In Springfield Local Schools’ kindergarten classrooms, young learners are gaining essential literacy skills through the Phonics First program. This multisensory, research-backed approach engages students in seeing, hearing and manipulating letters and words—helping them build confidence in reading, spelling and writing.
“The key is the multisensory part,” explains kindergarten teacher Mrs. Kim Hohlbein. “By engaging different senses, students retain information more effectively and develop strong reading foundations.”
With hands-on activities like sand trays, chalkboards and the Pound and Sound game, students master letter sounds, read decodable books and spell independently. Parents also are seeing the impact—many are amazed at how quickly their children are becoming fluent readers.
As these young learners strengthen their foundational skills, their ability to understand and enjoy reading will only grow. Thanks to dedicated educators like Mrs. Hohlbein, Springfield students are on the path to lifelong literacy success—one sound, one word and one story at a time.
