Basic reading and writing skills in English, including:

​The alphabetic principle: sound/symbol correspondence
​Letter formation, uppercase and lowercase
​Blending sounds into words
Common sight words
​Print concepts
​Phonics: short vowels, single consonants, and digraphs sh, ch, th, and ck
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At the River and Other Stories gives students the opportunity to acquire basic literacy skills in English. Phonics exercises provide direct instruction in letter sounds, letter formation and blending. Each of the ten units offers one or more decodable stories so that students can put their decoding abilities to work right away in a meaningful context. The stories about Pam, Bob and their family relate directly to students' lives. Story themes include: family, the household, transportation, clothing, shopping, leisure activities, health, work, and daily routines.

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Target Audience 

• ESL students who speak a non-Roman alphabet language and are nonliterate or semiliterate in their first language (L1)
• ESL students who are literate in a non-Roman alphabet language
• Students who speak a Roman alphabet language but have gaps in their formal education and/or L1 literacy skills
• Adults, adolescents or children who are learning to read for the first time
• Adults, adolescents or children who need reinforcement in basic literacy skills in English

Learning Environments

• Traditional classroom setting
  
• Small groups of learners
• One on one tutoring
• Community colleges
• K-12 schools
  
• Home schools
  
• Literacy councils and organizations
• Faith-based ESL or literacy programs