Thanks to Susan Godslandof www.dyslexics.org for flagging up this simple explanation of split vowels from the On Track Reading website. This includes some free downloadable reading exercises with split vowels. http://www.ontrackreading.com/phonics-program/explaining-split-vowel-spellings
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Explanation of the Year 1 Phonics check by Elizabeth Nonweiler
Thank you, Elizabeth Nonweiler, for this clearly explained Powerpoint presentation about the Year 1 Phonics Check: http://www.nonweiler.demon.co.uk/Y1_Phonics_Check.pdf
Read MoreStruggled to come to grips with ‘Letters and Sounds’?
If you have struggled to get your head around ‘Letters and Sounds’, you might find it helpful to look at this comprehensive review by Elizabeth Nonweiler (trainer, Phonics and Literacy consultant and Reading Reform Foundation member). I did! http://www.nonweiler.demon.co.uk/page14.html
Read MoreWhy we all need to be able to read nonsense words
Here is a very logical, straightforward explanation why we all need to be able to read nonsense words. Spelfabet website beautifully and simply concludes that “nonsense words = words we haven’t yet met”. Why wouldn’t we want to teach children a skill that would help them read words they haven’t yet met? http://www.spelfabet.com.au/2012/12/nonsense-words/ This article was flagged up by […]
Read More"How Phonics Got Framed" – a coherent explanation of the phonics debate – a must for teachers
Teachers and parents interested in the phonics debate will want to see this You Tube video clip by Alison from spelfabet. Informed, measured, amusing and true! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e8SJFuGRFM
Read MoreNew buzz word for ‘tricky words’ in the new National Curriculum
This week I learned from Susan Godsland www.dyslexics.org.uk that the new term for ‘tricky words’ in the new National Curriculum is ‘common exception’ words. This term that is rather confusing. Firstly, why exception? Exception from what? Secondly, as Susan pointed out – it is not the word that is tricky/complex/ irregular/exceptional. It is the part of the word – the […]
Read MoreWhy is the term ‘tricky words’ tricky?
The term ‘tricky words’ is used for some common high-frequency words that a beginner reader may encounter. For example words like ‘the’ or ‘said’. These words have complex spellings (graphemes) that the child may not yet have learned. Because these words are so common, there is need in the early stages of reading to provide children […]
Read MoreFind out about the background to the Phonics Debate – a great website – www.dyslexics.org.uk
Happy New Year to all our followers! I recently came across a really good website that explains the different approaches to teaching reading. It discusses the history and rationale behind the different approaches: the Whole Word approach, the Mixed Method approach and the Synthetic Phonics and Linguistic Phonics approaches. It also looks at the evidence that […]
Read MoreTeacher explains her method for achieving fantastic reading results using Totem and Talisman series
Teachers have written in and asked Anne which method she uses to achieve such success (see table in Remarkable Results…. post below) using the Totem and Talisman series. Here is her answer:
Read MoreFantastic reading results using Totem and Talisman Series – case studies
A few weeks ago, out of the blue, we received a letter from an SEN teacher. It included these fantastic results of reading progress of her pupils during 2011/2012, using the Totem and Talisman series. RA = reading age SS = standard score Pupil Year Start RA SS End RA SS Progress 1 6 Sept […]
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