This compact book aims to help teachers in need of new ideas in early childhood phonics. It offers a collection of word study activities for the progressive classroom using the tool of magnetic letters. Adding just enough theory to make the author/educator's point, the book shows how this simple tool can support the teaching of letters and sounds throughout the day within a balanced literacy program. Each activity in the book is geared to helping children figure out and understand words on their own--by making word analogies, they can draw on what they already know about letters, sounds, words, and spelling to access print in context. Throughout the book, educators will find distinct rationales for teaching children about letters and words and specific steps to help them assess students' needs and plan their teaching. The book contains sample lessons, lists of ideas, dialogue snippets, and classroom photos which will help teachers get started with implementing phonemic and phonological instruction in their own classrooms. (Contains 24 references.) (NKA)