Below are the skills that students should practice and master in each microphase. When using this chart, teachers should determine which of the skills students are able to do in each microphase. If students are not yet able to master the skills in the respective microphases, students and teachers can make goals toward these skills to increase proficiency so that they continue to progress through the microphases accordingly.
About Skills Block
The K-2 Reading Foundations Skills Block is a one-hour block that uses a structured phonics approach, grounded in the Phase Theory of Dr. Linnea Ehri, which describes behavior related to the types of letter-sound connections students are able to make as they learn to read and write. As such, the Skills Block is meant to ensure that, by the end of grade 2, students acquire the depth of skills they need in the Reading Foundations standards to navigate grade-level text independently. The lessons and assessments explicitly address the Reading Foundations standards, as well as some Language standards associated with spelling and letter formation.
A blog post touching on how the Skills Block is grounded in reading science can be found here.
Resources
- Skills Block Step by Step
- Skills Block Benchmark Assessment Guide
- Microphases By Cycles
- Small Group and Rotations Resources (NEW!)
- Skills Block Instructional Videos:
- Grade K
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Flex Your Skills are 26 standalone videos for students that teach or review instructional practices used in K-2 Skills Block, including Count It Out, Rhyme Time, Feel the Beats, Letter Sound Chant, Articulatory Gestures, Interactive Writing, and others.
Sections on this Page
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Analyzing Data in the K-2 Skills Block
Jean Hurst (Coach) and Daisy Spencer (2nd Grade Teacher) at the Genesee Community Charter School in Rochester, NY, analyze student data together to make informed decisions for ongoing instruction, and to reflect on results. Using key resources such as Benchmark Assessments (both spelling and decoding), the Assessment Conversion Chart, and resources from the Differentiation Pack, these educators are thoughtfully harnessing the power of the EL Education K-2 Reading Foundations Skills Block to ensure success for all students.