Foundational Literacy
A progressive module teaching basic reading, writing and literacy aimed at students who lack the literacy skills to access other Off2Class content.
The features mentioned in this article are available to all Teachers on paid and free subscriptions. However, only a limited number of lessons are available on free subscriptions.
Table of contents
Target students
Rather than a specific language proficiency level (e.g. A2, Beginner, etc.) these lessons are ideal for all students who need to develop basic literacy skills, including:
- SLIFE: Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education. These students may have limited literacy in their L1 and often need significant support to function successfully in an English-language school environment.
- Newcomers: Students who have arrived in the US within the last 3 years and who are still learning English. The phonology and orthography of English may be very different from their L1.
- LTEL: Long-term English Learners. Students who have been in the US school system for several years and who have not achieved proficiency in English. A lack of literacy skills often prevents these students from progressing in their core subject classes.
Key features
All lessons in this series are based around the following elements:
- Progressive approach: The 48 lessons in the module build upon one another and form a complete sequence. New concepts are introduced in order of usefulness to students.
- Rules for sound-out words: Rules are taught for letter patterns that can be decoded (sounded out) consistently, making reading unknown words a logical process and reducing rote memorization.
- Sight words: Students are introduced to the most useful sight words (words that cannot be decoded) and build familiarity with them over the course of the module.
- Reading from the start: Each lesson ends with students reading short texts to practice what they have learned in the lesson. These texts increase in complexity as the module progresses.
- Opening up the O2C Lesson Library: By the end of the module, students have all of the literacy tools necessary to navigate the lessons for lower proficiency levels (A0, A1, A2) in the Lesson Library.
Lesson Details & Links
The unit, lesson name (with link), and objectives are listed below for a quick overview of each lesson. Click a lesson name to launch it directly from this article. To see a spreadsheet of all Off2Class lessons, click here.
| Unit | Lesson & Link | Objectives |
| 1 - Phoneme overview | LS.1.1 - Simple vowels | Introduce simple vowels (monophthongs). At the end of the lesson, students can distinguish simple vowels and produce an anchor word for each. |
| 1 - Phoneme overview | LS.1.2 - Complex vowels | Introduce complex vowels (diphthongs, r-controlled). At the end of the lesson, students can distinguish complex vowels and produce an anchor word for each. |
| 1 - Phoneme overview | LS.1.3 - Consonants 1 | Introduce consonants 1 (bilabial, labiodental, dental, alveolar). At the end of the lesson, students can distinguish consonants 1 and produce an anchor word for each. |
| 1 - Phoneme overview | LS.1.4 - Consonants 2 | Introduce consonants 2 (postalveolar, retroflex, palatal, velar, glottal). At the end of the lesson, students can distinguish consonants 2 and produce an anchor word for each. |
| 2 - Consonants and short vowels 1 | LS.2.1 - a, t, s | Introduce graphemes a, t, s. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes a, t, s. |
| 2 - Consonants and short vowels 1 | LS.2.2 - i, p, f | Introduce graphemes i, p, f. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes i, p, f. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 2 - Consonants and short vowels 1 | LS.2.3 - m, n | Introduce graphemes m, n. Introduce nasalized a. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes m, n, a (nasalized). At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 2 - Consonants and short vowels 1 | LS.2.4 - o, c, d | Introduce graphemes o, c, d. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes o, c, d. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 3 - Consonants and short vowels 2 | LS.3.1 - k, u | Introduce graphemes k, u. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes k, u. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 3 - Consonants and short vowels 2 | LS.3.2 - b, g, e | Introduce graphemes b, g, e. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes b, g, e. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 3 - Consonants and short vowels 2 | LS.3.3 - s (s), s (z), h | Introduce graphemes -s (s), -s (z), h. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes -s (s), -s (z), h. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 3 - Consonants and short vowels 2 | LS.3.4 - Review | Review all graphemes and sight words from lessons 2.1-3.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using all graphemes from lessons 2.1-3.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read all sight words from lessons 2.1-3.3. |
| 4 - Consonants and short vowels 3 | LS.4.1 - r, l ,w | Introduce graphemes r, l, w. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes r, l, w. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 4 - Consonants and short vowels 3 | LS.4.2 - j, y, x | Introduce graphemes j, y, x. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes j, y, x. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 4 - Consonants and short vowels 3 | LS.4.3 - qu, v, z | Introduce graphemes qu, v, z. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes qu, v, z. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 4 - Consonants and short vowels 3 | LS.4.4 - Review | Review all graphemes and sight words from lessons 4.1-4.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using all graphemes from lessons 4.1-4.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read all sight words from lessons 4.1-4.3. |
| 5 - Digraphs | LS.5.1 - ff/ll/ss/zz, -all, -oll, -ull, ck | Introduce graphemes ff/ll/ss/zz, -all, -oll, -ull, ck. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes ff/ll/ss/zz, -all, -oll, -ull, ck. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 5 - Digraphs | LS.5.2 - sh, th (uv), th (v), ch | Introduce graphemes sh, th (uv), th (v), ch. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes sh, th (uv), th (v), ch. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 5 - Digraphs | LS.5.3 - wh, ph, ng, nk | Introduce graphemes wh, ph, ng, nk. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes wh, ph, ng, nk. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 5 - Digraphs | LS.5.4 - Review | Review all graphemes and sight words from lessons 5.1-5.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using all graphemes from lessons 5.1-5.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read all sight words from lessons 5.1-5.3. |
