EL Education Introduces G3–5 Unlock Phonics, A Groundbreaking Structured Phonics Program to Be Offered in Partnership with Kiddom

EL Education is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation in literacy education: G3–5 Unlock Phonics. This semi-asynchronous curriculum is grounded in the Science of Reading and is specifically designed to address the unique needs of students in Grades 3–5. Unlock Phonics offers a structured and effective approach to phonics instruction, building upon the success of our K–2 Skills Block structured phonics curriculum.

Unlock Phonics ensures every student can access essential reading skills through tailored support, interactive digital learning, and a focus on fluency.

Unlock Phonics is now available with expanded functionality in Kiddom’s digital learning environment. For example, using Unlock Phonics in Kiddom allows teachers to create flexible groups and efficiently assign activities to students on the same level.

Additionally, Kiddom enables teachers to support Student Conferences by prompting students to practice recording themselves reading aloud. This practice helps students build confidence and ownership by listening and self-identifying areas for improvement.

Finally, Kiddom indexes an inventory of ready-to-print Sound Trackers so teachers can easily access the materials they need for their unique student populations. Once completed on paper, students are prompted to take a photo of their Sound Trackers and upload it to Kiddom to keep everything in one place throughout and help monitor growth.

Key Features Include:

• Research-Based Design: Grounded in the Science of Reading and informed by Dr. Linnea Ehri’s Phases Theory, Unlock Phonics offers a scientifically validated approach to literacy education.
• Culturally Responsive Content: Texts and teaching materials are culturally responsive, ensuring inclusivity and relevance for all learners.
• Alignment with Standards: The curriculum aligns with College and Career Readiness Standards, ensuring students develop essential skills for success in academics and beyond.
• Comprehensive Assessment: Benchmark assessments and ongoing progress monitoring enable teachers to track student growth and assign instruction to meet individual needs.

Designed for students reading below grade level, Unlock Phonics offers a self-paced, independent learning environment, empowering students to progress at their own speed. Leveraging digital platforms and interactive video instruction, Unlock Phonics delivers engaging and individualized learning experiences, making phonics learning accessible and enjoyable. Each week, students engage in two asynchronous sessions accompanied by videos, complete corresponding tasks, take one assessment, confer with teachers for feedback and new assignments, and review tasks for reinforcement if needed.

EL Education is committed to empowering educators and students with innovative, research-based literacy solutions. With G3–5 Unlock Phonics, we aim to provide upper elementary students the tools they need to unlock their full potential as readers and learners without teachers needing years of phonics training or direct instruction.

EL Education offers an asynchronous professional learning opportunity to support teachers in effectively implementing Unlock Phonics in their classrooms. This course will be available in Summer 2024.

About EL Education:

EL Education is a national nonprofit that partners with educators to transform K–12 schools and districts into hubs of equitable opportunity. Guided by a multi-dimensional vision of student achievement, we support all students in cultivating their unique genius and contributing to a better world. EL Education offers research-proven resources and practices, including the acclaimed EL Education K–8 Language Arts curriculum, Core Practices, and aligned professional learning. EL Education was founded in 1991 and currently reaches 1.1 million students in diverse communities across the country in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Learn more at ELEducation.org