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Heart Word Magic - Help Students Learn to Read and Spell High-Frequency and Sight Words

Heart Word Magic is a complimentary teaching tool designed to help students learn to read and spell high-frequency words and sight words, particularly those that aren't very decodable. Show your students the animations, then try these fun, hands-on free Student Practice Activities

What Is a Heart Word?

Show your students this video to introduce them to Heart Word Magic! We use animations and practice techniques to clearly show students that the alphabetic principle doesn't completely disappear in Tricky Heart Words. The same skills students use for decoding are also helpful in learning to read and spell these less-decodable words. Heart Word Magic helps them to "make the tricky sticky."

What is Phonics Suite?

How can you give your students the skills they need to become strong decoders and accurate and fluent readers? Really Great Reading has a solution. It's called Phonics Suite, a comprehensive set of tools to diagnose, group, and teach students with weaknesses in their foundational reading skills. There are even tools to monitor progress, report, and adjust. Click here to read more>>

Explore Our Library of Heart Word Magic Animations

After showing your students the Heart Word Magic animations, try these fun, hands-on activities with your kids.

Highlight the Tricky to Make It Sticky

One easy way to help students focus on and remember the parts of Tricky Heart Words they need to remember by heart is to simply have students highlight the part of the word that is "tricky" (the phonologically irregular part), such as the letter a in what. Check out our activities below.

Heart Word Magic Spelling Activity Sheet

This activity allows students to practice spelling Heart Words (high-frequency words) with irregular letter-sound relationships by filling in a heart above the irregular part of the word that must be learned "by heart." Below are some suggested directions and sample scripts to use with the words said, have, from, and the.Click here to download Heart Word Magic Spelling Student Activity>>

Heart Word Magic Scaffolded Spelling Activity Sheet

This activity allows students to practice spelling Heart Words (high-frequency words) with irregular letter-sound relationships by listening to the individual phonemes in a word and then writing down the corresponding spellings. The teacher can give students the spelling for the irregular part of the word that must be learned "by heart." Below are some suggested directions and sample scripts to use with the words said, from, his, and of.
Click here to download Heart Word Magic Scaffolded Spelling Activity>>

Heart Word Magic Dissect a Word Activity Sheet

This activity allows students to practice dissecting Heart Words (high-frequency words) with irregular letter-sound relationships by listening to the individual phonemes in a word and then filling in the corresponding spellings. They fill in a heart above the irregular part of the word that must be learned "by heart" and write that tricky part again. Below are some suggested directions and sample scripts to use with the words said, from, his, of, and could.
Click here to download the Heart Word Magic Dissect a Word Student Activity>>

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Heart Word Magic - Read and Spell High Frequency Words

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Heart Word Magic - Help Students Learn to Read and Spell High-Frequency and Sight WordsHeart Word Magic is a complimentary teaching tool designed to help students learn to read and spell high-frequency words and sight words, particularly those that aren't very decodable.

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UFLI Foundations: How to Implement Day 2 Lessons

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UFLI Lesson Routines/Parts Teacher Talk cards

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UFLI Lesson Routines/Parts Teacher Talk cards

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Lesson Resources

The UFLI Foundations Toolbox contains all the lesson resources to accompany the lesson plans provided in the UFLI Foundations manual. (Don't have a manual yet? Click here to order one) Every lesson has companion resources that will help you implement the lessons efficiently, effectively, and consistently.

Some of the companion lesson resources you will find below include:

Lesson slide decks (in PowerPoint and Google Slide formats)

Decodable passages

Homework sheets

Games and activities for additional practice

We have grouped the lessons into smaller units so you can access these resources more easily. Scroll down to use the buttons below to find the resources for each lesson or groups of lessons.

Please note that we are still building out these free resources, and we will be editing this page over the next few weeks. We wanted you to be able to access some materials as soon as possible, but be sure to come back later to see the rest!
New to UFLI Foundations? Learn about its development, check out a sample lesson plan, view the scope and sequence, and more.

