Phonics

Phonics Programs

Empower Students for a Lifetime of Reading Proficiency

"Systematic, explicit phonics instruction is never divorced from children's purposeful reading and writing. It's actually in that purposeful reading and writing that the learning sticks."

Combine Phonics Resources to Meet
Specific Learning Needs

Wiley Blevins, Ed.D.

What Makes Phonics Essential to Literacy Learning?

Phonics is the most important skill that beginning readers learn. Research shows that phonics instruction is the best, most effective way to teach children to read words. The ability to read requires the understanding that letters represent the sounds in spoken language. Words and sentences are like a code, and when children read, they break the code—letters are matched to sounds so that words can be sounded out. This process, called decoding, is the core of phonics instruction.

High-quality, effective phonics instruction is:

  • Systematic: letter-sound relationships are taught in a logical, clearly defined sequence around phoneme-grapheme associations
  • Explicit: connections between phonemes and graphemes are taught directly, with an emphasis on application to reading and writing—where the learning takes hold

Teach Phonics with Confidence

Benchmark Education Company is the phonics provider of choice, with an extensive array of high-impact, Science of Reading-aligned resources that develop foundational skills in diverse students in a range of settings.

Phonics Instruction


Benchmark Phonics

Grades K-5

Explicit, systematic, multimodal instruction brings phonics to life. Access Tier 1 and Tier 2 multimodal instruction designed by phonics expert Wiley Blevins, Ed.D. , and based on the latest Science of Reading research and the 7 Foundations of Strong Phonics Instruction. The structured literacy approach emphasizes the application of learning to reading and writing—where the learning sticks—with unit topics designed for building vocabulary and content knowledge. 2023 CODiE Finalist: Best Science of Reading Foundational Skills Solution.

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Magnetic Letter Tiles and Board

Grades K-5

Systematic and explicit progression is paired with dynamic, multimodal activities to support simultaneous instruction through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic pathways. Hands-on tools help students learn how words work and empower them to fully participate in essential lessons. Durable, shelf-ready, grab-and-go kits save valuable instructional time and make customization and incorporation into any lesson efficient for teachers.

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Decodable Books


Dynamite Decodables

Grades K-2+

Developed with Wiley Blevins, Ed.D. and based on Science of Reading research, Dynamite Decodables bolsters early literacy phonics instruction using humorous, knowledge building, and diverse texts with explicit and concise teacher support. 100 engaging decodable stories follow a systematic scope and sequence, building students' confidence and mastery and helping them “crack the code” with texts they both can and want to read. Science and social studies topics are brought to life with puzzles, mazes, quizzes, riddles, mysteries, and graphic novels. Explicit instruction and family connections support the five pillars of literacy instruction and continue the learning outside of the classroom.

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BEC Decodables

Grades K-1+

Fiction and nonfiction titles deliver authentic practice with phonics skills and high-frequency words—developed with Wiley Blevins, Ed.D. and showcasing high-interest topics and familiar storylines. Featuring 111 titles, BEC Decodables features accountable decodable books that are instructive, comprehensible, and engaging, meeting all three criteria established for quality phonics instruction and an essential part of daily phonics lessons. These decodable readers include plenty of phonics skills practice in an explicit, systematic, and spiraled way, with vocabulary and sentence structures that incorporate natural-sounding speech and sentence patterns and content that is fun, interesting, and informative. Take-home books and interactive eBooks extend the experience and engage families.

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Decodable Fluency Builders

Grades K-1+

A wealth of robust, high-quality phonics readers and Teacher Cards, driven by Science of Reading research, deliver and support authentic decoding experiences to build fluency—the bridge to comprehension. Featuring 30 titles for Grade K and 54 titles for Grade 1, Decodable Fluency Builders develops reading comprehension by combining phonics, high-frequency words, and language comprehension, and promotes skills transference with meaningful application to reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Designed for flexibility, the content is ideal for a variety of learning environments—small group, independent reading, and at home with family involvement—and supports a wide range of students, including English Learners.

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Decodable Reader Library

Grades K-2+

Eliminating the need for time-consuming vetting, Decodable Reader Library features a curated collection of nearly 300 high-quality, trade-like, fiction and nonfiction decodable texts and builds explicit, systematic foundational reading skills for immediate impact. Authentic reading and writing experiences build automaticity, fluency, and knowledge and make the learning stick in every classroom! Teacher cards for every title support the 5 pillars of early literacy while delivering concise instructional support. The organized and flexible delivery format supports any reading program and learning environment and can be easily integrated with existing classroom materials. Developed with Wiley Blevins, Ed.D. and based on current and confirmed research.

Note: Decodable Reader Library includes books from the Dynamite Decodables, Decodable Fluency Builders, and BEC Decodables series.

