Teaching Ideas

I'm at ECU and we are using Letters and Sounds for Phonics. It's fairly straight forward and somewhat similar to Dianna Riggs program with satpin. It runs over six phases although they are flexible....
It's free to download and copy from
www.standards.dfes.gov.uk or www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications

I discovered (as a volunteer)-
'Making Up for Lost Time Literacy'.
when I discovered there was an American literacy program on one school's computer with the children ending up with American accents!

Multilit originates from Macquarie University, NSW and has been around since early 90s. Quite well known in NSW and Qld.

Some schools in W.A. are just discovering great success. But not very well known. Quite dependent on volunteers. Children do programme every day for 30 to 45 minutes, one to one, every day. Children's self esteem tremendous - being awarded certificates etc as they progress through the programme.

We have been using the Sound Waves program in our classroom with great results. It has a CD with chants, hand actions, for each sound, a large classroom chart with the sounds and workbooks for students as well as teacher books. It is also really well suited to multiage classrooms as all students can learn the same sound.

I have been using a programme put out by phonics training new zealand (http://www.phonicstraining.co.nz/html/resources.htm) This programme combines oral work, reading working and handwriting all in one.The children really enjoy the variety of activities
They also have an early words programme which is well structured especially for children having difficulty retaining words. I have also used lettterland and this works well together with phonics training.

Hi, I looked into a few of the mentioned phonics sites. It appears that most are American. I particularly liked the look of the All About Spelling program, but I would assume it may not be suitable for Australian students. Can anyone advise me? Ann was the person who suggested the program - are you teaching in Australia or America?
Thanks.
Jen

Hi Elaine

She has a shop in the front of her speech therapy business in Perth (the address can be found on her website). You can find details of the resources and how to order them at her website
www.pld-literacy.org

Hi Kylie, Where can you get the Diana Rigg program from?

Have you looked at the Montessori Language program? It uses phonetics and some FANTASTC FREE materials can be downloaded from a website called 'montessoriforeveryone'. You'll never look back. Enjoy

You can Google this lesson in full description on the Open Court Resources website.

My children soared in spelling, reading, and writing using this system. Their is also a link for downloading the phonics mat, to be used with this system using Open Court Sound Spelling Cards as your tool for success.

The children build confidence, speed, and literacy quickly with this activity and they LOVE it!

Hi All,
I feel that a lot of students don't complete phonological awareness and phonemic awareness programs to the extent that it is necessary. I believe that this is the real failure.
I have been using a Spelling program that I love:
www.AllAboutSpelling.com/QLD It is great.
Ann

Here in WA we have Diana Rigg who was previously a teacher and then became a speech therapist. She has designed a phonemic awareness program that moves onto phonics and spelling and can be followed right up to 12 yr olds. I have been getting great results using it with 4 and 5 yr olds.

Hi Sand. My personal favourite is Letterland. I used it with my own son when he was in kindy and now I use it with my reception class. They love the characters in it. I also use Reading Eggs but not sure if it is considered a phonics or reading program. It certainly teaches sounds and how to put them together to make words.

Animated Literacy is a great program created by Jim Stone, kids love the songs, characters, and activites. Great writing activities,it is worth a look! K-2

Hi Sand
'bl' is definitely a consonant blend - it is 2 individual consonant sounds joined together eg.(not one sound)
Cheers, Donna