Course Home
What is Building Blocks Phonics?
Building Blocks Phonics is a complete, explicit, systematic phonics curriculum that teaches all 44 sounds of English. The scope and sequence are laid out so that each module builds on the previous module, supporting every new phonetic concept introduced and never asking students to make a leap that they are not prepared to make.
Using the Online Training Website
This page is the home page for your online training. Whenever you are ready to continue your training, you’ll come back to this page to pick up where you left off. All of the lessons in the course are listed below, and you are expected to complete them in order.
In order to pass a lesson and advance to the next, you must score at least an 80% on the quiz for the lesson. You may take the quiz as many times as you like, but you will not have access to the next lesson until you have scored a passing grade.
In the Building Blocks Phonics online training course, you will sit in on a complete 3-day training session with Barbara McNamara. For each of the 20 lessons included you will be expected to:
- Study and review the PowerPoint slides.
- Watch the accompanying training video (located in the Resources section of each lesson).
- Review any additional resources that have been provided.
- Take (and pass) the quiz to proceed to the next lesson.
What if I need help?
Your instructor is available by email if you need help understanding the content or navigating the course. Please understand that you won’t get an immediate reply to any emails you send. Your instructor will normally respond within 1 business day.
Course Introduction (3:26)
Lesson Flow (8:06)
Course Information
Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will:
- Objective 1: Explore relevant research on alphabetics and its importance to building foundational reading skills.
- Objective 2: Identify the 44 sounds of English through phonemic and phonological awareness.
- Objective 3: Recognize and understand spelling and phonological patterns of English that aid in decoding skills.
- Objective 4: Examine best teaching practices for implementing phonics-based instruction.
- Objective 5: Apply phonics-based instructional techniques in classroom applications.
Policies & Requirements
This course is designed for in-service professionals working in various capacities within literacy programs. A total of 46 professional development credits are available for completion of this course with a minimum of an 80% as a final grade and at the discretion of your organization’s authorizing officials.
General Policies:
- Log in at least 3 times per week.
- No late work without prior approval.
- Maintain academic integrity.
Earning Credit for Assignments
Participants should be mindful of assignment due dates. All work must be submitted by the required deadline to earn credit for the assignment. It is understood that any work submitted is solely of your own creation and attribution to any outside sources of information consulted is always required.
Technical Requirements
Participants are expected to have regular access to:
- An internet-enabled computer for completing coursework and required research.
- In addition, a minimum proficiency in browsing the internet, uploading and downloading content, navigating to computer files, and using word processing software, email, and attachments is required.
Grading
A minimum of an 80% as a final grade in the course must be achieved to receive professional development credit for completion. Please refer to your organization’s authorizing official for specific questions on requirements and approvals for receiving professional development credit for this course.
| Assessment/Activity | Point Value* |
|---|---|
| Background Information Quiz | 5 points |
| Module 1 | 5 points |
| Module 2 | 5 points |
| Module 3 | 5 points |
| Module 4 | 5 points |
| Module 5 | 5 points |
| Module 6 | 5 points |
| Module 7 | 5 points |
| Module 8 | 5 points |
| Module 9 | 5 points |
| Module 10 | 5 points |
| Module 11 | 5 points |
| Module 12 | 5 points |
| Module 13 | 5 points |
| Module 14 | 5 points |
| Module 15 | 5 points |
| Module 16 | 5 points |
| Module 17 | 5 points |
| Module 18 | 5 points |
| Module 19 | 5 points |
| Module 20 | 5 points |
* Total points: 105 (80% = 84 points)
Assessments
As you move through the course, you will be evaluated in a variety of formats including discussions, quizzes, and assignments.
Barbara McNamara, Lead Trainer
[email protected]
(864)561-7902
Biography
Educational Background:
- B.A., Psychology, Fairfield University, 1985
- Licensure-Only, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, 2002
- M.Ed., Educational Supervision & Leadership, Clemson University, 2009
Professional Licensure & Endorsements:
- Special Education Multi-Categorical Licensure
- Literacy Specialist Licensure Endorsement
- Pursuing Online Teaching Endorsement
Experience:
- Elementary Special Education Resource Teacher, 2003-2014
- Literary Specialist, Greenville County Schools, Greenville, SC, 2014-2016
- Private Tutor/Owner, Tutor Greenville, Greenville, SC, 2016-2023
- Instructor, Greenville Literacy Association, Greenville, SC, 2019-Present