Small Group Phonics Instruction: The Science of Reading Approach
If you’ve transitioned to the Science of Reading (SoR) model, you know that small group phonics instruction is a game-changer for building strong readers. This approach focuses on the foundational skills children need, such as phonemic awareness, phonics, and decoding, before moving into comprehension strategies.
With small group phonics instruction, students receive targeted support, allowing them to master essential literacy skills in a structured and systematic way.
Key Takeaways Ahead:
- How SoR Small Group Phonics Instruction Looks Different
- How To Plan & Organize Small Group Phonics Instruction
- The Best SoR Activities for Small Group Phonics Instruction
- Final Thoughts & Encouragement
- More Science of Reading Resources
How SoR Small Group Phonics Instruction Looks Different
In traditional reading instruction, small groups often center around leveled-texts, silent reading, or independent practice activities like “rainbow writing”. To be frank, those activities are proven to be worthless in regard to actually learning phonics skills (And hey – if you’re still doing these activities, don’t feel bad! I taught this way for 30 years too before my school adopted a Science of Reading program).
The point is that traditional small group reading instruction often skips over foundational skills that are crucial for reading success.
In a SoR-based small group, the emphasis shifts to structured literacy. Instead of grouping students based on reading levels, they’re grouped according to their mastery of specific phonics skills.
For example: one group might need help with short vowel sounds, while another works on consonant blends. This targeted approach ensures that students develop the skills they need to decode words before they are asked to comprehend texts independently.
In the SoR model, small groups are fluid and flexible. Students move in and out of groups based on their progress with specific skills, making the instruction much more individualized. The goal is not to push students to the next level of text complexity, but to ensure they have mastered the foundational skills necessary for reading success.
How To Plan & Organize Small Group Phonics Instruction
To effectively implement small group phonics instruction, it’s important to focus on planning and organization. Here are some tips to get started:
1. Use Data To Inform Grouping
Your small groups should be informed by data, and the best way to gather that data is through ongoing assessments. Start by conducting phonics assessments to determine where each student stands in terms of phonemic awareness, decoding, and phonics knowledge. These assessments could include tools like:
- Phonemic awareness tests (identifying sounds in words)
- Decoding assessments (reading nonsense words or decodable texts)
- Phonics pattern recognition (assessing which phonics patterns students have mastered)
Once you have this data, you can form your groups based on the specific skills students need to work on. For instance, one group might need help with short vowel sounds, while another group is ready to tackle digraphs.
For example, in my own second grade classroom, I have groups ranging all the way from lesson 5 to lesson 65. This is normal (and actually expected if you’re doing your assessments and targeted instruction correctly). We’re using the Science of Reading principles to close those wide gaps in student reading abilities.
Regular assessments are key to ensuring that your groups remain flexible, allowing students to move between groups as they master different skills.
2. Keep Groups Small and Focused
One tip to remember is to keep your groups small – ideally between 3 and 6 students. This allows for more individualized attention and targeted support. Smaller groups also help students stay engaged and give you more opportunities to monitor each child’s progress closely.
In these groups, the focus should be on phonics skills, not just on reading comprehension. This might mean spending time explicitly teaching sound-letter correspondences, blending, and segmenting words, rather than jumping into complex texts.
3. Set Clear, Specific Goals
Each group should have a clear, specific goal that aligns with the skills they need to master. For example, one group might work on blending CVC words, while another focuses on reading words with silent e. These goals should be tied to your assessment data and communicated to your students.
Some goals might include:
- Mastering CVC words
- Learning digraphs like ch and sh
- Reading words with long vowel patterns
- Building fluency with decodable texts
Having clear goals ensures that your instruction is focused and purposeful, and it also gives students a sense of achievement when they meet their objectives.
4. Develop a Consistent Routine
Kids thrive on routine, and small group phonics instruction is no exception. Having a predictable structure for your small group sessions ensures that students know what to expect and can focus on the content.
A typical routine might include:
- A quick warm-up to review previously taught skills
- Explicit instruction on the target skill (e.g., blending or decoding a new phonics pattern)
- Guided practice with teacher support
- Independent or partner practice to reinforce the skill
This routine helps manage behavior and ensures that you’re using your time effectively. Plus, it helps students feel more confident and secure when they know what to expect during each session.
5. Prepare Materials in Advance
Preparation is key to running smooth and effective small group phonics instruction. Before each session, make sure you have all of your materials ready, including:
- Decodable texts that align with the phonics skill you’re teaching
- Manipulatives, such as letter tiles or sound boxes, for hands-on learning
- Word cards with phonics patterns or words for practice
Having everything organized and ready to go will help you maximize instructional time and ensure that your students stay engaged.
The Best SoR Activities for Small Group Phonics Instruction
Once your groups are formed, it’s time to dive into some targeted activities that reinforce the skills your students need.
Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Dictated Sentences – My #1 Choice!
Using Dictated Sentences (guided writing) is one of the most valuable activities you can do with your students. It is the link between isolated phonics instruction and authentic practice. Requiring students to encode (write) is taking student knowledge to the next level.
2. Sentence Scramble
Research shows that students need regular review and practice using phonics skills authentically. Sentence scrambles are a fabulous activity to get your students reading and writing! The concepts spiral so your students will get lots of practice reading and writing independently. These are great for literacy centers, early finishers, morning work, or just a fun activity for your students!
3. Phonics Word Sorts
One of the most powerful word study techniques is the word sort, which actively engages students in exploring, comparing, and categorizing word patterns and relationships. Word sorts can be done as fun, hands-on activities. Students will map out each word under the picture, cut out each picture/word card, and sort the words into the columns using the word sorting rule.
Final Thoughts & Encouragement
Planning small group phonics instruction according to the Science of Reading best practices can feel like a big shift, but it’s incredibly effective for building strong readers.
By grouping students based on skill needs, setting clear goals, and incorporating targeted activities, you can help your students develop the foundational skills they need to become confident, proficient readers.
Small group instruction is most beneficial when students are given plenty of opportunity for spiral review (they need about 4-6 weeks to master the concept). It’s also vital to provide authentic opportunities to implement the phonics skills they are learning – this is the key piece that was missing from standard phonics instruction.
I truly have seen the most incredible shift in my students’ abilities since implementing consistent SoR activities in small groups. So my advice is to stay flexible, keep the focus on phonics, and celebrate the progress your students make along the way!
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