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Save Our Sounds

Why was this partnership activity necessary - concerns, aims, difficulties etc?
When Nelson Spelling was introduced as the school's spelling scheme, it was decided that certain groups of children would benefit from extra support with their spelling on a regular basis.

Where does this partnership operate?
The support given is based both at school and at home. A workshop was presented to all parents who wished to attend during an open day at the school. The workshop, which I ran, called Save Our Sounds, was to encourage the use of sounds and blending as well as explaining to parents the use of Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic and Tactile approaches during learning.

When does this work happen?
The implementation of this partnership is seen during times of co-operative teaching in school and at home through the learning of spelling as part of the homework programme.

How does the scheme work? How is it maintained, sustained and evaluated?
I, as Learning Support Teacher, maintain and sustain 2 types of lessons per unit of spelling.

Week 1 - The teaching associated with the Learning Support Teacher's worksheet drawn from other resources, allowing the reinforcement of sound blending, sound discrimination, Look, Say, Cover, Write and Check skills and enhancing vocabulary.

Week 2 - Groups work on the following activities:

• Starspell
• Phonic Code Cracker CD Rom
• Stile Phonics Books
• Typing out the list of words from the worksheet using Look, Say, Cover, Write and Check on the PC
• Worksheet from Phonic Code Cracker / Starspell / Learning Support Teacher.

An evaluation of the groups takes place each term with the Class Teacher to see if the children have attained the targets which have been set for the group. An example of the targets is given opposite:

What are the benefits? What difference does this partnership make?
The difference that the partnership has made is one of working together for the good of the children, supporting them with consolidation of the work being taught in the classroom rather than work which is different and not as relevant. The partnership with parents is encouraged through the homework links via the Class Teacher.

1.4 Wallacestone Primary School, Falkirk