I have a confession to make today: I didn't always use a phonics scope and sequence in my French primary classroom.
For a long time, I taught letter sounds, introduced new phonics patterns in a random order, and gave my students (non-decodable) books to practice reading. I knew phonics instruction was important, and I was teaching it! But I wasn't necessarily following a carefully planned progression.
And it made teaching reading so much harder than it needed to be!
Here's what would happen.
I'd give my students a new (usually GB+) book to read, and we'd get started. But almost immediately, we'd run into a word containing a sound they hadn't learned yet. A word like veux, c'est, voici, mon.
So I'd stop and teach that sound.
Then, a few sentences later, we'd encounter another unfamiliar sound.
And I'd have to teach that one, too!
Before I knew it, what was supposed to be an opportunity for my students to practice their reading skills had turned into a lesson on a whole bunch of new phonics patterns. And, I'd be rushing, instead of really letting them practice each new sound.
Sound familiar?
Eventually, I clued in that my students didn't need me to teach them more sounds during their reading practice. They needed opportunities to actually USE the sounds I'd already taught them.
And that's where a systematic phonics scope and sequence makes such a difference!
What Is a Phonics Scope and Sequence?
A phonics scope and sequence is simply a plan that outlines which letter-sound relationships and phonics patterns you'll teach, and in what order.
Instead of introducing sounds randomly or choosing your next phonics lesson based on whichever book you're planning to read, you follow a systematic progression. Then, you make sure the books or activities your students are practicing fit the progression you're teaching.
Each new skill builds on what students have already learned.
For example, in my French primary classroom, I like to begin with simple vowel sounds before moving on to more complex sound-spelling patterns.
Once students have a strong foundation, we can gradually introduce sounds like on, ou, au, eau, an, and en, followed by other complex patterns.
Of course, learning a new sound doesn't mean we're finished with the previous ones!
A good phonics scope and sequence is cumulative. Students should have frequent opportunities to review, practice, and apply previously taught sounds as they learn new ones.
The goal isn't to race through a list of sounds, but is to build confident, increasingly independent readers who will eventually be able to read whatever book they pick up.
Why Does a Phonics Scope and Sequence Matter?
One of the biggest benefits of systematic phonics instruction is that it makes learning to read more manageable for our students.
Think about it: when a beginning reader encounters a word containing three unfamiliar phonics patterns, what are they supposed to do?
They can't independently decode a word using sound-spelling relationships they haven't learned yet.
They might guess based on the picture, memorize the appearance of the word, or wait for the teacher to tell them what it says.
But none of those strategies gives them the decoding practice they actually need to become an independent reader.
When we follow a systematic scope and sequence, we can be much more intentional about the words and texts we're asking our students to read.
We can introduce a new sound explicitly, give students opportunities to blend and read words containing that sound, and then provide decodable sentences and stories where they can apply their new knowledge.
And as their phonics knowledge grows, so does the range of texts they can read independently!
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The Missing Piece: Matching Decodable Books to Your Phonics Instruction
What I am about to explain next was one of the biggest changes I made in my own teaching. And, it wasn't easy, because I did not have the necessary materials to do it - I had to create them myself.
Instead of choosing a book and then figuring out which sounds I needed to teach for students to read it, I started doing the opposite.
I taught the sounds first. Then I chose books that matched what my students already knew.
What a difference!
For example, if we are practicing the sound a, I want my students to have opportunities to read words containing that sound, using consonants they've already learned (my grade one students learn the alphabet in maternelle, and then we review again at the start of grade one).
I don't want their very first reading practice to require them to suddenly figure out ou, on, ch, and eau, too!
Ideally, the decodable books we use for independent reading practice should contain phonics patterns students have already been explicitly taught, along with perhaps a small number of carefully introduced high-frequency words, such as un, une, or et.
This doesn't mean every word has to be completely familiar, or that students should never encounter anything challenging.
But the primary purpose of decodable reading practice is to help students apply their decoding skills successfully and independently.
When students can actually read the words on the page, they get to experience the satisfaction of reading a real story!
And that success matters when trying to help students fall in love with reading.
But What About Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension?
This is especially important in French immersion and other French second-language classrooms.
Obviously, our students need a lot more than just phonics instruction to become successful readers.
They also need rich vocabulary, oral language development, background knowledge, and plenty of opportunities to listen to and discuss engaging stories.
That's why I don't believe decodable books should be the only books our students experience.
We can continue reading wonderful picture books aloud, introducing interesting vocabulary, asking comprehension questions, and exposing students to language that's well beyond what they can independently decode.
Decodable books and rich read-alouds serve different purposes, and our students need both!
When students are practicing decoding, I want to give them texts that allow them to use their growing phonics knowledge.
When we're developing vocabulary, comprehension, and oral language, we can explore much more complex texts together.
There's room for both in a strong French literacy program!
Also, as my students progress in their reading, I've worked hard to create engaging stories that are fun to read, with characters, problems, solutions, etc.
How to Get Started With a French Phonics Scope and Sequence
If you're not currently following a scope and sequence, don't worry. You don't have to overhaul your entire literacy block overnight!
Start by choosing a logical progression of sounds and identifying the phonics patterns your students already know.
Then, as you plan your instruction, consider these questions:
Which sound or phonics pattern am I explicitly teaching next?
How will my students practice blending, reading, and writing words containing that sound?
Which previously taught sounds should we continue reviewing?
Do I have decodable books, activities, or sentences that align with what my students have learned?
That last question is particularly important!
Having a clear plan for phonics instruction is helpful, but it's even more powerful when your reading materials follow the same progression.
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Grab My FREE French Phonics Scope and Sequence!
Because I know how challenging it can be to find French decodable books that actually align with your phonics instruction, I've created a free resource to help!
My French Phonics Scope and Sequence and Decodable Book Guide includes:
A progression of French vowel sounds, complex sounds, and blends
A list of French decodable books and resources that I've created organized by their target sounds
Information about the high-frequency words and additional complex sounds found in each book
A suggested order for introducing sounds and using the corresponding reading resources
I've included all 150+ books that I have written for my students over the years, so you can see exactly how they fit together and which sounds students will need to know before reading each book.
You can use the guide to plan your phonics instruction, identify appropriate decodable texts, and make sure your students have opportunities to practice reading with the skills they've already learned.
GET YOUR FREE FRENCH PHONICS SCOPE AND SEQUENCE HERE!
And remember, you don't have to follow my suggested order exactly! Every classroom is different, and you can adjust your instruction based on your students' needs and the curriculum you're following.
The important thing is to have a plan and make sure your students are building on a strong foundation.
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Make Reading Practice Work for Your Students
Looking back, I wish I'd started using a systematic phonics scope and sequence much earlier in my teaching career.
It would have saved me so much time spent trying to teach unfamiliar sounds in the middle of reading lessons, and given me a way better roadmap when deciding what to teach next.
Most importantly, it would have given my students more opportunities to experience success as beginning readers.
When we give students the tools they need before asking them to read, we're setting them up to become more confident, capable, and independent. Which, in my opinion, is the goal!
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