IMSE Scope Parent Guide IMSE Orton-Gillingham Continuum
Foundational Scope & Sequence
Parent Reference & Learning Trajectory • Orton-Gillingham Methodology
Current Target
Magic E (CVCe)
Sequence Stage 5
Why Scope & Sequence Matters: Orton-Gillingham is systematic, explicit, and cumulative. Every new skill builds upon previously mastered phonological patterns. Children never guess; they decode based on rules they have practiced through multi-sensory pathways (visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic).
1
Consonants & Short Vowels (CVC)
Prerequisite Mastered
Individual letter sounds, continuous blending, and 3-letter closed syllable words (cat, pin, rug).
2
Consonant Digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh, ck)
Prerequisite Mastered
Two letters producing one distinct phoneme (ship, chop, thin, whip, rock).
3
Beginning & Ending Blends (ccvc, cvcc)
Prerequisite Mastered
L-blends, R-blends, S-blends, and final clusters (stop, flag, jump, melt).
4
FLOSS Rule (-ff, -ll, -ss, -zz)
Prerequisite Mastered
Doubling consonant spelling after a single short vowel in a one-syllable word (cliff, bell, kiss).
5
Magic E / Silent E Syllable (CVCe)
Current 3-Day Focus
Silent 'e' reaches across one consonant to signal the preceding vowel to say its long name (tape, lake, safe, dive, home).
6
Vowel Teams & Diphthongs (ee, oa, ai, ay, ou, oi)
Upcoming Stage
Vowel combinations working together to represent long and variant vowel sounds.
7
R-Controlled Vowels & Syllabication (ar, or, er, ir, ur)
Upcoming Stage
Bossy R syllables and multisyllabic decoding strategies (Rabbit, Monster, Tiger rules).
Parent Coaching Insight: If your child struggles with Stage 5 (CVCe), confirm they are comfortable with Stage 1 short vowels. Master closed syllables before expecting silent 'e' automaticity.
Lesson 1 • Parent Instruction Playbook
The IMSE 3-Part Drill Routine
Target Concept
CVCe Long A (a_e)
1
Visual Drill (2 Minutes)
Show letter flashcards (a, m, p, t, c, b, d, l, k). Your child names the letter and sound.
Say: "Look at this card. What letter? What sound does it make?"Child response: "Letter is A , sound is /ă/ like apple."
2
Auditory & Tactile Sand Tray Drill (3 Minutes)
You say a sound; child repeats the sound, finger-traces the letter in a sand tray (or on a textured surface), and names the letter aloud.
Parent: "Say /ă/ ." Child repeats: "/ă/."A says /ă/ !" Smooth tray with flat hand to reset.
3
New Concept Launch Script (5 Minutes)
Use the "Magic Wand" rule to transform words from short to long vowels:
Script to Read Aloud:
"Read this word: C - A - P . That says cap ! Notice the vowel says its short sound /ă/. Now, watch what happens when we invite Magic E to the end: C - A - P - E . Magic E is so silent, but it has a magic wand! It reaches over one consonant and taps vowel 'a', telling it: 'Say your name!' Now the word is C-A-P-E: cape !"
Finger Tapping Rule:
Tap index to thumb for first sound, middle to thumb for vowel, ring to thumb for final sound. Magic E gets no tap because it is silent!
Error Correction:
If child says "cap-ee": Ask: "Is Magic E loud or silent?" "Silent!" "What did it tell the vowel 'a' to say?" "Its name!" "Try again."
Day 1 Parent Completion Goal
Complete the 3-part drill routine, then turn to the Magic Wordplay Activity Sheet.
Est. Time 15-20 Min
Magic Wordplay Activity Sheet Lesson 1 • Student Lab
Magic Wordplay Lab
Transform short vowels into long vowels with the silent Magic E!
Name:
Date:
1
Sound Tap Warmup (3 Sounds Each)
Tap finger to thumb for each phoneme
c - a - p
t - a - p
m - a - d
p - a - n
2
The Magic E Wand Transformation
Add Magic E, then write the new word!
Read the short vowel CVC word. Draw the magic wand curve to the vowel 'a', add silent 'e' at the end, and write the new word on the handwriting line.
cap
+ e →
cape Example
tap
+ e →
mad
+ e →
pan
+ e →
hat
+ e →
Parent Sand Tray Check: Did child trace the letters 'a-consonant-e' in sand while saying "Magic E makes A say /ā/" ?
Yes!
Lesson 1 • Practice & Application
Sentence Clues & Careful Writing
Page 2 of 2
3
Read Aloud & Circle Magic E
Read each decodable sentence aloud to your parent. Circle the word with silent Magic E.
1. The cat has a red cape . Find Magic E
2. Sam can swim in the big lake . Find Magic E
3. Mom put the box on the gate . Find Magic E
4. We will fix the toy with tape . Find Magic E
4
Skywrite, Say & Write
Skywrite each target word with two fingers extended. Then write the word neatly inside the handwriting area.
tape
lake
made
safe
Day 1 Phonics Star!
You mastered the silent Magic E rule today. Great job!
Brave Dave Decodable Reader Lesson 2 • Decodable Reader
Brave Dave Decodable Reader
100% Controlled Phonics Text • CVCe Long A & IMSE Red Words
Name:
Date:
IMSE Red Words Warmup (Arm Tapping)
Arm tap shoulder to wrist before reading
Red words do not follow regular phonics rules yet. Hold your arm straight out and tap each letter down your arm, then sweep for the whole word!
said s - a - i - d
have h - a - v - e
the t - h - e
was w - a - s
Brave Dave and the Lost Cape
Read with Parent
Dave is a brave lad. Dave has a red cape. Mom said, "Do not be late, Dave! Stay safe by the big lake."
