Education.
Northern Research Associates have been involved in the preparation of a phonics based literacy programme targetting infants for the last two years. The materials produced are presently being piloted in Scotland.
Recent research has identified a link between the use of a synthetic phonics approach in early primary education and secure reading. In the synthetic phonics approach children are taught letter sounds before being introduced to books. When the children have learnt a number of sounds they are shown how they can be blended together to create words. Children are then encouraged to sound each letter in turn and to synthesise the sounds together in order to articulate the pronunciation of the word.
The advantage of the synthetic phonics approach is that most of the letter sounds can be taught in the first few months of the primary one or reception year. By teaching the children to construct the pronunciation and words for themselves they become equipped with the skills that enable them to read a number of the new and unfamiliar words that they will encounter as they begin to read books.
Northern Research Associates have produced a number of phonics based materials for teachers to assist in reinforcement of the phonics approach.
Phonics reading books.
The importance of the synthetic phonics approach has been seen in England where it becam a keystone in the education of infants in 2006. The government had been compelled to adopt the approach after a number of studies indicated the advantage of this approach to literacy.
Evidence has shown that children in their first year of schooling who had been taught for sixteen weeks using a synthetic phonics approach were seven months ahead of their peers in reading and nine months ahead in spelling.
As part of the phonics based literacy programme Northern Research Associates produced a series of reading books which support a synthetics phonics approach. These books can be used in conjunction with any synthetic phonics based teaching programme. We have also been working on extension and support materials for teachers. These materials are presently being piloted in Scotland. If you would like more information then click here or click on the publications tab at the top of the page.To download a sample book, click on the cover picture to the right.
Update: 1.1 (November 08, 2006)
