heggerty scope and sequence first grade

2 min read 01-09-2024

The Heggerty curriculum is widely recognized for its effective approach to phonemic awareness, crucial for developing early reading skills. The scope and sequence for first grade outlines the objectives and instructional strategies to ensure that students gain the necessary skills for reading success.

Overview of Phonemic Awareness

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. It is a foundational skill for reading and writing, and the Heggerty curriculum emphasizes this in various ways.

Goals for First Grade

By the end of first grade, students should be able to:

Identify and isolate sounds in words.
Blend sounds to form words.
Segment words into individual sounds.
Manipulate sounds in words (addition, deletion, and substitution).

Scope and Sequence Breakdown

Monthly Focus Areas

The Heggerty curriculum is organized into a series of lessons that focus on different phonemic awareness skills. Below is a breakdown of the first-grade scope and sequence by month:

September: Introductory Skills

Focus on listening and responding to sounds.
Activities include clapping to sounds and identifying initial sounds in words.

October: Rhyming and Onset

Introduce rhyming words and onset sounds.
Engage students with rhyming games and matching onset sounds with pictures.

November: Blending Sounds

Emphasis on blending sounds to make words.
Use sound cards and word-building activities to reinforce blending.

December: Segmenting Words

Teach students how to break words into individual sounds.
Practice segmenting through hands-on activities and songs.

January: Manipulation of Sounds

Focus on adding, deleting, and substituting sounds in words.
Interactive activities include changing sounds in familiar words to create new words.

February: Syllable Division

Introduce the concept of syllables.
Engage in clapping and counting syllables in multi-syllabic words.

March: Advanced Phoneme Awareness

Begin to work with more complex phonemic tasks.
Incorporate games that challenge students to manipulate sounds in longer words.

April: Review and Reinforcement

Review all skills learned throughout the year.
Use various games and activities to reinforce understanding.

May: Assessment and Reflection

Conduct assessments to evaluate student progress in phonemic awareness.
Reflect on skills mastered and areas needing further practice.

Implementation Strategies

Classroom Activities

Sound Games: Utilize games that focus on identifying, blending, and segmenting sounds.
Interactive Read-Alouds: Choose books that highlight phonemic awareness elements, such as rhyming and sound play.
Hands-on Activities: Incorporate manipulatives (like blocks or letters) to make learning interactive and engaging.

Assessment

Regular assessment is crucial to monitor student progress. Teachers can use:

Informal Observations: Keep track of students' ability to participate in sound-related activities.
Progress Monitoring Tools: Use specific assessments designed to measure phonemic awareness skills throughout the year.

Conclusion

The Heggerty scope and sequence for first grade provides a comprehensive framework for developing phonemic awareness skills. By focusing on structured lessons and engaging activities, educators can effectively prepare their students for reading success. Through consistent practice and reinforcement, students will gain the foundational skills necessary for lifelong literacy.