14 February 2011

Many children have difficulty reading and spelling in English because they do not have a good understanding of the 44 sounds and 120 key spelling choices (the building blocks of words). This applies to first language speakers and also to those learning English as an additional language.

• They often do not say the right sounds when they read.
• They often do not choose the right letters when they spell.
• They do not enjoy reading and spelling and spend less time than peers on these activities.
• As a consequence, they do not benefit intellectually and socially as much as they should from formal education.

Most governments and teachers believe that the literacy process starts with children turning over the pages of picture books, usually with the help of a parent or grandparent, to ‘read’ favourite stories again and again. They also believe that, if children are to learn from the words they read and spell and are to develop a love of reading and writing, a good understanding of sounds and spelling choices (phonics) is vital.

Given the importance that is attached to phonics, it is useful (if not essential) to have documentary evidence that children of a set age have a good understanding of the 44 sounds and 120 key spelling choices (the building blocks). In particular, this evidence is critical for those children who are struggling with reading and/or spelling and are not making good progress.

The English Phonics Test software provides a low-cost simple solution for both teaching and assessing individuals, classes, year groups and, if desirable, even whole schools. It is suitable for children from the age of four upwards (but it can also be used with adults, including student teachers and parents - and staff needing to improve their knowledge and confidence in order to deliver high quality phonics lessons). It uses 120 keywords (each with a memorable picture) to progressively introduce, revise and test knowledge of the sounds and key spelling choices.

The software has seven modules. These include:

• The interactive Picturechart - to introduce and revise the keywords.
• Teaching Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 - to introduce and revise the sounds and spelling choices in stages, all with timed practices.
• The interactive Word Bank - to spell and read words and non-words.

In the Word Bank, children select graphs (one-letter spelling choices), digraphs (two-letter spelling choices), split digraphs, consonant clusters (two or three consonant spelling choices combined together) and trigraphs (three-letter spelling choices) to spell and read words and non-words (phonically decodable words that involve normal spelling choices). They also create words that are polysyllables (words with more than one vowel sound/spelling choice) and words that have alternative pronunciations (because of the accent of the reader, or for words with the same spelling but different meaning e.g. bow). The CLAP OR BOING! screen can be used to check the spelling choices and sounds in a word or non-word that has been created in the workspace. If correct, they select the Clap Animation and, if not, they select the Boing! Animation.

The ultimate test, the English Phonics Test, requires the child to spell all 120 keywords in the fastest possible time - where each key spelling choice must be selected from 120 possibilities! At the end of the test, the child is given a Grade (A, B, C, D, E, F, or G) and a Star Rating (7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 star performance) depending on the time taken. If the test has been completed in under 30 minutes, this is a Grade A (7 Star) performance and indicates a very good level of understanding for the sounds and spelling choices of English.

If it is desirable to also hear the accuracy and clarity of the child’s pronunciation, the volume can be muted or reduced while the child says the keywords and sounds for part or all of the test.

By using the English Phonics Test software, children gain a good understanding of the 44 sounds and 120 key spelling choices (as is evident by their Grade and Star Rating - and the confident manner in which they pick the spelling choices from the possibilities). They are more able to segment and blend unfamiliar English words before learning to read and spell them and can recognise the similarities and differences in groups of words. Reading and writing activities then become more enjoyable and they gain more from their formal education. They are also more likely to develop a love of reading and writing for pleasure and, should they become parents, encourage their own children to turn over the pages of picture books to ‘read’ favourite stories.

• The English Phonics Test app (and free English Phonics Test-Learner User Guide app) for tablets is available from the iTunes App Store and the Android Market (approx. £2.39).
• The smaller English Keywords 120 app, to practise the sounds and spelling choices, is also available for phones and tablets from these two download sites (approx. £0.59p).

SOUND IT OUT SOFTWARE - THE ENGLISH PHONICS TEST WITH ADDED FUNCTIONS AND MORE WORD LISTS - FOR HOME/SCHOOL COMPUTERS AND SCHOOL SERVERS

A fuller version of the English Phonics Test software for home/school stand alone computers and school servers is available as the SOUND IT OUT software. This software (product code S-20 for PC, S-22 for Mac and S-30 for PC Servers) is very much the same except with regards to the Word Bank. There are several more functions for extension activities and games, including a large number of word lists and a save option for new words. Completing ‘Level 4: Whole Chart’ is equivalent to the English Phonics Test. The stand alone software is activated using a Short Password-Long Password Method. The cost is £5 + VAT for each computer. The server software is activated using a simple Internet Connect Method. The licence is for any number of client machines connected to the server and is a one-off fee (i.e. no annual fee). The cost is £50 + VAT. The software is available through THRASS (UK) or one of our distributors (paid in local currency).

The SOUND IT OUT software, ENGLISH PHONICS TEST app and LUG app, and ENGLISH KEYWORDS 120 app have been designed by Alan Davies, Educational Psychologist, and programmed by Mike Meade.