In the primary grades the focus is on establishing letter recognition and letter-sound correspondence and learning how to apply this knowledge to words. Students work on developing a bank of high frequency words, acquiring basic decoding skills, including short and long vowel words, and are introduced to beginning spelling patterns. To solidify this learning, the students apply what they have learned in their daily reading and writing.

The role of phonics is to help students develop a fluent understanding of sound-symbol relationships and how words work. It includes the active exploration and examination of word features that are appropriate to where the students are in their literacy development. Paired with authentic reading and writing opportunities, this knowledge will help students become independent readers and writers. Vocabulary development increases students’ comprehension and enhances their writing.

In this segment the teacher leads his students through a chant that helps them to learn high frequency words they will use in reading and writing.