Our Books - Fast-Track Phonics

Fast-track Phonics Part 1 – Basic 44 Sounds

Teacher Guide

Assessment Guide

Teacher Guide by Margaret Corner and Irene Chamberlain Part 1, Sets 1-9 (109 pages)

This Guide covers the teaching of the 44 basic sounds using a structured literacy approach, with a focus on synthetic phonics, extending to reading comprehension and writing skills. It contains reproducible lesson plan templates. The recommended teaching methodology is systematic, cumulative, explicit, multisensory and needs-based.)

Assessment Guide by Margaret Corner and Irene Chamberlain Part 1, Sets 1-9 (44 pages)

This Guide accompanies the sequential content of ‘sounds’ teaching as outlined in the Teacher Guide Part 1, Sets 1-9. Assessments/phonic checks cover knowledge of sounds in terms of listening, speaking, reading and writing, along with ‘special words’. It contains reproducible rubrics and forms to record individual and class progress and answer sheets for written assessments.

Part 1 Flashcards

Teaching flashcards: Part 1 teaching flashcards cover the 44 basic sounds. Each sound card has an associated picture and word to highlight the sound. Picture cards have attractive, colourful original illustrations.
These cards are used for the blending and segmenting of new and known sounds and encoding of words. They are also used for sounds review and in fun flashcard games requiring recall of letter sounds. They have an important place in each lesson plan and should be used prior to workbook activity.
The ‘younger learner’ set of flashcards is suitable for use with older learners. Some additional picture and word cards with a more mature focus have been added.

$249.99 A5 size $124.99 A6 size

$179.99 A5 size $89.99 A6 size

$135.99 A5 size $67.99 A6 size

$184.99 A5 size $92.99 A6 size

Note: Word cards are for recognition of key sound only in the early stages. Learners are not asked to decode words with unfamiliar sounds.

Assessment flashcards: The flashcards are used for oral assessment or ‘phonics check’ at the end of each set of five sounds. They contain letter sounds and words learned in the current and previous sets along with ‘special words’. They are used to test pronunciation, blending and segmenting skills. The assessments are straightforward to administer. The cards are to be used in conjunction with the written assessment and Assessment Guide which also contains copies of all cards.

Young learners Part 1 Assessment flashcards

Finest quality: These are high quality durable gloss laminated A5 and A6 cards with dividers. The A5 size cards can be used with larger groups and a display board and the A6 size cards are suitable for small group or individual teaching using a flat surface.
The A5 flashcards fit into a custom made ring binder.
The A6 flashcards fit neatly into a square 2-litre household container.

Flashcard Display Board

The flashcard display board provides a quick and easy way to ‘play’ with sounds. In Part 1, the teacher shows the picture card to represents the key sound associated with the picture. This is followed by the grapheme (letter) card for the sound, then the word card to show the sound in context.

The picture and word cards are then taken down and the letter cards only are used for blending and segmenting of sounds, e.g., the long vowel /ee/ could be placed in the centre and consonant cards with familiar sounds used to build words like see meet and sheet.

This board can be used by learners as well as teachers and is also used for fun activities.

A free plan of the display board is included in the A5 flashcard sets. Boards can be custom made by arrangement.

Part 1A Workbooks – Alphabet Sounds

Set 1:

s a t p i

Set 2:

n m d g o

Set 3:

c/k e r u h

Set 4:

b j l j v

Set 5:

w x y z qu

Margaret Corner and Irene Chamberlain

$84.99 per package – 5 books full colour: 144 page $73.99 per package – 5 books b & w inside pages: 144 pages

Workbooks reinforce lesson content.

- Copy of flashcard picture and associated action give visual and kinaesthetic association with the key sound.
- Pattern practice, colouring in of letter outlines and guided handwriting assist hand-eye co-ordination and reinforce the key sound.
- Identifying key sound in pictures of familiar items – assists aural and visual memory of key sound

Blending and segmenting sounds and CVC words – develops decoding and encoding skills
Reading cumulative CVC words and sentences – develops vocabulary and syntax knowledge
Writing consonants and vowels to form CVC words – first steps towards creating own words
Tracing dots to form pictures that contain key sound – reinforces awareness of key sound
Identifying specific sounds in pictures of objects – to recognise sounds in a wider context

Identifying specific sounds in sound grid – letter-sound recognition for later decoding words
Matching pictures with key sounds – reinforces connection of letter sounds in words
Coded reading of simple sentences – develops reading skills and self confidence
Drawing a picture to illustrate sentences – tests reading comprehension skills

Fast-track Phonics Videos

Young learners: Lesson 3 /t/; Set 1 review

Young learners: Set 1 review

The Fast-track Phonics videos are designed to consolidate the content of lessons for the individual sounds. Learners are expected to participate: to say, blend and segment the sounds, and do the associated actions as the video plays along. The actions can be performed sitting at a desk or standing.

