This book is a practical ‘how-to’ guide for effective phonics implementation by best-selling author Wiley Blevins.

Section 1: The Key Ingredients for Phonics Success
Success Ingredient 1: Readiness Skills
Background and Key Characteristics
Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
Common Instructional Pitfalls
Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 2: Scope and Sequence
Background and Key Characteristics
Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
Common Instructional Pitfalls
Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 3: Blending
Background and Key Characteristics
Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
Common Instructional Pitfalls
Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 4: Dictation
Background and Key Characteristics
Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
Common Instructional Pitfalls
Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 5: Word Awareness Activities (Word Building and Word Sorts)
Background and Key Characteristics
Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
Common Instructional Pitfalls
Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 6: High-Frequency Words
Background and Key Characteristics
Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
Common Instructional Pitfalls
Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
Next Steps to Leap Forward
Success Ingredient 7: Reading Connected Text
Background and Key Characteristics
Best Practices and Look-Fors for Success
Common Instructional Pitfalls
Day Clinic: Examine Your Practices
Next Steps to Leap Forward
Plus One More Essential Success Ingredient: You!
Section 2: 10 Common Causes of Phonics Instruction Failure
Introduction
Reason 1: Inadequate or Nonexistent Review and Repetition
The Problem
How to Fix It
Reason 2: Lack of Application to Real Reading and Writing Experiences
The Problem
How to Fix It
Reason 3: Inappropriate Reading Materials to Practice Skills
The Problem
How to Fix It
Reason 4: Ineffective Use of the Gradual Release Model
The Problem
How to Fix It
Reason 5: Too Much Time Lost During Transitions
The Problem
How to Fix It
Reason 6: Limited Teacher Knowledge of Research-Based Phonics Routines and Linguistics
The Problem
How to Fix It
Reason 7: Inappropriate Pacing of Lessons
The Problem
How to Fix It
Reason 8: No Comprehensive or Cumulative Mastery Assessment Tools
The Problem
How to Fix It
Reason 9: Transitioning to Multisyllabic Words Too Late
The Problem
How to Fix It
Reason 10: Overdoing It (Especially Isolated Skill Work)
The Problem
How to Fix It
Closing Thoughts
References

Wiley Blevins, Ed.D., studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Bowling Green State University. He is an author, educational consultant, and researcher, and has taught both in the United States and South America. Wiley has written over 17 books for teachers, including A Fresh Look at Phonics, Phonics From A to Z, Differentiating Phonics Instruction for Maximum Impact, and Choosing and Using Decodable Texts. He has authored several phonics and reading programs and wrote the phonics brief by the International Literacy Association (Meeting the Challenges of Early Literacy Phonics Instruction). Wiley¿s current focus is on adaptive technology, differentiated professional development, and children¿s literature. Wiley has written over 100 children¿s books and is SVP and Associate Publisher at Reycraft Books, a new imprint focused on publishing books by authors and illustrators from under-represented groups.