(Full Show Notes Here) Wondering how to ensure your phonics time is effective?  Here’s a quick look at what solid phonics instruction looks like, plus a little lesson in how our brain reads words. FIRST, WHAT IS PHONICS?: Phonics is the connection between sounds of spoken words and the individual letters or groups of letters that make up that word. Solid phonics instruction is so important because it is a key contributor to future reading success. This process is nuanced and complex as it happens in our brains   WHERE CAN I FIND RESOURCES TO HELP ME? Phonics Reading Roadmap: phonics instruction with the science of reading in mind.  Learn how to teach systematic and explicit phonics instruction. Kindergarten Roadmap: focus on letter sounds and phonemic awareness, and be equipped with tools you’ll use in your small group lessons that will encourage phonics and decoding Phonics Lessons & Activities MEGA Bundle: includes a scope and sequence, blank templates, phonemic awareness warm-ups, drill cards, sentence pyramids, and so, so much more. Blog Posts: 5 Engaging Phonics Activities What Is Phonics? Does Phonemic Awareness Belong in Your Phonics Lesson? Phonics Routines That Work