New version of online spelling program ready for 2022
A new version of Sound Waves Spelling from Firefly Education is due for release later this year, ready for use in classrooms in 2022.
Designed by teachers, Sound Waves is the only whole-school synthetic phonics program based on the 43 sounds of Australian English. With a range of flexible resources, it’s a systematic approach for students, a practical choice for teachers and a good fit for Australian classrooms.
The new Sound Waves Spelling includes an improved lesson sequence, additional resources for explicit teaching and revamped student book activities.
A strengthened approach to the four pillars of spelling
Informed by research on the best practices for teaching spelling, the new edition features a strengthened approach to the four key areas of teaching:
- Phonemic awareness: the ability to work with phonemes
- Synthetic phonics: phonics instruction that involves teaching phoneme–grapheme relationships
- Morphology: knowledge of the meaningful parts of words (prefixes, suffixes, and Greek and Latin roots)
- Etymology: understanding of word origins and history
Teaching resources reimagined
Sound Waves Spelling Online for Teachers provides everything needed to systematically teach phoneme–grapheme relationships and spelling and vocabulary concepts.
There is expanded content to use in explicit teaching lessons and each year level now includes a scaffolded lesson sequence for every phoneme and every focus concept covered in the program.
Lessons come with a detailed guide for teachers and a completely revamped suite of resources — including slideshows, videos, interactive tools and games ideas.
Improved student books
A fresh new look and streamlined layout will help reduce the cognitive load for young learners. Activities have been carefully crafted to consolidate the concepts taught in corresponding lessons. The revamped books will be available mid-year.
Sound Waves Spelling Online for Teachers will be available to trial and purchase from November. You can sign up for a trial or download sample pages from the new student books here.
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