Focus on Phonics

(Grades K-3) / Semester Course

PDI Course Number: 72AXX / UCSD Course Number: EDUC41475

Course Description

Do your students lack basic phonics skills? This online course focuses on effective ways to teach children to decode unknown words. Phonics basics will be emphasized along with specific ways to help students who are struggling in this area. Using context clues and structural analysis as a means of decoding will also be introduced. Suggestions for teaching sight words, high frequency words, and instant words will be shared. Teachers will also learn how to use the making words and chunking strategies as well as how to implement reader’s workshop and literacy stations. Teachers will gain ideas for using the language experience approach to reinforce phonics and spelling skills. The course will also focus on assessment strategies for phonics and decoding, including running records, miscue analysis, and informal reading inventories. This course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units/5 quarter units (50 hours of training) from UC San Diego Extension. For detailed information on university credit, click here.

"I felt that this course touched on everything that I was looking for in the area of phonics. I felt the articles were easy to read and informative. The instructor and staff could not have been more helpful" - Megan Barberio

Required Resource Book

This course has a modestly-priced required resource book (available in both new and used versions) that can be purchased through Amazon using the following link. Note that you can begin and participate in your course before the book arrives.

Making Sense of Phonics: The Hows and Whys by Isabel L. Beck and Mark E. Beck

If you are registering for multiple courses, use the following link to access the book list for all PDI courses with direct purchase links through Amazon. PDI Course Resource Book List