A reader's fluent ability to use knowledge of sound-spelling correspondences to decode words is a necessary skill to develop as a reader. The SD36 Phonics Survey is a diagnostic assessment tool to gain an understanding of what phonics skills children can already decode while highlighting skills children are in need of instruction and additional practice. This survey is adapted from the CORE phonics survey, and highly aligned with the scope and sequence offered HERE.
The survey presents alphabet letters, then gradually more complex lists of real and pseudowords words for the student to identify and decode. Pseudo-words, or made-up words, are included since the student must use decoding skills to correctly pronounce these words and will not have memorized them.
Select the portions of the tool applicable to the age and grade of the learners being assessed. Teachers may wish to use the below chart for guidance:
The information gathered through the phonics survey can support educator decision-making around small-group instruction, aligning decodable texts, and specific phonics knowledge to target during instruction and practice.
The SD36 Phonics Survey contains:
- an information page: ACCESS HERE
- teacher-facing scoring pages (1 copy per learner): ACCESS HERE
- student-facing pages (1 copy per class ): ACCESS HERE
Download the entire SD36 Phonics Survey package HERE. (Sept 2024 update)
