Distinguished Educator Fights to Ensure No Child is Left Behind

Literacy specialist, Marilyn Francis, launches Lit-Lab, an educational materials publisher. First up, Flip Over Phonics, an innovative phonics supplement designed to fill the gap left by traditional teaching methods.

El Paso, TX (PRWEB) October 20, 2004 -- Lit-Lab, a new educational materials publisher, announced the launch of Flip Over Phonics. Created by 21-year educator and literacy specialist, Marilyn Francis, Flip Over Phonics provides children, parents and educators with a hands-on phonics supplement. Unlike traditional phonics supplements, Flip Over Phonics is arranged into handy, pocket-sized flip charts that children can easily handle. The books are great for home, school and in the car because they are small, portable and self-contained.

"I created Flip Over Phonics for my own students because I needed flexible materials to complement several different phonics programs. I needed something the kids could work with independently, in groups, or in a classroom setting. The other products on the market were too complicated or had too many pieces that were easily lost. Phonics programs need to be easy to use so that children can learn. With Flip Over Phonics a child can make hundreds of different combinations, practicing phonics skills any time, anywhere."

In recent years, phonics programs have become a standard part of reading curricula. The Reading First initiative, authorized under the "No Child Left Behind" Act of 2001, requires that state initiatives include five components of effective instruction - phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Phonics, the first component, focuses on skills-based instruction, teaching children how to decode letters, sounds and sound combinations. These decoding skills better enable children to master reading.

The Flip Over Phonics series consists of five books: Vowels, Word Families - Short Vowels, Word Families - Long Vowels, Digraphs and Blends, and Most Common Sight Words. Each book sells for $10.00 or the entire series can be purchased for $45.00. Larger teaching versions are also available.

For additional information or to order Flip Over Phonics please call toll free 1-877-238-1007

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