Phonics and Spelling
Abeka Phonics (K-GI)
Abeka Phonics is a colorful and engaging traditional phonics & reading curriculum. Using
their “6 Easy Steps to Reading” students learn to read quickly by mastering letter sounds
and blends.
Step 1: Learn to recognize short vowels and their sounds
Step 2: Learn to recognize the consonants and their sounds
Step 3: Learn to Blend (consonant + short vowel – “sa”, “se”, “si”, etc)
Step 4: Learn one sound vowel words (consonant + short vowel + consonant - “sat”)
Step 5: Learn the sounds of the long vowels. Learn to sound two-vowel words
Step 6: Learn the special phonics sounds
*Abeka phonics program contains 132 special sounds (often called phonics
rules) which are listed in the handbook for reading in charts 6-13.
Kindergarten students will progress through step 5 while Grammar I students will spend
most of the year on Step 6.
How to use the materials:
 The Abeka phonics method is used successfully when implemented through
repetition and drill. Using a variety of materials (Audio CD, Flashcards, Wall Charts,
etc) the tutor will teach and drill the phonics rules in the classroom. The Handbook
for Reading (HFR) duplicates most of the materials that the tutor will use in a small
hand-held format. Become familiar with HFR and use this at home to drill the
phonics concepts and rules. The HFR Teachers’ Edition will give you directions for
how to use each one of the pages with your child.
 The readers will provide an opportunity for students to practice applying the
concepts and rules they have learned by reading real stories.
 Some students may need more variety. If your student is frustrated, try presenting
the information in an alternative way. For example, if your child’s hand is getting
tired from hand writing an assignment, switch to magnetic letters and a sheet pan.
Some children are motivated by white board markers. Practice spelling or special
sounds on the whiteboard with markers instead of paper/pencil. Think of ways to
creatively practice a skill in an alternative way.
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Modern Curriculum Press Spelling Workout and Phonics (GII)
Modern Curriculum Press (MCP) Phonics and Spelling Workout (SWO) provide excellent
practice and review following the two years of Abeka Phonics in Kindergarten and Grammar I.
SWO Book C is a phonics-based spelling approach. Each list is based on a phonics rule or a
group of rules noted in the “Tip” box at the top of each spelling list. Your child will complete
most of the spelling work at home (pre-test, practice pages, and final test). It is not necessary for
your child to memorize the rules, though frequent referral back to the rule during practice can
help your child see how the words follow the rule.
MCP Phonics Book C reviews basic phonetic concepts within a variety of exercises and
introduces extensive work with base words, prefixes, suffixes, plurals, etc. Generally, your tutor
will not assign the writing exercises in each lesson (green box marked “Writing” at the top of the
workbook pages). When possible, your tutor will assign the MCP pages that correlate with the
SWO spelling list. You’ll jump around in this book throughout the year.
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