Can anyone tell me about Sounds-Write?

[gwenniebee]

I am applying for a job (which I really, really want!!) where the phonics scheme is Sounds-Write. I have had a good look at their website and it all makes sense, and seems as though it would be quite similar to the Ruth Miskin (Read Write Inc) scheme that I have used before.

Can anyone tell me a bit more about it? I used the Ruth Miskin with SEN children who were a bit older, so I've not taught phonics to mainstream children at the "normal" age for teaching phonics. Obviously I want to impress the school with my get up and go in terms of finding out about the Sounds-Write scheme!

Thanks.

SoundsWrite is very good.

It's not as prescriptive as RWI and it doesn't rely on ability grouping and TAs taking groups like RWI does.

You do your own differentiation in the lesson instead.

You have to do lesson planning yourself.

I like the way it introduces letters in words rather than introducing them by themselves.
I like the way there is no mucking around with anything multi sensory. All of it is decoding and encoding.
I like the way it introduces all the main 'ay' sounds (ay ai a-e and (I think) ea) ) in the same lesson. Rather then in seperate lessons.

I wasn't very impressed with its spelling advice or breaking up words into syllables advice.

I like it a lot and think its better than RWI.

That's really helpful, thanks CalicoRose.