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Phonics Brush-Up
Ages 5–10 • 8–12 weeks • 2–3x/week • Level: Brush‑Up
Quick Overview
- Gap analysis
- Targeted digraphs
- Magic‑e & teams
- Tricky words intensive
- Multisyllabic decoding
Learning Outcomes
- Eliminate identified gaps
- Personal reader booklet
- Spelling list mastery
Detailed Curriculum
What we learn
- Quick diagnostic of sounds, blending, and reading stamina
- Identify exactly what the child misses (sounds / blending / rules / fluency)
- Personalized weekly goal (1–2 priorities only)
Class activities
- Sound check: 20 mixed sounds (incl. sh/ch/th, ai/ee, ar/or)
- Blending check: 10 CVC + 5 CCVC (stop, flag)
- Reading check: 1 short decodable (accuracy + speed)
- Spelling check: 8 words (CVC + 2 digraph + 2 long vowel)
- Create the 'Focus Ladder' (Top 3 weak areas)
Home practice
- 2-minute daily sound review (flash/audio)
- 1 short decodable reread (same page for 3 days)
What we learn
- Slow → smooth blending (no guessing)
- Segmenting to spell (stretch the word)
- Common blends: st, sp, sk, sl, cl, bl, fl, gl, cr, fr, gr, tr
- End blends: nd, nt, mp, ft, lk
Class activities
- Tap-and-blend drill (10 CVC → 10 CCVC/CVCC)
- Minimal pairs game (pin/pan, cap/cab)
- Build-a-word tiles (change 1 sound at a time)
- Quick dictation (8 words + 2 sentences)
Home practice
- Daily 5-min blending (10 words)
- Spell 5 words (say → tap → write)
What we learn
- 2 letters = 1 sound (digraph)
- th can be voiced/unvoiced (simple exposure)
- qu = /kw/
- ng/nk endings (optional extension for stronger kids)
Class activities
- Digraph detective (hunt in words + highlight)
- Sort & read: sh/ch/th/wh/qu
- Read a short digraph passage
- Dictation (10 words) + 'fix the mistake' sheet
Home practice
- Worksheet + 1-page reader
- Make 5 sentences using digraph words (choose from word bank)
What we learn
- Magic-e changes short vowel to long vowel
- Reads minimal pairs without confusion (cap/cape)
- Spells magic-e words (made vs mad)
Class activities
- Flip-cards: short → long (10 pairs)
- Minimal pair sorting + speed read
- Sentence read + underline magic-e
- Dictation (8 words + 2 sentences)
Home practice
- Pairs list (10 pairs)
- Mini reader page (magic-e)
What we learn
- ai usually in middle; ay often at end (simple rule)
- ee vs ea (common words practice)
- Stop guessing: scan for vowel team first
Class activities
- Word ladders (rain→train; see→tree)
- Team sort (ai/ay + ee/ea)
- Phrase cards (read & act)
- Dictation (10 team words) + 1 short paragraph read
Home practice
- ai/ay worksheet + ee/ea worksheet (short)
- Read 1 paragraph and circle vowel teams
What we learn
- R changes the vowel sound
- er/ir/ur often sound similar (spelling exposure)
- Common tricky set practice: her/here, for/four (exposure)
Class activities
- Sort & read (ar/or/er/ir/ur)
- Timed read: short r-controlled passage
- Dictation (10 words) + 2 sentences
- Picture match: choose correct r-word
Home practice
- r-controlled worksheet
- Read 1 page and underline r-controlled
What we learn
- Syllable basics: closed/open/magic-e/consonant+le (intro)
- Split 2-syllable words and read smoothly
- Simple suffixes: -s, -es, -ing, -ed (intro)
Class activities
- Chunk & read: 12 two-syllable words
- Syllable type spot (quick marking)
- Add suffix game (play→playing, jump→jumped)
- Short passage read (2-syllable focus)
Home practice
- 2-syllable list (10): split with a line and read
- Suffix mini practice (8 words)
What we learn
- Spiral review of weak areas (from Week 1 ladder)
- Fluency routine: accuracy → smoothness → expression
- Tricky words (bridge set) with spaced practice
Class activities
- Game Day: mixed skills stations (blends, digraphs, magic-e, teams, r-controlled)
- Fluency: repeated reading (same passage 3 times)
- Tricky words: read → clap syllables (if long) → use in sentence
- Mini assessment + celebrate growth
Home practice
- Bridge tricky words (15) spaced practice: once daily for 5 days
- Personal reader 20–60 words (reread x3 across the week)