Fix-It Phonics

Synopsis

Letterland Fix-it Phonics makes learning English fun and easy to remember. Level 2 introduces: - (Aa-Zz) Sounds & shapes review - 26 digraphs / new spelling patterns - Essential English grammar - Essential English vocabulary - Understanding spoken English - Speaking in English.

Summary

Chapter 1: Taking the First Step

In the first chapter, we are introduced to the Fix-It Phonics program. This program, developed by Dr. Ernest Healy, provides a comprehensive system for teaching beginning readers phonics and spelling. We are also introduced to Jack and Jill, the program’s two main characters. Jack and Jill are both new to the program and don’t understand some of the basic phonemes or spelling rules. This chapter focuses on helping Jack and Jill take their first steps into the world of phonics and spelling, with the goal of making this knowledge easier for them to understand and remember. It goes over some of the basic concepts, like the difference between a long and a short vowel, the sound combinations (consonant blends) that can occur and how to pronounce words. To help illustrate these topics, the chapter concludes with an example of Jack and Jill solving a phonics puzzle and decoding a letter.

Chapter 2: Building a Strong Foundation

The second chapter looks further into the building blocks of phonics and spelling, like the letter sounds, syllables and digraphs. We are also introduced to more advanced concepts, like onset and rime, that focus on the more difficult aspects of phonics and spelling. This is done by using real-world examples, such as Jack and Jill trying to read a longer phrase or their attempt at spelling a longer word. Through this chapter, the reader is able to make a stronger connection between how these concepts work and how they can be used in everyday reading and writing activities.

Chapter 3: Expanding the Knowledge

The third chapter focuses on building upon the foundations from the previous two chapters. It introduces a selection of more advanced topics, such as prefixes, suffixes and roots. These topics are again discussed in a real-world context, with Jack and Jill trying to use them in their own reading and writing. The chapter also looks into more complex spelling words and the vowel pairs that can be formed. By the end of the chapter, Jack and Jill are able to identify many of the common spelling rules and patterns, which they can then use to accurately spell the words in the word list at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 4: Understanding Difficult Words

The fourth chapter focuses on helping Jack and Jill understand and work with more complex words. Dr. Healy introduces rules and patterns for understanding the meaning of words, such as word families, compounds and contraction words. For each of these topics, Jack and Jill practice with real-world examples, such as reading a passage out loud or looking for words using root words. Through this chapter, Jack and Jill are able to recognize and identify more advanced words, improving their reading and spelling capabilities.

Chapter 5: Putting it All Together

The final chapter is all about applying the skills learned in the program to activities. It starts by introducing the ‘Phonogram Challenge’, a game where the reader can test their phonics skills using the phoneme and graphemes learned in the program. We also see Jack and Jill playing games and reading stories to apply their new skills. Finally, Dr. Healy provides advice for parents, such as how to monitor their child's progress and set up an effective reward system. As the chapter closes, Jack and Jill have successfully learned the phonics and spelling needed to help them become successful beginning readers.