Overview of Danco Phonics
Danco Phonics is systematic and explicit program for teaching students critical phonics skills necessary for reading success. It can be used with young children to teach them to read or as an intervention program for students who need additional practice with phonics skills. Each unit builds on the previous unit so it is recommended that you begin with Unit #1. Danco Phonics consists of 44 units with numerous resources for teaching each phonics skill. Sight words are introduced in most units.
Danco Phonics was written by Dan Clarke, who served as a Reading Intervention Specialist at Nuview Elementary School in Nuevo, California. The program is research based and incorporates suggestions from findings found in The National Reading Panel report.
Dan has been teaching since 1996 and has taught all grade levels from kindergarten through college. Most of his experience, however, has been in the primary grades where he has learned the fundamental principles needed to teach children to read. Dan graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a B.A. in Liberal Studies and a multiple subject teaching credential. He went on to earn his CLAD certificate at the University of San Diego. Dan holds a master's degree in elementary reading and literacy.
Danco Phonics was field tested at no cost to teachers, school districts, and home school parents for nearly 10 years. Revisions were made over the course of four years before Danco Phonics was finally offered on Teachers Pay Teachers in 2015.
Click here to view the list of available phonics units and to see how you can purchase Danco Phonics for 30% off the regular price!
Danco Phoncs is copyrighted material. Danco Phonics may not be sold or posted on any website.
Here's what people are saying on Teachers Pay Teachers about Danco Phonics:
On September 14, 2015
I am so happy to have found this resource. I will use it for some of my reading intervention groups.
On November 20, 2015
Your phonics lessons were recommended to me by a teacher in another county. I was so glad to see them for purchase on TpTs. I wished I had taken the time to see that you had several units bundled together as that would have saved a little money. Again, thanks for provide something for intervention with our little ones!
On July 21, 2015
Thank you. These lessons are easy to follow and the children enjoy doing them!
On November 16, 2016
Great resource! Really helpful for my dyslexic.
On March 3, 2017
These are perfect for my intervention groups!
On March 20, 2017
I use this with my low ones in small group! I love it!
On September 7, 2017
Great Resource! Love It!
On February 1, 2017
Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for!
On May 21, 2017
I use this to help support my struggling readers during intervention time. Thanks.
On April 15, 2018
Thank you!
On September 14, 2015
I am so happy to have found this resource. I will use it for some of my reading intervention groups.
On November 20, 2015
Your phonics lessons were recommended to me by a teacher in another county. I was so glad to see them for purchase on TpTs. I wished I had taken the time to see that you had several units bundled together as that would have saved a little money. Again, thanks for provide something for intervention with our little ones!
On July 21, 2015
Thank you. These lessons are easy to follow and the children enjoy doing them!
On November 16, 2016
Great resource! Really helpful for my dyslexic.
On March 3, 2017
These are perfect for my intervention groups!
On March 20, 2017
I use this with my low ones in small group! I love it!
On September 7, 2017
Great Resource! Love It!
On February 1, 2017
Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for!
On May 21, 2017
I use this to help support my struggling readers during intervention time. Thanks.
On April 15, 2018
Thank you!
A typical unit consists of some or all of the following elements:
Phonics Instruction Guide
The four page instruction guide will give you an overview of the skill(s) to be taught, include any stories that are associated with the the skill, will list resources that are available for the unit, and provide you with phonemic awareness activities that are crucial for beginning and struggling readers.
Sample Lesson Plan
Phonemic Awareness Activities
Located in the Phonics Instruction Guide, numerous phonemic awareness activities are listed to help beginning and struggling readers identify individual sounds in words.
Phonemic Awareness Activities
Special Sound Cards
Special Sound Cards are used as a visual aid when introducing and reviewing sounds. Stories for each Special Sound Card are located in the Phonics Instruction Guide.
Special Sound Card
Homework Flash Cards
These can be put into homework packets to help students review new sounds, words, and sentences. Sounds are printed in blue, decodable words are printed in black, and sight words are printed in red. Sentences are printed in green.
Homework Flash Cards
Full Sized Flash Cards
These flash cards should be printed on cardstock (heavy weight paper) and be laminated. Sounds are printed in blue, decodable words are printed in black, and sight words are printed in red. Print on a color printer.
Full Sized Flash Cards
Sentence Strips
These flash cards should be printed on cardstock (heavy weight paper) and be laminated. Sounds are printed in blue, decodable words are printed in black, and sight words are printed in red. Print on a color printer.
Sentence Strips
Word Construction Tiles
Word Construction Tiles should be printed on cardstock (heavy weight paper) and be
laminated. Cut the letter tiles into pieces and the the box with the "Words to Construct". Store these pieces in zipper sandwich bags. Label the bags with a the unit number using a permanent marker. Make enough copies for a small group of students or make a class set.
laminated. Cut the letter tiles into pieces and the the box with the "Words to Construct". Store these pieces in zipper sandwich bags. Label the bags with a the unit number using a permanent marker. Make enough copies for a small group of students or make a class set.
Word Constrcution Tiles
Fluency Chart
Use the Danco Fluency Chart to help students increase their automaticity. All of the words are decodable words and sight word(s) from the unit. The goal is for students to read the words at a faster rate with successive attempts. This is also a great sheet to add to homework packets.
Fluency Chart
Spelling Word Practice Sheets
These are ideal for homework packets but can also be used a center activity as well. Simply print on cardstock, laminate, and have students use overhead projector pens to practice writing their spelling words. Rinse and wipe clean for the next use.
Spelling Word Practice Sheets
Dictation Sentence Practice Sheets
These are ideal for homework packets but can also be used a center activity as well. Simply print on cardstock, laminate, and have students use overhead projector pens to practice writing their spelling words. Rinse and wipe clean for the next use. Make these sentences part of your weekly spelling test.
Dictation Sentences
Phonics Reader
Phonics readers can be printed as booklets on copy machines with that capability. If your copy machine will not print the phonics readers as a booklet, print them full sized and take them to an office supply store that have copy machines that can do so. Have them make an original copy in booklet form and then use your school copy machine to print a class set or enough for a small reading group. This makes the phonics readers easy to store in plastic storage boxes
Sample Page from the Danco Phonics Reader
Phonics Slip Strip
Print these on card-stock (heavy weight paper) and assemble so that the center strip with the phonics skill for the unit slides up and down. This is a game-like way to practice the phonics skill for the unit.
Phonics Slip Strip
Puppet Pattern (for units with vowels)
Each of the vowels has a puppet pattern that corresponds to Special Sound Card for the unit. Print the pattern on a color printer and affix it to a lunch sack. Tell the story of the vowel sound found in the Phonics Instruction Guide using the puppet or have the students use the puppet to retell the story.
Puppet Pattern
Vowel Song (For units with short vowel sounds)
Each vowel sound has a song. Use the song to reinforce the story of the vowel sound.
Vowel Song
Danco Phonics Support
These convenient worksheets can be completed in class or at home for extra phonics support.
These convenient worksheets can be completed in class or at home for extra phonics support.
