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"I love them! The children are truly enjoying the freedom and guiding themselves through each of the pouches!"
Phonogram Spelling Folder Set/14
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Common Core
Phonogram folders show students that most English sounds can be spelled more than one way. The long e sound alone can be spelled ee, ea, e-e, ie, or y. Our set organizes 42 phonogram cards and 42 matching decodable booklets into 14 folders, one for each key sound. Students read ten words for each spelling, and with each reading, those spellings are stored in memory for quick recognition later.
The approach was developed by Muriel Dwyer, an AMI teacher trainer who worked extensively in English and Swahili. She adapted Dr. Montessori's phonetic approach, designed for the highly phonetic Italian language, for partially phonetic languages like English. Phonogram folders are a regular part of AMI Montessori programs worldwide.
What's included
- 14 folders, each holding the cards and booklets for the key sound printed on its front
- 42 phonogram cards, one for each spelling, with the spelling in large red letters on the front and the color-coded key sound on the back
- 42 phonogram booklets, one to match each card, each with the spelling in red on the front, 10 words with that spelling isolated in red, and the color-coded key sound on the back cover
- Cards are approx. 3¾" x 4¼"
- Cards are eco-laminated with a food-grade laminate and rounded corners
- Free guided lesson plan
Pairs with our Phonogram Spelling Dictionary.
Created by a Montessori teacher. Eco-printed in our rural New England office.
Made in the USA. CPSIA compliant.
Folder contents by key sound
| Key sound | Cards and booklets (1 of each) | Cards | Booklets |
|---|---|---|---|
| ai | ai, a-e, ay, ei | 4 | 4 |
| au | au, aw | 2 | 2 |
| e | e, ea | 2 | 2 |
| ee | ee, ea, e-e, ie, y | 5 | 5 |
| er | er, ir, ur | 3 | 3 |
| f | f, ph | 2 | 2 |
| ie | ie, i-e, igh, y | 4 | 4 |
| j | j, ge, gi | 3 | 3 |
| oa | oa, o-e, oe, ow | 4 | 4 |
| or | or, ore | 2 | 2 |
| ou | ou, ow | 2 | 2 |
| oy | oy, oi | 2 | 2 |
| s | s, ce, ci | 3 | 3 |
| ue | ue, ew, oo, u-e | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 42 | 42 |
Choose your folder style
| Cloth pouch (recommended) | Paper envelope (economical) | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | 100% soft cotton with a sturdy stabilizer sewn in for just enough rigidity | Smooth heavyweight paper with a felted finish (not laminated) |
| Label | Key sound screen printed on each pouch | Key sound printed in bold on each envelope |
| Size | Approx. 6" x 7" | Approx. 5¼" x 7½" |
Choose your booklet style
Both booklet styles have the same 10 words per booklet, with the target spelling isolated in red and the color-coded key sound on the back cover. The only difference is how we make them.
| Coil-bound, laminated | Stapled, cardstock cover | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Individually laminated pages, tightly coil-bound so they lie open on the work space | 32 lb glossy interior pages with a 100# glossy cardstock cover, saddle-stapled |
| Size | Approx. 1½" x 3¾" | Approx. 1¾" x 4" |
| Durability | Wipeable; most durable for heavy daily use | Fine for regular, careful classroom or home use; pages are not laminated |
| Packaging | Includes a shoebox sized to hold all 14 folders; remove the lid and place it right on the shelf | Shoebox not included |
| Best for | Classrooms with high daily traffic | Home use and lower-traffic classrooms; faster production keeps the price down |
Julia, our founder, used hand-made booklets similar to our stapled version in her own classroom for years, with students handling them daily as part of normal Montessori practice.
Watch a phonogram folder lesson
See how to present a phonogram folder.
Learn our special way to introduce the silent e.
See the entire phonogram folder lesson from shelf to work rug.
Why do phonogram folders matter for reading and spelling?
In Scarborough's (2001) reading rope, decoding and sight recognition are strands of word recognition that become more automatic with practice. Phonogram folders build both. Students decode each word by its sounds, and repeated reading connects those sounds to their spellings in memory. That's how a word like phone goes from something a student sounds out to something they recognize instantly, and it's what lets them choose the accurate spelling when they write. Students also love reading the tiny booklets, so they come back to them again and again.
How do you use phonogram folders?
- Invite the student to choose a folder. The key sound is printed on the front of each folder and on the back of each card and booklet, so students can check their own work.
- Take out the cards and say, "Did you know there are many ways to make the 'ee' sound?"
- Show each card in turn: "This says 'ee.' And this says 'ee.'" For cards with a silent e, see the video above for our special way to introduce it.
- Play a little game: point to each card and ask, "What does this say?"
- Take out the booklets and place each one on its matching card, such as the ea booklet on the ea card.
- Invite the student to read each booklet.
See our full lesson plan for many additional activities to do with these folders.
Do students need to learn every English spelling pattern?
No. Teaching every spelling variation in English would be overwhelming. The folders show students enough examples to understand that English spelling takes flexibility and practice. The rest comes with reading and writing experience.
What ages is this for?
Typically Kindergarten through 3rd grade (about ages 5 to 9), once a student can read phonetic words. Phonogram folders also work well for:
- Older students who need spelling or reading support
- English learners
- Students in reading intervention
- Homeschool families
- Students particularly interested in spelling or spelling bees
Can I buy only the booklets or only the cards?
Yes. You can order all 42 booklets on their own, in either booklet style, or all 42 cards on their own. Neither of those options includes folders.
Product Details
Phonogram Spelling Folder Set/14
Sale price$299.95 USD
Regular price
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Phonogram Spelling Folder Set/14
Sale price$299.95 USD
Regular price
Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 2 reviews.
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These are perfect for introducing
"These are perfect for introducing and reinforcing phonograms."
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