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10 top Systematic Synthetic Phonics programs

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Are you interested in 10 top Systematic Synthetic Phonics programmes – what you should know about these methods and why they are so popular?

Are you interested in Systematic Synthetic Phonics programs? Here is everything you need to know about teaching reading and this unique method. 

How Systematic Synthetic Phonics programmes help young learners read and decode phonics

Systematic Synthetic Phonics is a new way to approach reading, and it can be more than helpful for children that struggle with traditional methods (such as analytic phonics). The basic idea behind it is to allow children to see a connection between sounds or phonemes and letters or graphemes. 

One of many reasons why this method can be helpful is that struggling readers will first learn segmenting sounds. After that, they will combine individual sounds into whole words. The method usually starts with six or seven phonemes, and it allows children to form a variety of words. 

Introducing new words after that is quite simple. 

All Aboard Phonics

All Aboard Phonics is a great program and it’s verified by the British Department of Education. The principles of All Aboard Phonics is that the methods are fun, easy to implement, and have effective results. 

You can also use an app developed by the company, use decodable books, various ways to practice decoding skills at home, and others. 

Bug Club Phonics

Big Club Phonics is another synthetic phonic program, and it does a great job of helping beginners learn to read. Especially first-grade (6-year-old children). Bug Club Phonics gives you the option to create a plan for your classes, various resources including e-books, and tools that can be useful for your teaching. 

And that’s just the beginning. There is a reason why Bug Club Phonics is one of the most popular programs you can find today. At least when it comes to SSP.

Junior Learning Letters & Sounds

Letters and Sounds is a program developed by Junior Learning, and it is another option you can check out. One of the best things about the Letters and Sounds program is that it is divided into six groups. 

With it, young children will have a sense of progression, and they are slowly exploring the world of phonetics. Phases are phonemic awareness, letter names, phonics, blends, vowel sounds, consonants, and spelling. 

McKie Mastery Power Phonics

Power Phonics is a program by McKie Mastery, and it was developed by the founder Claire McKie. The program aims to revolutionize the way teachers approach the subject. And it can be quite effective. 

There are so many benefits for both teachers and students, and it is a simpler way that will change the way you see education. If you are interested in the method, you can always apply for the free taster session.

Jolly Phonics

Jolly Phonics is fun and exciting, and it puts children into its primary focus. Teaching literacy is achieved through synthetic phonics, and there is an action for each of the 42 letter sounds. 

Individual letters and phonemes are split into groups for easier understanding, and this innovative approach already has many fans. 

Song of Sounds

Song of Sounds is another great program approved by the DfE, and it offers a fun and creative way to approach the subject. Becoming a subscriber will give you access to all the teaching materials, planning, digraphs, reading instructions, assessments, and so much more. 

So, if you are looking to redefine your classes, this might be a good starting point. 

Sound Discovery

Sound Discovery was developed by Ridgehill Publishing, and the reading program covers reading skills, spelling, and writing. It is a great way to redefine classes, and it is suitable for both primary school and adults. 

The main advantage of Sound Discovery is that it focuses on people with dyslexia and other reading difficulties, as well as slow-to-start learners regardless of their age. 

Twinkl Phonics

Twink Phonics is validated by the Department for Education, and it is a fun and creative approach to the subject. The program offers six different levels with high-quality lessons and direct instructions, and each is designed to be fun and engaging. 

You can also get access to additional supporting resources that will take your teaching to a whole new level. 

Unlocking Letters and Sounds

If you are interested in helping children and ensuring that each and every child in your class becomes a fluent reader, Unlocking Letters and Sounds might be a perfect option. It focuses on early reading ability, word recognition, writing, and spelling, and gives you a chance to be creative like never before. 

The foundation of the program is the one used by Letters and Sounds, but with a couple of upgrades. 

Letterland

Letterland offers an award-winning program for teaching children literacy, phonics, spelling, and grammar. There are plenty of different resources you can check out as well. There is a phonics webinar, a guide for those teaching English as a second language, various curriculums, and so much more. 

The program is available in different countries across the world, and it’s one of the most popular options when it comes to the English language. 

How to choose the best phonics program to improve reading comprehension amongst children

Choosing the right program is never easy. And the main question you need to ask yourself is - what are you trying to achieve? Each of these programs offers something different and unique, and they can all be a good option. 

So, the best way to make a decision is to check the content of the program and see whether it is something that works for you and your class. 

Speechify- an alternative to phonics programs

If you want to take a different phonics approach, you can always go for Speechify as an alternative. The app is available on any platform you can imagine, and it is one of the best tools for e-learning. 

The app will easily convert any type of text into a synthetic voice, you can adjust the accent, language, speech sounds, and others. It’s easy to use, and your students can install the app on their smartphones. 

Most importantly, they will be able to hear the proper pronunciation and sounds in just a couple of clicks. 

FAQs

What are the key principles of systematic synthetic phonics?

The synthetic phonics approach is the alphabetic principle, and the entire program is built on it. The students are taught sounds and letters, letter combinations, as well as the connection between them. 

Naturally, you can start with high-frequency words and the most common letters, rimes, etc. But SSP is more effective. 

What is the best synthetic phonics program?

There are many great systematic phonics instructions you can check out. These include Jolly Phonics, Letters and Sounds, Letterland, Bug Club Phonics, and many others. While the majority of these programs are developed in England, you can use them regardless of your location. 

How do you teach systematic synthetic phonics?

The simplest way to approach the teaching of reading is by adopting one of many programs available. As for the choice, it is up to you as a teacher. Try to find something that suits your style, that focuses on children and their needs, and is approved by the National Reading Panel.  

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.