Zoo-Phonics
Standing Stones Christian Academy is proud to utilize the Zoo-Phonics Language Arts curriculum. This program uses a kinesthetic approach to learning all aspects of language arts, including vocabulary development and articulation that is based on phonics and phonemic awareness. Zoo-Phonics maximizes understanding, memory, utilization, and transference to all areas of the reading, spelling, and writing process in a playful and concrete manner.
The secret to the success of Zoo-Phonics® is the program’s whole brain approach, which includes “phono” (hearing), “oral” (speaking), “visual” (seeing), “kinesthetic” (moving), and tactile (touching) components. Students actually learn the sounds of the alphabet and advanced phonemic concepts through an easily understood method of presentation.
Zoo-Phonics® uses animals drawn in the shapes of the letters for ease in memory. A related body movement is given for each letter. This approach cements the sounds to the shapes of the letters. Lowercase letters and their sounds are taught first (needed 95% of the time in text), capital letters and letter names are taught later.
Every aspect of the program has been field-tested and found to be effective. Educational research repeatedly supports the focus of phonics in early reading programs, as well as the educational benefits of pictorial mnemonics and kinesthetic approaches to learning that are unique to Zoo-Phonics®.
Currently Zoo-Phonics® is used throughout the United States and internationally as a highly effective language arts program.
Reading Groups
At the core of a successful guided reading program is small group instruction. Within these small groups, students engage with activities/books that are at the proper level of challenge, and administered by teachers trained to provide the right level or support and instruction to help students succeed. Students are assessed and placed into reading groups based upon their specific learning levels. For example, one reading group may be focusing on their lettersound recognition skills, while another group might be working on beginning reader books. The result is perfectly fitting instruction that leads to proud and motivated readers.