Dave ran past the wooden gate. A big wind came and blew his red cape! The cape fell down into a dark cave.
"I must have my red cape," said Dave. Dave stepped in. He made no sound. He got the cape and ran back to the lake. Dave was glad and safe at the gate!
Tracking Prompt: Child points under each word with index finger. Underlined words have Magic E!
Reading Routine: Read 3 Times
1st: Finger tracking for accuracy • 2nd: Smooth reading • 3rd: Story expression
Read 1
Read 2
Read 3
Lesson 2 • Story Comprehension
Story Detective Questions
Page 2 of 2
1 What did Dave lose when the big wind came?
Write your answer on the line using your neatest handwriting.
2 Where did Dave's red cape fall down?
Write your answer on the line.
3 Why is Dave called "Brave Dave"? Check the best answer:
He went into the dark cave to get his cape.
He went to sleep at the wooden gate.
He swam all the way across the lake.
Magic E Detective Hunt
Go back to page 1. Find and count all words with a_e (Dave, cape, late, safe, lake, gate, cave, made, came).
How many Magic E words did you spot?
words
Parent Support: If your child pauses on a CVCe word, prompt: "Look at the end. Who is there? Magic E! What sound does the vowel make?" Give them time to self-correct.
Sound Matrix Practice Mat Lesson 2 • Encoding & Sorting Mat
Sound Matrix Practice Mat
Orton-Gillingham Sound-to-Letter Mapping & Rapid Matrix
Name:
Date:
1
Sound-to-Letter Mapping (Elkonin Boxes)
One sound per circle; silent E sits in the crown
Finger-tap the sounds. Write the letters for each heard sound in the squares. Write the silent 'e' in the crown!
Word 1
cape
Word 2
lake
Word 3
gate
Word 4
brave
2
Syllable Type Sort
Word Bank Below
Word Bank: mat • mate • pan • pane • rat • rate • hat • hate
Closed Syllable (Short /ă/)
Magic E Syllable (Long /ā/)
3
Roll & Read Rapid Matrix
Roll a die, read the 4 words smoothly
1 cape make cave safe
2 bake lake wave tape
3 gate name lane brave
4 take date fake grape
5 tame came gave rake
6 crane Dave stale shade
Parent Observation: Check off when child accurately distinguishes short vs. long A sounds.
Mastered!
Sentence Master Dictation Sheet Lesson 3 • Encoding Mastery
Sentence Master Dictation
Multisensory Sound, Word & Sentence Dictation with C.O.P.S.
Name:
Date:
1
Sound Dictation
Listen to parent, repeat sound, write letter(s)
Sound 1
Sound 2
Sound 3
2
Word Dictation (Finger Tap First)
Remember: Silent Magic E gets no tap!
3
Sentence Dictation & COPS Check
Pound each word before writing!
Sentence 1:
Sentence 2:
IMSE C.O.P.S. Student Self-Check:
C Capitals
O Organization
P Punctuation
S Spelling (Magic E)
Mastery Standard: 80%+ accuracy indicates solid mastery of CVCe Stage 5.
Page 1 of 2
Lesson 3 • Facilitator Scoring Guide
Parent Dictation Script & Rubric
Page 2 of 2
IMSE Dictation Protocol
Parent says the prompt once clearly and evenly. Do not stretch sounds yet.Child repeats prompt aloud to prove auditory capture.For words: Child taps sounds on non-writing hand before writing.
For sentences: Child pounds each word on the table with fist (e.g. 5 pounds for 5 words).
Child writes while saying words quietly.Child checks work with C.O.P.S. before parent looks.
Dictation Script & Expected Answers
Part 1 Sounds:
1. Say: /ā/ → Answer: a_e (or a)
2. Say: /k/ → Answer: c or k
3. Say: /m/ → Answer: m
Part 2 Words:
1. Say: "tape" (Tap: /t/ /ā/ /p/) → tape
2. Say: "lake" (Tap: /l/ /ā/ /k/) → lake
3. Say: "gate" (Tap: /g/ /ā/ /t/) → gate
4. Say: "brave" (Tap: /b/ /r/ /ā/ /v/) → brave
Phonics Safari Game Board Lesson 3 • Cooperative Game
Magic E Mountain Trek
Roll a die, read the word aloud, and trek to the Wizard Summit!
Players Parent & Child (1-2)
Start
Camp
1 cape Read
2 lake Read
3 • Sparkle Wand Leap! +1 space
4 gate Read
9 Dave Read
8 • Skywrite Spell 'made' in the air!
7 safe Read
6 wave Read
5 tame Read
10 lane Read
11 brave Read
12 • Red Word Arm tap "said" & "have"!
13 plane Read
14 tape Read
Summit
Wizard!
18 flame Read
17 crane Read
16 • Master Use 'lake' in a sentence!
15 cave Read
Rules of the Trek
1. Roll a standard 1-6 die (or flip a coin: heads = 2 spaces, tails = 1 space).2. Land & Read: Read the target CVCe word. If you land on a challenge space, complete the action!3. Error Coaching: If a player misreads, say "Tap it out! What does Magic E tell the vowel to say?" Try once more.4. Win: Reach the Wizard Summit together and do a celebratory Magic Wand high-five!
Cutout Pawns
Cut out or use coins/erasers
🧙♂️
⭐
Fold base to stand
✓
3-Day IMSE Phonics Sequence Complete! Congratulations! You successfully completed Stage 5 Magic E.
Ready For Stage 6 Teams