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Grade 2 Decodable Passages

Grade 2

Decodable passages for phonics and foundational skills applications are presented in one convenient text, and in a consumable format that allows students to make annotations as they practice decoding. Featuring 60 fiction and nonfiction decodable passages, Grade 2 Decodable Passages aligns to 10 knowledge-building topics to build language comprehension and is available in 6-pack and 30-pack sets for small-group or whole-group instruction. Fully interactive and customizable eBooks engage students for digital or in-person instruction.

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Phonics Intervention


Benchmark Phonics Intervention

Grades K-5

Explicit, systematic phonics instruction supports students performing two or more years below grade level expectations. Access Tier 3 intervention designed by phonics expert Wiley Blevins, Ed.D. , and based on the latest Science of Reading research. Multimodal, flexible, cumulative instruction aligns with the tenets of Structured Literacy, shown to be beneficial to students with dyslexia and other exceptional needs and considerations.

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Multi-Resource Skill Bags


StartUp BuildUp SpiralUp Phonics

Grades K-2+

Skill-specific grab-and-go bags contain explicit, systematic phonics instruction with spiral review, built on Science of Reading research and the tenets of Structured Literacy. Beautifully designed decodable readers, developed under the guidance of Wiley Blevins, Ed.D., engage students and promote a love of reading. Diagnostic and cumulative assessments and flexible pacing allow teachers to pinpoint individual needs and accelerate as students progress.

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Spanish Foundational Skills


BEC Mis libritos de fonética

Grades K-1+

This series delivers authentic practice in Spanish with phonics skills and sight words, using fiction and nonfiction and methodology specific to Spanish literacy—including key literary, science, and social studies content. BEC Mis Libritos de fonètica features 60 accountable decodable books that are instructive, comprehensible, and engaging—the characteristics necessary for high-quality, daily phonics instruction. Practice develops basic phonics skills in Spanish in an explicit, systematic, and spiraled way, with vocabulary and sentence structures that incorporate natural-sounding speech and sentence patterns. Familiar storylines and high-interest topics engage students and interactive eBooks extend the experience and prompt family involvement.

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Grado 2 Lecturas decodificables

Grade 2

Decodable passages for phonics and foundational skills applications are presented in one convenient text, and in a consumable format that allows students to make annotations as they practice decoding. Featuring 34 fiction and nonfiction decodable passages, Grado 2 Lecturas decodificables aligns to 10 knowledge-building topics to build language comprehension, and is available in 6-pack and 30-pack sets for small-group or whole-group instruction. Fully interactive and customizable eBooks engage students for digital or in-person instruction.

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Fonética y gramática

Grades K-2

This solution teaches initial Spanish literacy skills with authentic Spanish poems, stories, and nonfiction. Through 10 three-week lessons for each grade-level set, Fonética y gramática offers explicit, systematic instruction that matches the traditional Spanish phonics sequence and builds students’ knowledge of letter combinations, words, and punctuation. Students gain proficiency through syllabication and progress to learning and working with essential types of words. Effective grammar lessons enable students to read and write complete sentences. Resources include posters, lap books, decodables, picture word cards, sound-spelling cards, letter cards, syllable cards, activity books, and more to promote student practice and application.

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Pizarra y letras magnéticas

Spanish Grades K-3

This program, developed with National Biliteracy Consultant Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes and Melissa Vasquez Gandolfo, Instructional Design and Training Specialist, ensures hands-on fun for students. Pizarra y letras magnéticas provides systematic, explicit instruction in the Spanish language that builds foundational reading skills and facilitates language acquisition. Dynamic activities engage all sensory modalities and support orthographic mapping and the tenets of structured literacy. The instructional materials complement any phonics curriculum and come in a self-contained, fold-and-go kit format for convenient storage, reducing loss and keeping items neatly organized.

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Professional Learning


PD Essentials Professional Books

Grades K-8

Apply the latest scientific research on how we learn to read. Harness the power of the 7 Foundations of Strong Phonics Instruction. Author Wiley Blevins, Ed.D. , addresses common instructional challenges many educators face as they teach phonics, providing helpful “fix ups” to overcome each one. Dozens of practical ideas and strategies help ensure that daily phonics lessons are explicit and systematic—as well as engaging, active, and thought-provoking.

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Timely Resources

Podcasts

Jan Hasbrouck, Ph.D.

White Papers

Peter Afflerbach, Ph.D.

Funding Insight

Benchmark Education Guide to ESSER Funding

Expert Authors

Deborah Glaser, Ed.D.

Nancy Akhavan, Ed.D.

C.C. Bates, Ph.D.

Patty McGee, M.Ed.

Take your phonics instruction to the next level with powerful and effective resources that support your goals and your curriculum.

Let us help you identify the best phonics resources for your school or classroom. Please share contact details below and one of our educational sales consultants will be happy to reach out to you.