Why lern fonix?

In this scheme all the lessons are structured exactly the same - meaning you will not have to scour over endless confusing and complex lesson plans, or spend time cutting and laminating tons of resources! All that is needed for every lesson is a set of flashcards and the children to have a whiteboard, pen and rubber! The repeated lesson structure gives clarity and confidence to both children and teachers. 

The order in which the sounds and tricky words are taught synchronises with the Book Band colours. This means that by the end of Year 1, every child* should have the knowledge to decode books that meet their Age Related Expectations and pass the Year 1 Phonics Check. 

Through the Lern Fonix programme, the children also learn the technical side of literacy. This daily teaching of literacy skills means that English and other lessons can focus more on the compositional skills whilst Lern Fonix takes care of the transcriptional element of reading and writing. 

  Every sound is taught with a ‘Vocal Action’ (VA). This is usually rhyme or catchphrase which goes along with an action for each sound. This appeals to all aural, oral and kinetic learners and is an excellent tool for recalling sounds. The children find the Vocal Actions very entertaining and they really help to engage and focus their attention. 

 The use of QR codes to give access to instant video demos of the Vocal Actions to give teachers confidence in their teaching and ensures consistency throughout the school. 

This scheme of work appeals to visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinesthetic learners through the Vocal Actions and the practice and application sections of the lesson. There are also many opportunities for children to learn some British Sign Language signs!

One of the most favourable aspects of Lern Fonix for teachers is that no extra resources are needed, the lesson plans are so simple there is no need to read in advance. The scheme can also be used by Teaching Assistants in small intervention groups. 

 Any moment when the understanding of the sound can be taken to a deeper level is indicated in red with the letters ‘DU’ (Deeper Understanding). These ‘Deeper Understanding’ points facilitate class discussions about the learning, and give children more information and background about the sounds. Lern Fonix aims to help children understand sounds, not just 'learn' them. Children need to be able to engage with sounds in order to have a strong understanding of them, so it is crucial to this programme that these discussions take place. 

Assessment and progress is easy to track and monitor using our Excel spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is formatted with a colour code that help teachers identify where there are gaps in knowledge and which pupils need targeting for extra support. 

The scheme is accompanied with a simple ActivInspire flipchart to support teaching and learning and to again reduce workload for teachers.