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The UFLI Foundations Toolbox contains all the lesson resources to accompany the lesson plans provided in the UFLI Foundations manual. (Don't have a manual yet? Click here to order one) Every lesson has companion resources that will help you implement the lessons efficiently, effectively, and consistently.

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The Sound Wall materials provided here align with the UFLI Foundations lessons. Included in the UFLI Sound Wall set are the following:

phoneme cards with mouth pictures to represent the articulatory gesture associated with each phoneme,

labels for the sound wall displays, including the place and manner of articulation for consonants, and

grapheme cards that can be added to the sound wall one at a time, as the grapheme-phoneme correspondences are taught.

We have also provided printable version of the Individual Sound wall charts. You may choose to glue them into a file folder for each student or print them front/back to laminate. These may also be enlarged and printed as posters if your classroom space does not allow for the full UFLI Sound Wall displays.
Individual Sound Wall: Consonants Individual Sound Wall: Vowels

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Printable Resources | UF Literacy Institute

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The Sound Wall materials provided here align with the UFLI Foundations lessons. Included in the UFLI Sound Wall set are the following: phoneme cards with mouth pictures to represent the articulatory gesture associated with each phoneme, labels for the sound wall displays, including the place and manner of articulation for consonants, and grapheme cards that can be added to the sound wall one at a time, as the grapheme-phoneme correspondences are taught.

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UFLI Foundations: Progress Monitoring and Differentiation

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UFLI Foundations: How to Implement Day 2 Lessons

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UFLI Foundations: How to Implement Day 1 Lessons

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Shared reading with a decodable text example. Choose decodables that offer practice for recently taught phonics concepts or as a small group intervention.

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An example of using a passage from the class read aloud for shared reading with multiple reads.

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Targeting for K-2 shared reading, some ideas are relevant for G3-5 learning.

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DecodeBuddy on Poe

ProjectRead

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EXAMPLE- Short Vowels Phonics Transfer Small Group

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EXAMPLE- Short Vowels Phonics Transfer Small Group

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Word chain from The Six Shifts

Decodable text from Flyleaf Publisher

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Small Group Templates (Strategy & Shared Text)

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Small Group Templates (Strategy & Shared Text)

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Plan for small groups based on trends and needs. Different types of small groups allow for targeted instruction and support.

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Information on choosing and using decodable texts.

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Talk of decodable texts is everywhere these days. And if you're like many educators we know, you might be working to sort through the hype to make sense of it all.

We've written a lot about decodable texts - exploring their significance, selection criteria, creative implementation strategies, and much more.

Our goal is always to provide practical insights and resources to enhance literacy instruction. We want to help you both understand (theory) and take action (implementation). Of course, much of our writing is based on common questions we receive from educators like you who are trying to make sound decisions about instructional materials.

Each brief summary below contains a link to one of our previous posts about using decodable texts. Across these posts, we unpack important considerations and common questions related to decodable texts and their role in supporting young readers.

This May Not Be Everything You Need to Know About Decodable Texts, but It's A Lot of it!

Wondering what makes a decodable text decodable? Or maybe you're trying to clarify who really needs decodable texts, anyway. In this introduction, we tackle fundamental questions about what makes a text decodable after all. We lay the groundwork for deeper explorations of the topic, which you will find in other posts linked in this index. [ .]

In this post, we consider the question of quantity when it comes to decodable texts. This post includes insights and considerations to help educators make informed decisions about how many decodable texts they need to effectively support beginning readers. [ .]

What to Look For When Choosing Decodable Texts-The WORDS

In this post, our focus shifts to the composition of decodables. Here, we offer guidance for evaluating the mix of words (decodable, high frequency, and content or story words) within decodable texts. This post equips you to think deeply about the ways the words in a decodable text do (or don't) align with the practice your beginning readers need. [ .]

What Else to Look For When Choosing Decodable Texts-The MEANING

In this segment, we explore the significance of another critical consideration for decodable text selection: the meaning-making possibilities the text offers. (Yes, meaning matters in a decodable text!) While decoding skills are crucial, we also emphasize the importance of engaging students in meaningful reading experiences because teaching students to read attending to the meaning behind the words is a recipe for developing word-callers. Read to learn how to select decodable texts that foster comprehension and meaningful engagement, even when the demands of decoding the words are controlled. [ .]

