Rainbow Phonics

Description

Colorful. Multi-sensory. Systematic. Fun! What more can you ask from a playful approach to phonics - maybe a corresponding iPad app? Well, this program has that option at well. At the heart of the program is the set of Magnetic Letters

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Soft-foam 1 1/8" magnetic letters [84 total: 19 consonants (no q or z), 5 vowels, 11 digraphs, 12 vowel digraphs, 5 changeable vowel sounds, 6 r-controlled vowels, and 5 split vowel digraphs (silent e)] are in a clever box that includes a built-in magnetic-board easel and an elastic band to keep it all together. Letters are lower-case modern handwriting style and color-coded so it is easy to tell a "b" from a "d" and to separate the digraphs from the vowel digraphs. An included chart shows which letters to introduce weekly through five progressions, taking the student from readiness through advanced vowel and consonant digraphs. This could be an easy-to-use, stand-alone letter set or coupled with the Landscapes and Readers Sets, provide lots of practice and reinforcement.

The Landscapes and the Readers work together with the Word Farm series providing an introduction to three and four letter CVC words (Progression 2) and the Word City series providing more advanced digraphs (Progression 3). The Landscape sets include six magnetic landscapes each with a suggested set of letters or letter groups from the Magnetic Letters set. Letters are used to build words within a "frame" (dotted line like in handwriting books); words to build are suggested by pictures that correspond to the readers. Each picture also includes a flap with the word printed below which allows for self-checking. The Reader sets include six colorful, eight-page, small-size (5.5" x 6.5") paperback books (heavy, smooth finish paper). By introducing the words using the Landscapes and reinforcing the words by reading the stories, students build vocabulary and word decoding skills.

While the Magnetic Letter set could be used through 2nd/3rd grade phonics skills, Word Farm provides typical K skills and Word City is K/1 skills. Video demonstrations are available on the publisher's website. The free iPad app (available at the Apple® App Store) provides additional practice with accompanying audio presentation of sounds and words. ~ Janice

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.