| 6 - VCe | LS.6.1 - a_e, i_e, o_e | Introduce graphemes a_e, i_e, o_e. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes a_e, i_e, o_e. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 6 - VCe | LS.6.2 - e_e, u_e | Introduce graphemes e_e, u_e. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes e_e, u_e. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 6 - VCe | LS.6.3 - ce, ge | Introduce graphemes _ce, _ge. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes _ce, _ge. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 6 - VCe | LS.6.4 - Review | Review all graphemes and sight words from lessons 6.1-6.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using all graphemes from lessons 6.1-6.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read all sight words from lessons 6.1-6.3. |
| 7 - Longer word patterns 1 | LS.7.1 - es, ed, ing | Introduce graphemes _es, _ed, _ing. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes _es, _ed, _ing. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 7 - Longer word patterns 1 | LS.7.2 - Open and closed syllables | Introduce open and closed syllables. Practice reading sound-out words using these syllables. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using open and closed syllables. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 7 - Longer word patterns 1 | LS.7.3 - Closed/closed multisyllabic words | Introduce closed/closed multisyllabic words. Practice reading sound-out words using these syllables. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read closed/closed multisyllabic words. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 7 - Longer word patterns 1 | LS.7.4 - Open/closed multisyllabic words | Introduce open/closed multisyllabic words. Practice reading sound-out words using these syllables. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read open/closed multisyllabic words. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 8 - Longer words patterns 2 | LS.8.1 - tch, dge | Introduce graphemes tch, dge. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes tch, dge. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 8 - Longer words patterns 2 | LS.8.2 - ild, old, ind, olt, ost | Introduce graphemes -ild, -old, -ind, -olt, -ost. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes -ild, -old, -ind, -olt, -ost. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 8 - Longer words patterns 2 | LS.8.3 - y (i), y(e), le | Introduce graphemes y (i), y(e), -le. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes y (i), y(e), -le. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 8 - Longer words patterns 2 | LS.8.4 - Review | Review all graphemes and sight words from lessons 7.1-8.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using all graphemes from lessons 7.1-8.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read all sight words from lessons 7.1-8.3. |
| 9 - R-controlled vowels | LS.9.1 - ar, or, ore | Introduce graphemes ar, or, ore. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes ar, or, ore. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 9 - R-controlled vowels | LS.9.2 - er | Introduce grapheme er. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the grapheme er. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 9 - R-controlled vowels | LS.9.3 - ir, ur | Introduce graphemes ir, ur. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes ir, ur. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 9 - R-controlled vowels | LS.9.4 - Review | Review all graphemes and sight words from lessons 9.1-9.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using all graphemes from lessons 9.1-9.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read all sight words from lessons 9.1-9.3. |
| 10 - Long vowel combinations & diphthongs 1 | LS.10.1 - ai, ay | Introduce graphemes ai, ay. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes ai, ay. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 10 - Long vowel combinations & diphthongs 1 | LS.10.2 - ee, ea, ey | Introduce graphemes ee, ea, ey. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes ee, ea, ey. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 10 - Long vowel combinations & diphthongs 1 | LS.10.3 - oa, ow, oe | Introduce graphemes oa, ow, oe. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes oa, ow, oe. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 10 - Long vowel combinations & diphthongs 1 | LS.10.4 - ie, igh | Introduce graphemes ie, igh. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes ie, igh. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 11 - Long vowel combinations & diphthongs 2 | LS.11.1 - u (oo), oo (oo) | Introduce graphemes u (oo), oo (oo). Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes u (oo), oo (oo). At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 11 - Long vowel combinations & diphthongs 2 | LS.11.2 - oo (u) | Introduce grapheme oo (u). Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the grapheme oo (u). At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 11 - Long vowel combinations & diphthongs 2 | LS.11.3 - ew, ui, ue | Introduce graphemes ew, ui, ue. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes ew, ui, ue. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 11 - Long vowel combinations & diphthongs 2 | LS.11.4 - au, aw, augh | Introduce graphemes au, aw, augh. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes au, aw, augh. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 12 - Long vowel combinations & diphthongs 3 | LS.12.1 - ea, a | Introduce graphemes ea, a. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes ea, a. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 12 - Long vowel combinations & diphthongs 3 | LS.12.2 - oi, oy | Introduce graphemes oi, oy. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes oi, oy. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 12 - Long vowel combinations & diphthongs 3 | LS.12.3 - ou, ow | Introduce graphemes ou, ow. Practice reading sound-out words using these sounds. Introduce and practice relevant sight words. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using the graphemes ou, ow. At the end of the lesson, students can read a selection of sight words. |
| 12 - Long vowel combinations & diphthongs 3 | LS.12.4 - Review | Review all graphemes and sight words from lessons 10.1-12.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read sound-out words using all graphemes from lessons 10.1-12.3. At the end of the lesson, students can read all sight words from lessons 10.1-12.3. |