What About FREE Decodable Books and Texts?

Who doesn't love free resources? In this post, we describe affordable and accessible ways to gather decodable texts. From digital platforms to printable materials, we share resources that educators can leverage to enhance their decodable text collections, regardless of budget restraints. Of course, you'll need to look closely at them to make sure they hold up when it comes to aligned decoding meaning-making opportunities. [ .]

More Ideas for Getting Started with Decodable Text

In this post, we provide educators with ideas and strategies for incorporating decodable texts across the school day. From interactive games to independent practice activities, we offer practical ideas to seamlessly weave decoding practice into the day. [ .]

A Free Decodable Text in Three Different Formats

After sharing a page from this text in our K-2 Shifting the Balance book, we received so many requests for the whole text that we made it available as a free resource. In this post, you will find links to three different formats of : a digital flip book for projecting and sharing with students, a downloadable PDF with directions for printing in a book format, and a one-pager for student follow-up practice. [ .]

Explore these additional resources to continue your journey into practical uses of decodable texts.

Explore practical ways to utilize two sets of decodable word lists and sentences introduced in a previous post. We suggest seven ideas for incorporating these resources into teaching, including supplementing a phonics curriculum, providing blending practice in various settings, dictating sentences for spelling and formative assessment, and creating decodable passages for reading practice. These strategies aim to support educators in making reading instruction more effective and accessible for students.

Discover how revisiting and refining small group instruction practices can enhance the use of decodable texts, offering a personalized approach to support foundational reading skills in a dynamic classroom environment.

This guide emphasizes the critical role of decodable texts in flexible phonics instruction, offering insights on how to seamlessly integrate these resources into lessons tailored to meet diverse learner needs and promote comprehensive reading development.

Whether you're just beginning to explore decodable texts or you want to refine your selection process, we hope this collection of posts provides insights and resources that support your journey as you hold fast to your commitment to making learning to read easier for your students.

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Exploring Decodable Texts: A Go-To Resource

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We unravel the world of decodable texts for educators. Discover insights into selecting, evaluating, and creatively implementing these texts for beginning readers. This resource-packed guide provides practical advice, links to detailed posts, and free resources to aid in your journey of making literacy instruction more effective and engaging.

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Whole Class/Small Group Word Feature Concepts 

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Grade 2 Simplified TC Scope and Sequence

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Grade 2 Simplified TC Scope and Sequence

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ISHarare G1 Session #3  Shift in WorkshopTransferCenters Feb. 2024

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Assessment Conference Note Taking Form w/ Prompts

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Assessment Conference Note Taking Form w/ Prompts

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From Jennifer Serravallo - 'Reading Conferences'

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KG  Lesson Planning Sheet w/ PYP Essentials

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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G2 Lesson Planning Sheet w/ PYP Essentials

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Conferring Notes: Word Recognition Focus

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Conferring Notes: Word Recognition Focus

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Copy of Grade 1 UFLI Progress Monitoring Spelling Assessment Master

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UFLI Progress Monitoring Assessment Template

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Essentials of phonics instruction and where it lives in Units of Study

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Essentials of phonics instruction and where it lives in Units of Study

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ISHarare G2 Oct. 23 - What is Essential in Phonics Planning TC Sessions

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Units of Study lesson vs. Essentials lesson plan

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Units of Study lesson vs. Essentials lesson plan

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UFLI Passages
The Measured Mom-Fiction  Nonfiction
Core Knowledge Student Readers
Beyond Decodables
Speld Phonic Books
Open Source Phonics (Passages)
Flyleaf Publishing
Starfall

Other decodable books to purchase

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Passages that match the phonics feature you are using...

