FAQs
How long does each unit take?
It depends on your child. Most families spend 1–3 weeks per unit, doing 2–4 lessons per week.
Do I need to do the units in order?
That is the recommendation because the skills build on each other. Each unit will have a "can I skip this unit" section.
Is Unit 5 required?
No. It's designed as an optional bridge for children who need more time before formal phonics, or for families who want a gentler on-ramp to Units 6–8.
Do I need the UFLI Foundations program to use Units 5–8?
Not necessarily, but it's up to you! The lessons in Units 5–8 are based on the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence, but everything you typically need are included here. You don't need to purchase anything separately unless you want more information on teaching phonics that is 100% offline.
What are heart words?
Heart words are high-frequency words that don't fully follow phonics rules. Children need to learn part or all of them "by heart." Each unit introduces a small set of heart words alongside the phonics concepts.
Who Is this For?
This program is designed for children who are somewhere in their beginning path for reading. It works best for learners in the preschool and kindergarten window (roughly ages 3–6), but can also be used with older children who need to build foundational skills. Unit 5 and beyond assume a child is ready to begin formal phonics instruction. If you're unsure where to start, begin with Unit 1 and move at your child's pace.
How to Use a Lesson
During Part 1:
Each lesson follows the same simple structure: a warm-up, a main activity, and an extension. The warm-up is short and gets your child's brain ready. The main activity is the core learning. Extensions are optional, use them when your child wants more or needs extra practice. Every lesson also includes a prewriting activity. Lessons are designed to take 5–10 minutes. You can repeat lessons as many times as your child needs before moving on.
During Part 2:
During part 2 we start following the UFLI lesson structure. Each lesson is designed to be taught over two days, but each day follows the same structure. Early lessons don't go over every part.
- Phonemic Awareness
- Visual Drill
- Auditory Drill
- Blending Drill
- New Concept
- Word Work
- Irregular Words
- Connected Text