Return-Path: <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j3CGYdG17623; Tue, 12 Apr 2005 12:34:39 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 12:34:39 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <012d01c53f7d$53d7a330$0602a8c0@mesh> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "John Nissen" <jn@cloudworld.co.uk> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-LD:4685] Re: Synthetic phonics a silver bullet? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 2856 Lines: 93 Hi Susan, It is very rare to find a silver bullet. But, with hindsight, this phonics approach is pretty much common sense, and the 'active' and creative part of learning (esp. making spoken words out of sounds, then making written words out of letters) is supported by the science of cognition and memory. And the study shows that it is significantly better than the usual hotchpotch of methods that just confuse the kids, especially those with dyslexia in their genes. Undoubtedly the systematic approach, starting with words that have simple regular mappings of sounds to symbols, is a very important factor in the success. Cheers, John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Jones" <SUJones@parkland.edu> To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 3:16 PM Subject: [NIFL-LD:4684] Re: Synthetic phonics a silver bullet? >I think most of us are rather wary of any silver bullets. I've been > shot by a few of 'em myself. > > > > Susan Jones > Academic Development Specialist > Academic Development Center > Parkland College > Champaign, IL 61821 > sujones@parkland.edu > Webmastress, > http://www.resourceroom.net > >>>> jn@cloudworld.co.uk 4/12/2005 4:29:33 AM >>> > > Hi all, > > Please excuse the cross posting. > > A remarkable study in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, showed that 300 > children, > taught synthetic phonics from the start, were over three years ahead > of > their peers by age 11. The boys were as advanced with their reading as > the > girls. The Commons Select Committee on Education and Skills reported > on the > study on Wednesday, April 6, and the report was mentioned on BBC news > and in > The Times (on the front page and in the Leader) the following day. > This > report said that the government should review the National Literacy > Strategy > in the light of the Clackmannanshire study, since currently around 17% > of > pupils cannot not read by age 11 and this was a national disgrace. > > The Leader in the Times said that synthetic phonics was unlikely to be > a > silver bullet; however the synthetic phonics method had everybody > reading > within a short time, which is a silver bullet by my book. > > A few weeks ago, having read about the Clackmannanshire study which > prompted > the report, I wrote about the implications for dyslexia, and how > technology > can help, see: > http://www.cloudworld.co.uk/synthetic-phonics.htm. > Now, in the light of the committee report, I've just posted some notes > on > our web site, see: > http://www.cloudworld.co.uk/teaching-synthetic-phonics.htm. > > Cheers from Chiswick, > > John Nissen, > director, Cloudworld Ltd > > > Cloudworld Ltd - http://www.cloudworld.co.uk > maker of the assistive reader, WordAloud. > Tel: +44 208 742 3170 Fax: +44 208 742 0202 > Email: info@cloudworld.co.uk > > >
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