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On Phonics
Beginning in Kindergarten, students start their journey towards becoming fluent and confident readers, speakers, and writers with the building blocks of our language. Instead of relying on students’ memorization of sight words, we teach our students how words truly work.
We explicitly and intentionally teach students all the sounds that letters or letter combinations make, while also providing direct instruction in how various sounds are spelled. This approach is systematic as it guides young students using a logical step-by-step progression.
Quienes somos
At Heritage Classical Academy, we use Literacy Essentials published by the Hillsdale College K-12 Education department and rooted in the Orton-Gillingham method of phonics instruction. In his or her first year, a student at Heritage learns the “basic code” of English: a set of 71 phonograms for 43 sounds which go into nearly every English word.
For instance, students learn that the letter “e” has two main sounds, and that in certain circumstances “e” will sound like egg and in others like me. Phonogram familiarity affords students confidence as words increase in length and complexity throughout elementary school.
Spelling Rules
As our students continue to bolster their knowledge of the phonograms, they also are directly taught 47 different spelling rules which govern the English language. Modern English can trace its roots to a plethora of languages, and this knowledge of the rules allow students to spell and read with confidence, even as words become more tricky.
Penmanship
Finally, students are taught fundamentals of letter formation, pencil grip, and neatness from the first day of school. This emphasis on patience and perseverance shapes our approach throughout the academic day, but is especially evident in explicit phonics instruction. Beginning at the midpoint of second grade, our students delight in learning cursive, which allows them to write beautifully and efficiently.
