Generations Phonics is a two-volume set designed to be used as a first-grade reading curriculum. Having a biblical focus, as fundamental reading skills are being taught, children are also training their minds and hearts through scripture reading. Lessons review letter sounds, short vowels, and blends and teach more advanced phonics skills. Besides teaching phonics, the course also covers some elements of grammar, spelling, and composition including nouns, verbs, punctuation marks, syllables, rhyming words, and antonyms/synonyms. Each consumable volume includes straightforward instruction and activities all in one book – there is no separate teacher guide. A list of Dolch sight words for pre-primer, primer, and first grade are in front of each book. A kindergarten student who is ready to read could also start in this level or parents could move at a faster pace with a first grader. By the end of Generations Phonics, students are ready for a second-grade reading/phonics program.
The 180 lessons usually take about 15 to 20 minutes a day to complete. Students complete around 2-4 workbook pages each lesson. Some workbook activities include circling or coloring pictures that begin with a specific letter, fun challenges to practice reading faster, matching each sentence to the correct picture, practice with reading words, short sentences, and short stories, and drawing a picture to show what the story was about. You can create your own flashcards when sight words or new phonics concepts and rules are introduced to help review and solidify concepts. In Volume 1, optional handwriting practice appears at the end of most lessons, but there is no handwriting instruction.
Beginning in Volume 2, the Generations reading program for first grade, God’s Big Story, is incorporated into the lessons. Each lesson will give instructions on what chapter to read in God’s Big Story and what pages to complete in the activity book.
If you are looking for a phonics program that is thorough yet easy to teach, engaging, and focuses on the Word of God, Generations Phonics is a great option! ~ Gina