Is Phonics International compatible with Floppy's Phonics?

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debbie
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Is Phonics International compatible with Floppy's Phonics?

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I was asked this question recently by a parent who is teaching her three children to read and who likes to use the Oxford Reading Tree reading books, Jolly Phonics and Phonics International! Aware that I have developed both Phonics International and the new ORT Floppy's Phonics Sounds and Letters programme, this parent wondered if she could do some combining of her favourite programmes!

It's a very sensible question, and one which may arise in people's thoughts when they are evaluating and selecting phonics programmes and materials.

The order of introducing letter/s-sound correspondences in Phonics International for the 'basic code' is similar to Jolly Phonics - although Phonics International includes more than one spelling alternative for some of the sounds in its basic (or STAGE ONE) alphabetic code.

The basic code for the new Oxford Reading Tree Floppy's Phonics Sounds and Letters phonics programme follows the order, more or less, of the UK government's Letters and Sounds 'basic code' (for Letters and Sounds phases two and three).

Thus, the order for introducing letter/s-sound correspondences for Phonics International and Floppy's Phonics is NOT identical.

It is perfectly possible to use many of the Phonics International resources to complement the Floppy's Phonics programme, if desired, because many of the Phonics International resources are 'generic' (general) resources - such as the cumulative, decodable words, sentences and texts.

The teacher has to ensure that before mixing the resources from any two programmes that the various letter/s-sound correspondences have already been introduced for the specific word list, sentences or texts used.

What I don't want anyone to think is that the Phonics International and Floppy's Phonics are not complete programmes - they are!

Floppy's Phonics is geared towards younger learners (four to seven or eight year olds) and has beautifully produced 'hard copy' resources including two interactive CD-ROMS which can be used by the teacher for lesson-introductions and by pupils to practise their phonics independently. The Floppy's Phonics programme has a brand new set of 42 glossy teaching books to support the teaching and learning of the alphabetic code and core skills. It has the advantage of all the Floppy's Phonics fiction and non-fiction reading books in addition - and goes on to provide an amazing and extensive full primary reading programme of all the ORT genres of books. See the link below to view the full range of resources.

Both the Phonics International and Floppy's Phonics programmes are based on the same synthetic phonics teaching principles, centred around Alphabetic Code Charts to show the rationale of sounds to spelling alternatives and to organise the phonics teaching. There are essential core skills Activity Sheets in both programmes.

Where the Phonics International programme does not have any glossy, hard copy cumulative reading books, it has masses of printable cumulative word, sentence and text level material. This material can be used to teach students of any age thoroughly, but also it can be used to complement any other synthetic phonics teaching programme - and provides plenty of material to support additional reading, writing and spelling activities - for example - for a sustained and comprehensive spelling programme and for students who need plenty of 'overlearning'.

Thus, it could be very helpful for a primary school to use the Floppy's Phonics programme for its infant pupils' beginning reading and spelling instruction - and Phonics International to extend the spelling instruction (based on the same teaching ideas) for the junior pupils.

Please don't hesitate to ask any further questions regarding both Phonics International and the new ORT Floppy's Phonics Sounds and Letters phonics programme! :wink:

See: http://www.oup.com/oxed/primary/oxfordr ... chphonics/
Debbie Hepplewhite
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debbie
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Post by debbie »

Hi Debbie, I hope everything is going well for you with this new adventure you are starting. I just got our first copy of the Floppy's Phonics resources. They are great! They will support our teachers a lot when it comes to extend and revise the sounds in PI. These resources came very handy now that we are training our teachers in the use of the interactive whiteboards.


I just posted this lovely feedback on the 'feedback forum' from an Early Years Curriculum Coordinator in a school in Costa Rica.

I thought it would also be interesting to pertinent to post her comment here too. :D

I continue to be asked by people 'which' programme they should buy - Phonics International or Floppy's Phonics Sounds and Letters - or if people already use Phonics International, they are asking whether they should also buy the Floppy's Phonics programme.

If you have a primary school, you could definitely benefit from purchasing the licence for Phonics International as it is so generic, thorough, comprehensive and extensive - and will address the spelling needs of your key stage 2 (junior) children as well as any needs for pupils with poor alphabetic code knowledge and weak blending skills. It is such a bargain that how could you not? Phonics International is a complete stand-alone programme or can be used to complement, or supplement, other synthetic phonics programmes which may not have the breadth of resources which teachers often need.

The new ORT Floppy's Phonics Sounds and Letters programme provides a beautifully produced systematic and rigorous programme for infants. It is complete with Alphabetic Code Chart, The Alphabet Poster, Frieze Posters, Tricky Words Poster, Say the Sounds photocopiable Posters, giant Flash Cards as well as CD-ROMS for interactive whiteboard lesson introductions (and individual pupil use).

It also includes a full range of photocopiable Activity Sheets which are used alongside the 36 Sounds and Letters teaching and learning books for Phase Two up to and including Phase Five (of Letters and Sounds).

It is a complete, stand-alone infant programme.

Teachers may decide, however, like the teacher who provided the feedback above, that they would like to broaden their choice of resources to enrich the children's learning.

One of the beauties of the new Floppy's Phonics programme is the range of children's phonics teaching and learning books which are completely integrated with the material on the CD-ROMS.

Many whole spoken words are included on the CD-ROMS. This means that young learners, and pupils for whom English is a new or additional language can hear the pronunciation of these words in the English language provided on the illustrations of those words (many different scenes from the Biff, Chip and Kipper books).
Debbie Hepplewhite
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Post by debbie »

November 2019:

Please note that Oxford University Press has updated the CD-ROMs of the original Floppy's Phonics programme to an online subscription platform (from September 2019).

The online platform includes the same interactive pages that are parallel with the content of the glossy Sounds Books (as before) and the Book-by-book planning is also provided.
Debbie Hepplewhite
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Post by debbie »

We have further developments - as happens over time!

From January 2021, we have made the Phonics International programme completely free - thus anyone can have a really good look at what is available - its 'scope' - without having to spend any money.

We have also developed hard copy resources for the first half of Phonics International and to serve the hard copy series 'No Nonsense Phonics Skills' published by Raintree.

In collaboration with Raintree, we are submitting an application for the DfE phonics validation process to scrutinise the No Nonsense Phonics series, with the new hard copy resources, as a 'full' Systematic Synthetic Phonics programme.
Debbie Hepplewhite
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