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Revised Phonics Essentials Planner EXAMPLE

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Revised Phonics Essentials Planner EXAMPLE

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IS Harare Revised Phonics Planner EXEMPLAR

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M.Ed. - Character Education

Post-Grad. Cert. - Early Literacy Development

25+ years PK-G2 classroom teacher

Literacy Coach, Mentor Program Coordinator

Finds joy in: word study, creating caring classrooms, reigniting teacher’s joy, eating ice cream, swimming and travel

miles@erinkentconsulting.com

linkedin.com/in/milesmadison/

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SSIS K-2 Phonics Workshop #1 - Phonics WorkshopFramework, TC Overview, & Intro to Assessment (8)

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IS Harare K-2 Phonics Workshop Checklist & Ideas

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K-2 Phonics Workshop Checklist and Ideas

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K-2 Phonics Workshop Checklist and Ideas

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SSIS K-2 Phonics Workshop Checklist & Ideas

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Lucy Calkins and Colleagues Units of Study

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Home / Our Series - Phonics

To create these new phonics units, Lucy and her coauthors have drawn on all that they know from decades of teaching reading and writing in thousands of classrooms across the world, and they've relied on proven, research-based practices-especially on the work of Isabel Beck, Donna Scanlon, Pat and Jim Cunningham, Rollanda O'Connor, Marilyn Adams, Tim Rasinski, Donald Bear, Wiley Blevins, and the late Marie Clay.

The new Units of Study in Phonics, Grades K-2:

provide a lean and concise instructional pathway in phonics that is realistic and doable, and that taps into kids' skills and energy for tackling the fabulous challenge of learning to read and write,

introduce high-leverage phonics concepts and strategies in a way that keeps pace with students' reading and writing and helps them understand when, how, and why they can use phonics to read and write,

offer delightfully fun and engaging storylines, classroom mascots, songs, chants, rhymes, and games to help students fall head over heels in love with phonics and to create a joyous community of learners,

align with state-of-the-art reading and writing workshops for a coherent approach in which terminology, tools, rituals, and methods are shared in ways that benefit both teachers and kids.

In the hurly-burly of classroom life, every minute you spend on one subject is less time spent on another subject. Lucy and her coauthors aim to protect time for authentic reading and writing, while also helping you teach a rigorous, research-based phonics curriculum.

Units of Study

Small Groups to Support Phonics

Resource Pack & Mentor Texts

Online Resources

WATCH A SAMPLE MINILESSON VIDEO

Purchasing Options
Ordering Guidance:
Each teacher will need one set of Units and one Resource Pack. (Note: The Resource Pack materials for each grade level are extensive and come packed in two boxes.) In addition, schools will need to plan for some other resources including a stuffed elephant or lion (Mabel and Rasheed-our K and grade 1 mascots) for each classroom, plus some other classroom materials, such as white boards and magnetic letters, that many classrooms already have. For a complete list of resources, see inventory/shopping lists: Grade K, Grade 1, and Grade 2.

Phonics Bundles for Grades K-2

School Supply Shopping List (not available from Heinemann)

Phonics Units for Grades K-2

Resource Packs for Each Grade Level

A Note About Resource Packs: The Resource Packs are composed of resources made from good-quality card stock, all beautifully illustrated and printed in 4-color. Resources include alphabet charts, many other types of other charts, letter cards, word cards, picture cards, printed copies of poems and songs, other cards such as onset rime cards and vowel picture cards, and much more-about 40 pounds of resources per grade level! (Note: Resources for each grade level come packed in two boxes.)

Related Resources

Learn More

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Units of Study for Teaching Phonics Grades K-2

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Home / Our Series - Phonics To create these new phonics units, Lucy and her coauthors have drawn on all that they know from decades of teaching reading and writing in thousands of classrooms across the world, and they've relied on proven, research-based practices-especially on the work of Isabel Beck, Donna Scanlon, Pat and Jim Cunningham, Rollanda O'Connor, Marilyn Adams, Tim Rasinski, Donald Bear, Wiley Blevins, and the late Marie Clay.

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Advancing Literacy (formerly TCRWP) is a research think tank and staff development organization based at Teachers College, Columbia University. The videos in this...

