The Skills Strand teaches the mechanics of reading–students are taught systematic and explicit phonics instruction as their primary tool for decoding written English. By the end of grade 2, students have learned all of the sound‐spelling correspondences in the English language and are able to decode written material they encounter. In addition to phonics, students also are taught spelling, grammar, and writing during the Skills Strand.

The Blending Picture Cards, consisting of 40 color pictures of objects and items, are used exclusively in Unit 2 of the Kindergarten Skills strand. The pictures can be used as visual cues to help students blend names of objects and items. These names consist of either two or three sounds and are therefore suitable for early blending practice.

Each student will use a Student Chaining Folder, in conjunction with a set of Small Letter Cards in Units 5–7 of the Kindergarten Skills strand, to practice spelling words as indicated in each of these units’ respective Teacher Guides. Students will arrange Small Letter Cards on their Chaining Folders.

The Large Letter Card Set will be used in Units 3–10 of the Kindergarten Skills strand, for Large Card chaining exercises as indicated in each of these units’ respective Teacher Guides. In Large Card Chaining, each student is given a single Large Card with a single- or multi-letter spelling printed on it. The teacher says a word and students arrange themselves to spell the word.

Each student will use a Small Letter Card Set in conjunction with a Chaining Folder, in Units 5–7 of the Kindergarten Skills strand, to practice spelling words as indicated in each of these units’ respective Teacher Guides. Students will arrange Small Letter Cards on their Chaining Folders.

These Sound Cards will be used in conjunction with the Sound Posters in Units 3–5, 7–8, and 10 of the Kindergarten Skills strand, as indicated in each of these units’ respective Teacher Guides. The Sound Cards represent the spellings that stand for sounds.

These Sound Posters will be used in conjunction with the Sound Cards in Units 3–5, 7–8, and 10 of the Kindergarten Skills strand, as indicated in each of these units’ respective Teacher Guides. The Sound Posters are intended to be posted on the walls of the classroom as you teach letter-sound correspondences. They provide a visual reminder of the code knowledge students have been taught, and are a very useful reference for spelling and writing.

Unit 1 - Word awareness and prewriting