”Handbook” is probably a misnomer in describing this phonics instruction tool that both assesses and teaches phonics skills to intermediate students, though it is comprehensive enough to be used as a reference book as well. It contains everything you would need to determine word analysis mastery, weakness, and remediation. The volume begins with a teacher/parent survey of phonics skills - just to make sure the instructor has a firm grasp of the skills to be taught. This will be useful if you did not receive phonics instruction in the course of your schooling. An informal phonics inventory of skills is then administered to your child to help you diagnose problem areas and develop a plan of attack. Phonics skills are then divided into 5 units - Consonants, Vowels, Structural Analysis, Affixes, and Syllables. Each contains an assessment followed by reference pages and activities. For example, the Vowels Unit contains separate reference/activity pages for short vowels, long vowels, closed long vowels, long vowels with final "e", vowel digraphs (separated in three lists by frequency of use), diphthongs, r-controlled vowels, special vowels, and other vowels. Often, a reference list will be followed by one or more practice activities. The end of each unit has comprehensive activity pages as well as a list of (many) activities for further reinforcement. The Consonants Unit includes everything-consonant - letter sounds, blends, consonant digraphs, final consonant blends, silent consonants, variants, and doubles. Structural Analysis tackles plurals, inflections, homonyms, homographs, contractions and compounds while Affixes covers prefixes and suffixes. The Syllables Unit presents rules and activities for mastering syllabication. Anything that might have been missed in primary instruction is covered within these pages. A built-in answer key is appreciated as well as a glossary of terms (so you, too, can master the difference between graphemes, morphemes and phonemes - or at least speak phonics "jargon" with the best of 'em). Very well done; professional, equipping, and fortifying if you have to rectify deficiencies in your student's word-attack skills.