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Access Codes:
KG: UOSPH_HYSC7
G1: UOSPH_JYAF9
G2: UOSPH_LPWQ3

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K 2 Phonics Workshop 2 Unpacking a Unit of Study

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Chart with reading phases/levels/look fors

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Chart with reading phases/levels/look fors

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For each of these seven must haves, Wiley shares lessons, routines, word lists, tips for ELL and advanced learners, and advice on pitfalls to avoid regarding pacing, decodable texts, transition time, and more.

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A Fresh Look at Phonics, Grades K-2: Common Causes of Failure and 7 Ingredients for Success (Corwin Literacy)

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Amazon.com: A Fresh Look at Phonics, Grades K-2: Common Causes of Failure and 7 Ingredients for Success (Corwin Literacy): 9781506326887: Blevins, Wiley: Books

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Word Chaining List from Burkins and Yates

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Word Chaining List from Burkins and Yates

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"Finally, a book that has the power to stop the literacy pendulum swings! In Shifting the Balance, Burkins and Yates skillfully explore 'balanced literacy' and 'the science of reading' to find the sweet spots where they overlap, connect, and actually complement one another. The result is a resource that raises our level of instruction while helping children discover and reap the joyful rewards of reading."

"What are the research-based, critical elements for teaching reading? In Shifting the Balance, Jan and Kari give you the information, classroom examples, and tools to help you make the best decisions around six key shifts for instruction. After reviewing the misunderstandings, the science, and the needs of your students, you will be able to audit your current practices (individually, in a PLC, or system-wide) to provide responsive and effective literacy learning for all your students."

"In Shifting the Balance, Jan and Kari invite us to reflect and reexamine our beliefs about teaching reading. They gently nudge us to rethink and possibly adjust our early literacy practices. Jan and Kari have taken on this controversial topic by embracing vulnerability and modeling what it means to be truly reflective practitioners. This book is a must read for new and veteran teachers!"

"In Shifting the Balance, Kari and Jan have masterfully dispelled many of the myths and misunderstandings associated with reading instruction. Additionally, they offer classroom teachers and coaches six simple, practical shifts that have the power to transform the way we teach children how to read. Indeed, balanced literacy and science do exist in harmony, and we practitioners can offer our children both concurrently. Thank you, Kari and Jan, for this important work that is sure to change lives!"

"In Shifting the Balance, Jan Burkins and Kari Yates provide a safe space for teachers to courageously examine some long-held balanced literacy practices and turn a critical eye to where those practices have gotten out of balance. If you're willing to be vulnerable and move towards resolving the gap between research and practice, this book provides actionable steps you can take to shift your thinking and bring instruction into alignment with the scientific evidence."

"Shifting the Balance is a welcoming opportunity to reexamine our familiar teaching practices. Without judgment, Burkins and Yates invigorate these practices by inviting educators to make scientific shifts in the systems that have been in place for years. This book will revolutionize reading instruction and in turn, the lives of countless students."

"This book speaks to teachers. It is overwhelmingly clear that Jan Burkins and Kari Yates have been and are immersed in the world of today's classrooms. Shifting the Balance will help many rethink instruction in ways that will support all students. In the current version of the Reading Wars, it is difficult for any of us to say we were wrong about some of our beliefs or practices. And thus, few do. However, Jan Burkins and Kari Yates have done just that. This is as commendable as it is unusual."

"This book found me at just the right time! Shifting the Balance gives voice to the questions I've had in my mind about Balanced Literacy and the Science of Reading and provides clear insights on how to connect the best parts of both to benefit early readers. Throughout the book, Jan and Kari confirm practices worth holding onto while providing actionable next steps I can't wait to implement with students to strengthen my reading instruction."

Dr. Jan Burkins was an elementary classroom teacher for seven years and a literacy coach for seven years. She has worked as a part-time assistant professor, a district literacy leader, and is currently a fulltime writer and consultant.

Kari Yates is an author, speaker, consultant and staff developer with a passion for helping busy literacy educators thrive. Her experiences include classroom teacher, special education, Reading Recovery teacher, elementary principal and district literacy coordinator.

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Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom

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Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom

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Overview of phonics assessments and recommended schedule based on Unit of Study timing.

KG Phonics Assessment Schedule
G1 Phonics Assessment Schedule