+ correct
Approaching—60%–79% correct
Intervention Needed—50% or less correct
Examples:
- Initial consonant blends: r-blends (br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, tr), l-blends (bl, fl, gl, pl, sl), s-blends (sc, sk, sm, sn, sp, st, sw), tw, qu
- Final consonant blends: double consonants (ff, ll, ss, zz), or st, sk, sp, nd, nt, nk, mp, rd, ld, lp, rk, lt, lf, pt, ft, ct
- Digraphs: sh, ch, th, ph, wh (initial and final)
- Trigraphs: spl, scr, shr, squ, thr, sch, spr
Research
1. International Literacy Association. (2018). Explaining phonics instruction: An educator’s guide [Literacy leadership brief]. Newark, DE: Author. Retrieved from https://www.literacyworldwide.org/docs/default-source/where-we-stand/ila-explaining-phonics-instruction-an-educators-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=1a16a48e_6
Summary: In this guide from the International Literacy Association, answers to the questions following questions are explored: (1) What is phonics?; (2) When are students ready to learn phonics?; and (3) How is phonics taught?
2. What Works Clearinghouse. (n.d.). Foundational skills to support reading for understanding in kindergarten through 3rd grade: practice guide summary. Washington, DC: Institute of Education Science. Retrieved from https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/PracticeGuide/21
Summary: This practice guide provides four recommendations for teaching foundational reading skills to students in kindergarten through 3rd grade. Each recommendation includes implementation steps and solutions for common obstacles. The recommendations also summarize and rate supporting evidence. This guide is geared towards teachers, administrators, and other educators who want to improve their students’ foundational reading skills.