Combining UFLI with My Science of Reading Phonics Lessons to Supercharge Student Growth
The Shift in Our District’s Approach to Title Reading Groups
Never before has our district mandated Title Reading Groups to use a specific curriculum. For years, we were left to our own devices, piecing together materials, pulling from various resources, and scrambling late at night to create lessons that would meet the needs of our struggling readers. While this patchwork approach had its moments of success, it often felt inconsistent and overwhelming.
That’s why I took it upon myself to develop my Science of Reading Phonics Lesson Plans. I wanted something structured, easy to implement, and effective—no more last-minute prep or trying to reinvent the wheel every night. These lessons, which I call Word Recognition Lessons, became the foundation for teaching decoding, fluency, and connecting phonics skills to real-life reading. Little did I know that these lessons would change not just my students' outcomes but also my own approach to teaching phonics.
My Science of Reading Phonics Lessons
Why I Created My Lesson Plans
As educators, we all know the stress that comes with feeling unprepared, especially when dealing with struggling readers. I designed my Word Recognition Lessons to put an end to that frantic late-night planning. My goal was simple: create a structured, reliable pathway for phonics instruction that any teacher could pick up and use with confidence.
These lessons focus on two key areas that drive reading growth: decoding and fluency. But they also go a step further, helping students apply what they’ve learned to actual texts. Over time, I watched as my students' decoding abilities skyrocketed, and their fluency rates followed suit. The structure gave them confidence, and the results were measurable.
Components of My Word Recognition Lessons
Skill Work
At the heart of my lessons is Skill Work, which focuses on foundational skills like letter-sound relationships and high-frequency word recognition. These activities build the essential groundwork that students need to tackle more complex reading tasks. I’ve seen firsthand how students become more confident as they master these basics, which in turn motivates them to engage in more challenging reading.
Decoding and Blending
Decoding and blending are central to any strong reading program. In my lessons, students practice breaking down words into individual sounds and then blending those sounds to form whole words. I still remember the look of pride on a student's face when they independently decoded their first multi-syllable word. That moment of accomplishment is what makes the hard work worth it. Decoding empowers students to tackle unfamiliar words, and blending helps them smooth out their reading to become more fluent.
Word Mapping
One of the most effective tools in my lessons is Word Mapping. Using graphic organizers and word walls, students learn to visualize word structures, which reinforces spelling patterns and expands their vocabulary. It’s like giving them a roadmap to navigate the sometimes confusing rules of English spelling. This method not only helps with immediate word recognition but also supports long-term retention.
Connecting Phonics Skills to Text
A huge turning point for my students came when I started focusing on connecting phonics skills to real text. I’ve always believed that phonics drills alone aren’t enough—students need to see how these skills work in real-world reading scenarios. By bridging the gap between phonics exercises and actual reading, my students became more engaged, and their comprehension improved significantly. They began to understand that the skills they practiced weren’t just abstract concepts but tools they could use to read and understand stories and texts in everyday life.
The Introduction of UFLI in Our District A New Mandate
This year, our district introduced a new mandate: all Title reading teachers must use UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) as their core curriculum. Initially, my team was skeptical. After all, what we were doing was working, and the thought of switching to a new program was intimidating. But we quickly discovered that UFLI wasn’t meant to replace what we were doing—it was meant to complement it.
Combining UFLI with My Lesson Plans: The Perfect Partnership
Once we began integrating UFLI into our daily instruction, we realized it was the perfect partnership for our Word Recognition Lessons. UFLI brought a systematic, research-based approach that seamlessly aligned with the personalized lessons I had created. Together, these resources gave us a comprehensive toolkit for teaching phonics, decoding, and fluency.
One of the best parts about combining UFLI with my lesson plans was the depth it added to our instruction. UFLI provided a clear structure, while my lessons offered a more tailored approach to meet individual student needs. The result? Students made supercharged growth in both decoding and fluency. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard from my team about the visible progress students are making. It’s a testament to the power of using multiple resources to support student growth.
Key Takeaways from Using UFLI and My Lessons
Improved Fluency and Decoding
The structured combination of UFLI and my Word Recognition Lessons has led to significant improvements in student decoding skills and fluency. With consistent, targeted practice, students are decoding words more quickly and reading with more confidence.
Empowered Teachers, Confident Students
Having a wealth of resources at our disposal has empowered not just the students but the teachers as well. Knowing we have a solid plan—backed by proven resources—allows us to be flexible and responsive to student needs. Our students are thriving, and we as teachers feel more confident than ever that we’re on the right track.
Conclusion: Looking Ahead
Reflecting on the past year, I’m amazed at the success we’ve seen by combining UFLI with personalized phonics instruction. This blend of structured curriculum and tailored lessons has transformed the way we teach, and more importantly, the way our students learn.
I’m excited to continue building on this momentum and to see how these resources will continue to shape the reading outcomes of our struggling students. With UFLI and my Word Recognition Lessons, I’m confident we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible for student growth in reading.
DISCLAIMER:
THIS PRODUCT IS NOT ENDORSED BY UFLI FOUNDATIONS. IT IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE PROGRAM IN ANY WAY. NO PART OF THIS UNIT COPIES ANY MATERIAL FOUND IN THE MANUAL OR IN THE TOOLBOX.
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