Explode The Code® Build Essential Early Literacy Skills with Direct Phonics Instruction

Research-based, direct, systematic, multisensory instruction, and abundant practice and reinforcement opportunities develop student skills in phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and spelling.

  • Foundational Literacy
  • PreK–4
  • Tiers 1, 2, & 3
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Learn to Decode with Direct Phonics Instruction

The Explode The Code® series has helped millions of students build the essential literacy skills needed for reading success: phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and spelling. Explode The Code 2nd Edition is a proven Orton-Gillingham based program, perfectly suited for early literacy skills instruction.

This Trusted Foundational Literacy Program is a Phonics Best-Seller!

Pre-Literacy Primers

Before students can learn to read, they must be able to recognize letters. They must also be aware that the sounds of spoken language work together to make up words—that is, they must have phonemic awareness.

  • This three-book series teaches the 21 consonants, letters and their sounds, and print concepts, using a multi-sensory approach. Students also learn print concepts.
  • Students practice fine motor skills and letter formation through tracing and writing consonants.
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Code Cards

  • A set of 54 illustrated cards to practice the sounds taught in Books 1–3

Explode The Code Workbooks

Explode The Code workbooks 1–8, and half books 1½–6 ½ for extra practice, provide comprehensive phonics instruction, including encoding, decoding, and writing exercises. This ample practice enables students to read words, phrases, sentences, and stories independently. Learning to read means breaking the alphabetic code. Creative art and laugh-out-loud sentences appeal to beginning readers of all ages! Types of exercises include:

  • Visual discrimination
  • Matching, blending, copying, spelling, and reading
  • Word building with syllables
  • Cumulative review
  • Reading a short story and answering comprehension questions in Books 7 and 8
  • Crossword and word find puzzles in Books 7 and 8Students blend letter sounds to encode words using phonetic knowledge and sound-symbol relationships
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Ancillary Materials include:

Teacher’s Guide

Teacher’s Guides expand on the skills presented in the student books, providing teachers with various options for instruction and reinforcement. The wide variety of activities may be adapted for whole class, small group, and one-on-one learning situations. Each lesson addresses the principles of effective reading instruction and follows the same easy-to-use format. Features include:

  • “Lesson Routine at a Glance” chart is featured on the inside front cover of all Teacher’s Guides.
  • Chart presents essential literacy skills and the systematic process in which they are implemented throughout the program.
  • Later books introduce students to more complex letter patterns.
  • Cloze activities help promote vocabulary development by presenting words in context.

Placement Tests

  • Criterion-referenced diagnostic tool assesses skills and determines appropriate placement in the program.
  • Reproducible test forms and summary sheets are included.
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Teacher’s Guide for English Language Learners

  • Specific lesson plans for multilingual students focus on vocabulary, grammar, reading, and comprehension.
  • Coordinates with student books 1-3 ½ and includes over 100 reproducible exercises.

Wall Chart and Activity Book

  • This attractive felt wall hanging is a perfect complement to the series.
  • Each letter of the alphabet has its own pocket containing a stuffed toy corresponding to the key word for that letter.
  • The accompanying Activity Book offers over 40 games to help children remain on task and take an active, hands-on part in the learning process.
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Beyond The Code

  • Ideal for developing critical comprehension skills, these books feature charmingly illustrated stories.
  • Writing and spelling exercises introduce new sight words and reinforce phonetic patterns.

Explode The Code Highlights

  • Research-based, multisensory instruction
  • Abundant practice and reinforcement opportunities for greater retention
  • Development of comprehension skills through reading in context
  • Accommodations for multilingual learners and struggling readers
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Resources

Program Overviews

Common Core Aligned

Research and Articles

Sample Lessons

State Alignment

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