Engage your students during reading intervention sessions with my tailor-made lessons. These lessons, designed to teach reading effectively, perfectly align with the 5 Pillars of Literacy.

We all know that literacy is the foundation upon which we build our understanding of the world. It empowers us, giving us the ability to communicate, comprehend, and connect with others. But how exactly do we nurture this essential skill? Today, I'm excited to introduce you to a remarkable framework for teaching reading - the 5 Pillars of Literacy. What's more, I'm going to share with you free phonics lessons that incorporate these pillars, providing a comprehensive approach to instill a lifelong love of reading in learners. So, sit back, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and let's dive into this enlightening journey!

5 Pillars of Literacy

5 Pillars of Literacy Provides a Strong Reading Foundation!

Pillar 1: Phonemic Awareness

Let's kick things off with our first pillar - Phonemic Awareness. Now you might be wondering, what exactly is phonemic awareness? Well, it's the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds or phonemes in words. It's a crucial stepping stone in understanding how letters are linked to sounds, laying the groundwork for letter-sound correspondences. 

Phonemic Awareness is the ability to…

• hear

• identify

• manipulate individual sounds or phonemes in words

In my lesson plans, I've made sure to include Practical Skill Work activities like Word Sorts, Word Chains, and sound identification exercises. These activities are not just fun, they're designed to develop this essential skill in children. Trust me, once they start recognizing these sounds, their reading journey becomes so much more exciting!

Pillar 2: Phonics

Moving on from phonemic awareness, let's explore our second pillar - Phonics. Phonics is essentially the relationship between letters and their respective sounds in a language. It's like the secret decoder ring to the world of reading! Understanding phonics is crucial as it allows students to decode words, breaking them down into understandable parts.

Phonics is the…

• association between letters and the sounds they represent.

In my lessons, we don't just touch upon phonics, we immerse ourselves in it! Each lesson is designed to target a specific phoneme, following an order that builds on what the students have already learned. This systematic approach ensures that students not only understand these phonemes but can also apply their sound/word recognition skills to text.

Now, let's chat about some of the research-based activities we use. Decoding and blending exercises, for instance, help students sound out both real and nonsense words, allowing them to understand how different phonemes come together to create words. Encoding activities, on the other hand, focus on word mapping - an effective strategy that helps students visualize the phoneme-letter relationship.

We also ensure that each phoneme is connected to decodable text, reinforcing the practical application of the phonics skills being taught. And of course, we round off each lesson with purposeful phonics activities such as segmenting and blending exercises, word mapping, and more.

By integrating these strategies, we ensure that our phonics instruction aligns with the science of reading research, providing students with a robust foundation in this essential literacy skill. So, buckle up and get ready to dive into the exciting world of phonics!

Pillar 3: Fluency

Let's move onto the third pillar of literacy - Fluency. But what does it mean to read fluently? Well, in simple terms, reading fluency is the ability to read text accurately, quickly, and with expression. It's like gliding over the water on a surfboard, catching wave after wave with ease and grace. When a reader is fluent, they can focus less on decoding words and more on understanding what the text means.

Reading fluency is the ability to…

• read text accurately

• quickly

• and with expression

So, how do we develop fluency? In our lessons, we practice fluency through a variety of engaging activities. We use Fluency Phrases and Fluency Sentences- short, manageable chunks of texts that allow students to apply their phonics skills in a meaningful context.

For instance, we use Fluency Phrases and Fluency Sentences - these are short phrases and sentences that repeat common words and sounds. By practicing these regularly, students not only improve their reading speed and smoothness (hello, fluency!) but also familiarize themselves with a range of vocabulary. 

And let's not forget about High-Frequency Words practice. By repeatedly reading words that commonly appear in texts, students gradually build their reading speed and accuracy.

Remember, the goal here is to make reading as smooth and effortless as possible. This way, students can focus more on understanding the text, leading to a more enjoyable and enriching reading experience. So, whether it's through practicing fluency phrases or sorting sentences, every activity is designed to help your child become a confident, fluent reader.

Pillar 4: Vocabulary

Now, let's move on to another pillar that plays a starring role in literacy - Vocabulary. You see, having a rich vocabulary is like possessing a magic key that unlocks the world of reading comprehension. The more words you know, the better you can understand what you're reading. That's why I've woven innovative vocabulary lessons into my phonics sessions.

Vocabulary is a group or collection of words that a person knows or uses. It's like your word toolbox, filled with words you use to speak, write, and understand what others are saying.

In these lessons, we explore vocabulary through word mapping and decodable text. Word mapping is an engaging process where we dissect words, delving into their sounds, spellings, and meanings. This deep dive not only enriches children's word banks but also helps them understand how words are built.

Then there's decodable text. These are texts that contain words which kids can decode or sound out based on the phonics rules they've learned. Reading decodable texts gives children the opportunity to apply their phonics skills while simultaneously expanding their vocabulary.

But the real magic happens during our discussions. You see, discussing new words and their meanings is perhaps the most effective way to assimilate new vocabulary. It's in these conversations that children get to use new words in context, helping them truly grasp their meanings.

So, through word mapping, decodable texts, and lively discussions, my phonics lessons ensure that children not only learn new words but truly understand and remember them, boosting their reading comprehension skills.

Pillar 5: Comprehension

Last, but certainly not least, let's delve into the final pillar - Comprehension. Comprehension is like the grand finale of the reading process. It's why we read in the first place, right? To understand and absorb the information being presented. Without comprehension, reading would be like looking at a beautiful painting with our eyes closed!

Comprehension is simply understanding what you read or hear. It's like getting the message or the main idea from a story, article, or conversation.

In my lessons, I make it a priority to enhance students' comprehension skills. We do this through vocabulary discussions and mixed phonics skills review days. By expanding their vocabulary, students are equipped with a broader range of words to understand and express ideas. This not only enhances their comprehension but also improves their overall communication skills.

On mixed phonics skills review days, we revisit previously learned phonics skills. This reinforcement helps students solidify their understanding and apply these skills more effectively when reading.

Throughout these review days, I pepper in a variety of questions designed to stimulate thought and discussion. These questions encourage students to delve deeper into the text, promoting higher-level thinking and boosting their comprehension skills.

The ultimate goal here is simple - to ensure that every student doesn't just read the words on a page, but truly understands them. After all, comprehension is the key that unlocks the true joy of reading!

And there you have it, folks! The five pillars of teaching reading - Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, and Comprehension. Each pillar is a stepping stone that paves the way for children to not just read, but truly understand and enjoy what they're reading.

As educators, incorporating these pillars into your teaching strategies can make a world of difference. It's like giving your students the keys to unlock the magic of language, one sound, one word, one sentence at a time.

And remember, I'm here to help you on this journey! Don't forget to grab your free phonics lesson that's designed to help you Teach Reading with the 5 Pillars of Literacy. This lesson is just a taste of the full curriculum available at my TPT store, which is packed with engaging, research-based activities that align with the science of reading.

Check out my Lessons that align with the 5 Pillars of Reading at

13 Powerful Lessons for Phonics that You Need to Know

So, let's do this! Let's empower our students with the skills they need to thrive in the world of reading. After all, every great adventure begins with a single page turn!