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Word Blocks

Introduction

Word Blocks
Word Blocks

Students are usually able to read the words in the word blocks as they are set within a secure audio / visual framework, and we tell them the new unit of sound.

  1. When the page opens an introductory message is played automatically giving the unit of sound on that screen.
  2. The student repeats the sound aloud.
  3. The message can be replayed by clicking on the Reading icon.
Screen Tutor: Word Blocks

Explore

  • The 1 pencil Explore stage is where the students make use of the support elements before reading the words.
  • Click on the unit of sound to hear it again and to see the pattern highlighted in the word block.
    • Words not conforming to the exact sound are not highlighted.
    • Words of more than one syllable appear with a question mark beside them in the Explore phase.
  • Click on a question mark to hear and see the word broken down into syllables.

Practice     

  • Click on the arrow to activate the block.
    • Recording is now active (demonstrated by the appearance of a microphone) – this is now the 2 pencil Practice stage.
    • The first word in the block is highlighted for 2 seconds.
  • The student reads the word aloud into the microphone while it is highlighted.
  • After 2 seconds the word is read by the program voice.
  • The activity box moves to the next word and the process is repeated until all the words in the block have been read.
Practice
Practice

Checking & Feedback

  • Click on the Playback icon to hear the student’s voice followed by the program voice for each word in turn. Alternatively, click on the tick for individual word feedback.
  • Rerecord any word that was wrong by clicking on the activity box arrow.
  • Students should be actively engaged in this process, noticing their own mistakes and self-correcting.
  • The tutor can play back the students’ recordings from Records if needed. This means the tutor does not need to test or sit near the student during sessions.
  • The last three pages of recordings are stored.

Completion

  • Click on the arrow at the bottom of the activity box to go onto the next set of Word Blocks.
  • When all the stars are filled in, click for the next activity in the usual way.
  • When there is more than one unit of sound on the same page, the introductory message will automatically play when the student clicks through to the next activity.
  • These routines are repeated on every Reading page and soon become familiar.