Reading has many features

Self–recording

    Listen and playback feature!  

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Using the record and playback feature encourages clear pronunciation.

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The programme records the student's voice and then plays it back comparing it with the programme voice.

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A student‘s performance may be monitored by accessing the sound clips in Student Management.

Reading Blocks

    All new words are introduced in ‘blocks’.  

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Words are first introduced in rhyming blocks.

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The ‘unit of sound’ is at the top of the screen and can be highlighted in every word.

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Technology saves the student embarrassment and the teacher time.

Reading Syllables

    Words are split into syllables at the click of a button.  

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A right mouse click reveals a pop-up box with the word split into syllables and read aloud.

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This option is available before the student reads.

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Now the student sees, hears and understands how words divide into syllables.

Quiz Questions

    Built in questions aid comprehension and vocabulary extension.   

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There are questions at the end of many pages especially in Stage one.

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Clear uncluttered screens with a ‘click and stick’ facility.

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The student needs to listen, comprehend and read to select the correct answer.

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Immediate visual and auditory feedback is given to the student.

Reading Sentences

Sentences encourage good phrasing.   

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The first time the sentence is clicked the words turn blue.

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This gives the student an opportunity to read it aloud.

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The second time it is clicked the programme voice reads the sentence and the student can read in unison.

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This encourages looking ahead and using good phrasing

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Students learn to read clearly and confidently and not ‘bark at print’.

Reading Check–words

Check–words provide revision.   

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Words that have been introduced in blocks are presented again.

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Check–words can be practised many times.

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The computer gives constant feedback reasuring the student.

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Check–words ensure necessary ‘over-learning’.

Reading Check–sounds

Check–sounds are the core of Units of Sound.   

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Check–sounds build excellent de-coding skills.

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Students learn more than one phonic option for a letter combination.

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A right click gives the Check–sound in a word.

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Revision is built-in throughout the programme.

Reading Passages

Passages provide an opportunity for comprehension as well as decoding.   

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Reading passages encourages clear reading of continuous prose.

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The programme contains correct phrasing for the student to model.

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Excellent preparation for reading the unseen passages in the student books.

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Revision is built–in throughout the programme.

Check–reading

Check–reading is proof of a student‘s progress.

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Check–reading is a one to one activity.

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The student reads the pages worked on with the computer to a ‘teacher’.

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The ‘teacher’ may be a specialist or non-specialist teacher, a learning assistant or another trained and supported person.

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If the student has used the computer programme well, reading will be accurate, fluent and confident.