[MOSAIC] advice on phonics minilessons

[VCMUR at aol.com]

I know it doesn't sound like this goes with MOT but there is a great deal of 
research now that states that children in grades k-2 need at least 15 minutes 
of explicit, systematic phonics instruction every day.  I know phonics used to 
be the bad "p word" but it seems that this instruction is necessary for all 
students to be taught the 44 phonemes, segmenting and blending before the end 
of 2nd grade.  
  We have fountas and pinnel but don't really like it.  Like someone already 
said, the organization is bad and it takes a lot of prep time.  A lot of it is 
seat work.  The best phonics instruction should be a whole class quick oral 
language game or activity. If you stick to that, it really shouldn't take away 
from your reading time or comprehension lessons. 
 We've been doing this in my 1st grade class every day since November and 
have seen a great deal of improvement.  If anyone is interested in finding out 
more, please let me know.

Cami