Saxon Phonics & Spelling is back! After going out of print for several years, this well-loved phonics and spelling program for grades K-2 is once again available to homeschoolers. Sporting a new look but keeping the same content with some additional resources, Saxon Phonics & Spelling uses an incremental, spiral approach. Concepts are introduced in small steps while building on previously introduced steps and continually reviewing. Aligned to the Science of Reading and Orton Gillingham methodology, this program is well organized with scripted, straightforward instruction and plenty of multisensory components. Everything is included - you don’t have to purchase separate readers, worksheets, or other manipulatives. Handwriting Masters in PDF format for handwriting instruction can be found by logging in to your free online resources (instructions come with the kit).
Besides incremental
learning, Saxon has several other effective strategies to teach phonics and
spelling. The unique coding system Saxon uses (breve marks to label short
vowels, macrons for long vowels, putting a box around suffixes, using accent
marks, dividing syllables, etc.) is a helpful tool for children to identify
sounds and read words. In fact, many of their coding symbols are the same
pronunciation symbols used in dictionaries. Saxon also has a thorough teaching
of syllabication and includes weekly spelling lists (starting in grade 1) based
on the rules learned. I believe their coding system, along with the syllable
division practice helps tremendously with the spelling (especially for a
dyslexic child). The study of morphology also helps kids understand the meaning
of roots, prefixes, and suffixes, which supports their vocabulary and reading
comprehension. The fluency and decodable readers only include controlled text
to build confidence and reading fluency. Oral and written assessments occur
after every fourth lesson to ensure children are mastering concepts before
moving on.
Kit components for each level include a two-part Teacher Manual, two Student Workbooks, colorful Fluency Readers, Review Card Decks, Kid Cards, Letter Tiles, black and white Decodable Readers, a Spelling Dictionary and Reference Booklet (for 1st and 2nd grade), a Homework Folder, and Alphabet Handwriting Strip. Student kits for additional students include Student Workbooks, Decodable Readers, Letter Tiles, Alphabet Handwriting strip, Homework Folder and Spelling Dictionary and Reference Booklet.
The Teacher Manual comes in two large binders. Don’t let this overwhelm you, though. The binders are very organized, with tabs referencing different sections such as a scope and sequence, lesson overview, phonological awareness instruction, fluency instruction, handwriting instruction, reading and spelling word lists, the scripted lessons, and more. Instruction is written for a classroom, but it is very easy to adapt for homeschool use. Answers to the student workbooks are also included within each lesson. I love how each scripted lesson has a three-hole-punched thin booklet so you can take it out of the binder and use it for the lesson. There is mention of an additional teacher resource binder and wall charts. These are not included in the homeschool kit and are for classroom use only.
Student Workbooks come in two volumes and include all the worksheets, assessments, and recording forms. The spelling word lists and spelling test sheets are also included. The black and white workbook pages are perforated for easy tear out with activities on both sides.
Fluency Readers are colorful engaging readers that use fully controlled text, containing only words your child has been taught. The teacher guide shows you when to introduce each reader. Grade K includes 15 readers and grades 1 and 2 include 26 readers. The teacher guide mentions three different levels of readers, A for struggling readers, B for average, and C for advanced readers. The homeschool kit includes only the Level B Fluency Readers that provide grade-level content. Comprehension questions appear in the back of each reader.
Review Decks are colorful 4 x 5-inch cards with a glossy finish, neatly organized in a heavy-duty cardboard box. The decks are comprised of letter cards, picture cards, spelling cards, sight word cards, alphabet accent, and affix cards. These cards help kids retain skills they have learned in previous lessons. The decks should not be combined because each one is reviewed separately.
Kid cards are about 2 ½ x 3 ½ inches and are color coded by words, actions, letters, pictures, blends, and matching words. These are used in games and activities throughout the lesson.
Decodable Readers are small black and white readers that use controlled text so children can practice reading. The lesson introduces these readers and checks your child’s understanding of the vocabulary before your child reads the book. A few comprehension questions are in the back of each book. A storage sleeve is provided in the kit so you can keep these readers organized.
Letter Tiles feature green capital letters on one side, and purple lowercase letters on the other side. The tiles are used as a multisensory outlet to practice spelling, alphabetizing, and letter recognition. Tiles are given to your child when each letter is introduced.
The Alphabet Handwriting Strip is laminated presenting the alphabet in both block-style and continuous stroke style lettering. The vowels appear in red and consonants in black with an illustration that corresponds to each letter. There is also a picture of a right and left hand so children can be visually reminded of the difference.
Even though the Homework Folder is most useful in a classroom setting, it’s still a handy reference tool to have at home. The folder contains information such as the alphabet, coding reminders, the syllable division procedure, vowel rules, and letter clusters. It’s nice to have these reminders all in one place for your child to reference when needed.
The Spelling Dictionary and Reference Booklet is included in the first and second grade kits. Divided into four sections, the first section is a spelling dictionary with an alphabetized list of words. The second section includes a list of irregular spelling words organized by sound. A pronunciation guide with an alphabetized sight word list is in the third section. Phonics and spelling rules are included in the fourth section.
What has changed in this new edition?
- The teacher binders with updated font and color are organized into sections and now include instruction to support speaking & listening skills, phonological awareness, fluency, and differentiated support for 3 levels.
- Tabs have been added at 10 lesson intervals with a “10 lesson overview” page so you can know what concepts are introduced and reviewed for the next 10 lessons.
- Game ideas that used to be in the appendix are now in the “Resources for Differentiation” section.
- English Learner Support tips have been added.
- Review and Kid Cards are of a nicer quality and come with a handy storage box.
- New Spelling Cards include a photo of a child modeling the mouth position for the sound featured on the card, along with text instructions to teach the child how to properly position their mouth to articulate each sound.
- A handwriting instruction booklet is included in the teacher guide that teaches proper formation and uses mascots (Max the Bear, Leo the Lion, and Wriley the Raccoon) to help children know where to place their pencil.
- Handwriting Masters for every grade level are in digital PDF format.
- There is no longer a Literature Extension book with literature suggestions to complement various lessons. It is now recommended to continue to provide outside rich literature of your choice.
- The Irregular Spelling Booklet and Home Study Rule Book have been combined into the Student Spelling Dictionary and Reference Booklet.
Each grade level has
140 lessons and each lesson is organized in the same manner:
- Lesson Preparation lists the resources needed for the lesson
- English Learner Support gives tips for helping English learners understand the lesson content
- Lesson Warm Up reviews previously taught material using multisensory methods, teaching to all learning paths
- New Increment is the “new learning” part of the lesson
- Application and Continual Review includes doing exercises together on paper or a whiteboard then allowing children to complete the worksheets
I used Saxon Phonics years ago with all my children. I was impressed with the ease of use, thoroughness, and effectiveness of the program. I am happy to see that the new edition still maintains the same content and methodology, but with added resources for additional support if needed, and overall better organization. They even kept the enrichment study of the history of the English language in grade 2! Accommodating all learners, this program is worth the price and delivers strong phonics and spelling instruction that is easy to teach! ~ Gina