Note to users: The original abc English books were published in 2010, and have now been discontinued in favor of new-and-improved material. Programs are encouraged to try out the new abc English Phonics books instead, which include improved material for teaching basic literacy skills, as well as the new abc English Online Library for printable and screen-sharable resources, which can be used for both in-person and online teaching. All new resources are located at the new abc English website.
But why?
The books have been discontinued because:
I realize it takes time to learn a new teaching approach and obtain new teaching materials. This older website will continue to be available to support teachers using the original abc English books. However, when you are ready, I strongly encourage you to try out the new materials and new approach! I think you'll find, as I have, that we can better serve students by taking a systematic approach to teaching phonics, and coupling it with robust and engaging Oral Language development through topic-centered vocabulary and speaking / listening activities.
But why?
The books have been discontinued because:
- The original abc English books were designed around a "Balanced Literacy" approach, which has been a popular approach to teaching literacy since the 1990s.
- Structured Literacy, a term adopted in 2014, is an approach meant to replace Balanced Literacy, and is more firmly rooted in reading science. By replacing and rearranging some common Balanced Literacy teaching methods into a Structured Literacy approach, teaching can be more efficient and effective, and more students can learn to read, more quickly. If you'd like to know more, please see the Structured Literacy training at abceng.org/training.
- I've created the new abc English Phonics series to better align with reading research. I've been using this new approach with my own students, and the results are clearly better. I feel strongly enough about it that I decided to discontinue the original abc English books.
I realize it takes time to learn a new teaching approach and obtain new teaching materials. This older website will continue to be available to support teachers using the original abc English books. However, when you are ready, I strongly encourage you to try out the new materials and new approach! I think you'll find, as I have, that we can better serve students by taking a systematic approach to teaching phonics, and coupling it with robust and engaging Oral Language development through topic-centered vocabulary and speaking / listening activities.