My First Letters and Sounds by Generations is an open and go phonics program that is biblically focused, appealing to the student, and easy to teach! This 25-week course teaches letter recognition and sounds, short vowel words, and some consonant blends and digraphs. A new letter is introduced in each lesson through week seven, then the next six weeks focus on letter sounds. The rest of the lessons teach short vowels, vowel blends, consonant blends, and digraph blends.
Some activities include coloring or circling the correct letter or picture that begin with a specific sound or blend, cutting out pictures and pasting them to the correct word, matching words with pictures, and writing the correct letter of a beginning sound or blend in a picture. Beginning in lesson 45, many of the lessons include a Bible verse and students trace or write certain words in the verse that tie into the phonics concept for that lesson. There is some practice with tracing letters and words, but you will want to add a separate handwriting program.
Lessons usually take about 10-15 minutes to complete. One lesson a day is recommended unless your child is ready for a faster pace (then 2 lessons can be completed). Since there is not a lot of reading practice included, you might consider using Bob Books, Short & Long Vowel Stories Series, or My Beginning Readers. After finishing the course, children should have a good grasp on phonics concepts and be able to move into a first-grade phonics program. Pages are perforated for easy tear out. 280 pgs, pb. ~ Gina