Phonics with Purpose: Build the Sound

Course Summary

Phonics with Purpose: Build the Sound is a hands-on, multi-day phonics class designed for active learners. Students explore one phonics pattern at a time through movement, building, and playful practice. Instead of memorizing rules or completing worksheets, learners physically build sounds, test them in words, and apply what they learn in meaningful ways. This class is especially supportive for students who need a multi-sensory, confidence-building approach to reading and spelling.

Course Description

A hands-on phonics course for active learners Join us for this multi-day Phonics with Purpose series, designed for children who learn best by moving, building, and doing. This course expands on the popular Build the Sound class by giving students time to truly understand how phonics patterns work—without rushing, worksheets, or memorization. Each class focuses on one phonics pattern at a time, helping learners build confidence as they explore sounds through movement, hands-on building, word play, and guided practice. 🧠 How This Class Is Different Instead of asking children to sit still and memorize rules, students: Physically build sounds Test patterns in real words Move their bodies to reinforce learning Apply what they learn immediately Phonics is taught as a system, not a list of disconnected rules. 💛 This Class Is Especially Supportive for Students Who: struggle to sit still or focus for long periods feel overwhelmed by traditional phonics instruction guess at words instead of decoding them need a multi-sensory, confidence-building approach benefit from repetition without boredom

Syllabus

Week 1 – Long A Vowel Teams Patterns: ai & ay Build Focus: Build the long A sound using ai and ay Construct words with vowel teams Compare where ai vs. ay belongs in a word Skills Practiced: Reading, spelling, and pattern recognition through hands-on building Week 2 – Diphthongs Patterns: oi & oy Build Focus: Build sliding sounds using oi and oy Construct and test words Compare spelling choices through physical manipulation of letters Skills Practiced: Sound discrimination and spelling accuracy Week 3 – Sound Teams Patterns: th & wh Build Focus: Build sound teams that work together Construct beginning sounds in words Practice reading and spelling through repeated building Skills Practiced: Decoding accuracy and sound recognition Week 4 – Bossy R Sounds Patterns: ar & or Build Focus: Build r-controlled vowel sounds Compare how r changes vowel sounds Construct and test words using letter tiles or writing tools Skills Practiced: Reading and spelling r-controlled words Week 5 – Word Endings Patterns: ing, ang, ong, ung Build Focus: Build base words and add endings Physically manipulate endings to see how words change Practice reading and spelling common word endings Skills Practiced: Word structure and fluency Week 6 – Build, Mix, Apply Patterns: All patterns Build Focus: Build mixed-pattern words Apply strategies independently Build words from dictation Celebrate growth and confidence

Supplies

This is a build-along phonics class. Students must have something hands-on to use during class so they can physically build sounds and words as we learn together. Families may choose the materials that work best for their child. Options include: Whiteboard and marker Magnetic letters Letter tiles or alphabet cards Playdough (to form letters and patterns) Sand tray, salt tray, or textured writing surface Students do not need every item listed above, but they do need at least one hands-on option available during class. Watching without building will make it difficult for students to participate and benefit fully from the course.