Fast-track Phonics Part 1B Workbooks

Consonant and Vowel Digraphs

Set 6:

ch sh th th ng

Set 7:

ai oa ie ee or

Set 8:

ou oi ue er ar

Set 9:

oo (long) oo (short) z

Margaret Corner and Irene Chamberlain

$67.99 per package – 4 books full colour: 112 pages $58.99 per package – 4 books b & w inside pages: 112 pages

Consonant digraph sound introduces digraph concept – 2 letters for one sound
Miming of sounds and words– reinforces blending and segmenting skills in a fun way
Completing CVCC and CCVC words using adjacent consonants/consonant digraphs – extends word building, vocabulary and decoding skills
Regular review of previous 5 sounds – uses visual association to review sounds
Using new sounds to complete words in sentences – develops spelling and reading skills

Pattern practice reinforcement – maintains handwriting accuracy
Colouring-in curved and straight patterns – develops handwriting flow and movement
Special words – build on lists of common words with undecodable or alternative spellings
Writing of key sound in context of words – assists handwriting of words using correct spelling
Introducing syllables using short and long vowels – develops spelling and pronunciation

Identifying same sounds in digraph sounds grid – for letter-sound recognition decoding skills
Colouring-in object with key sound – reinforces digraph and develops hand-eye co-ordination
Reviewing the ‘FLOSS’ rule – for spelling and pronunciation of words with double consonants
Brainstorming words – preparation for writing title and simple sentence
Illustrating own written sentence – requires learner to check writing for coherent idea/s

Fast-track Phonics Part 1B

Young learners: Set 7, Lesson 32 /oa/

Young learners final review: sets 1-9

The videos do not have a soundtrack. The teacher should read the instructions (contained in the slides) out loud and then do a voiceover as a guide for pronunciation of sounds and words.

The videos contain copies of the picture, word and sound flashcards, blending and segmenting activities in the sequence outlined in the respective teacher guides, and replicated in the activity workbooks. Each video contains the individual sounds for Sets 1-9. There are ‘sounds reviews’ at the introduction of each new sound and video reviews with cumulative sounds at the end of each Set.

Fast-track Phonics - Alphabet and Sounds Charts

The following charts are A4 size printed on quality (150 gsm) paper.

Sounds Charts

These charts are for learners to refer to when they learn each new sound. The sounds charts have a grid at the end for shading of key sound when mastered. The 2 different alphabet charts are to help reinforce the concept that letter names and sounds are different.

Sounds Charts – contain alphabet sounds, consonant and vowel digraphs in the order in which they are taught, and a grid for shading sounds when mastered

Alphabet Chart

Alphabet Chart – contains the 26 alphabet letter names for comparison with key sounds.

Intervention for Older Learners

Part 1 Teacher Guides

88993 Fastrack Intervention Guide Part 1-3_COVERS-4

88855 Fastrack Diagnostic Assessment Guide Part 1-3_COVERS-8

Intervention Guide by Margaret Corner and Irene Chamberlain Parts 1-3: Sets 1-17 (56 pages)

This Guide is designed for use by intervention teachers experienced in the teaching of structured literacy using synthetic phonics. It should be used in conjunction with the Diagnostic Assessment Guide. It focuses on successful methods for addressing learner weaknesses in reading fluency and spelling. It also includes lesson plans for the teaching of specific sounds and reproducible templates for a custom-made teaching plan, teaching timetable and lesson plans.

Diagnostic Assessment Guide by Margaret Corner and Irene Chamberlain Parts 1-3: Sets 1-17 for older learners(69 pages)

This Guide should be used in conjunction with the Intervention Guide. It contains a system for assessing learner knowledge of the basic 44 sounds, their alternative spellings and silent letters, using flashcards. The teacher can then use these results to design an intervention strategy for individual learners, small and large groups. It includes reproducible forms to record individual and class progress.

Fast-track Phonics - Flashcards

Diagnostic Assessment flashcards

These cards are used in the oral diagnostic assessments outlined in the Intervention Guide. The assessments are used to analyse learner areas of weakness regarding knowledge of the 44 basic sounds of English and their alternative spellings. They test knowledge of grapheme-phoneme-correspondence and the ability to orally blend and segmenting words and non-words. The results are used to design an intervention strategy for individuals or groups

Sets 1-17: Cards – 29 Cards 44 Basic sounds and spellings; alternative spellings of basic sounds

$.99 A5 size $.99 A6 size

Teaching flashcards: The ‘younger learner’ set of flashcards is suitable for use with older learners. Some additional picture and word cards with a more mature focus have been added as an option. These flashcards cover the 44 basic sounds. Each sound card has an associated picture and word to highlight the sound. Picture cards have attractive, colourful original illustrations.
The cards are used for the blending and segmenting of new and known sounds and encoding of words. They are also used for sounds review and in fun flashcard games requiring recall of letter sounds. They have an important place in each lesson plan and should be used prior to workbook activity.

Note: Word cards are for recognition of key sound only. Learners are not asked to decode words with unfamiliar sounds.

Assessment flashcards

Finest quality: These are high quality durable laminated A5 and A6 cards with dividers. The A5 size cards can be used with larger groups and a display board and the A6 size cards are suitable for small group or individual teaching using a flat surface.

The A5 flashcards fit into a custom made ring binder.

The A6 flashcards fit neatly into a square 2-litre household container

Older learners Part 1 Assessment flashcards

Workbooks for Older Learners

The workbooks below should be used in conjunction with the Intervention Guide for Older Learners and the Diagnostic Assessment Guide for Older Learners and Part 1 flashcards. Workbooks contain the same basic content as for Part 1 Young Learners but with a more mature format, more complex vocabulary and more challenging language activities – all tailored for older learners.
These workbooks are designed to complement classroom practice and are most effective when used to reinforce prior teaching of each sound as outlined in the respective lesson plans. These follow a multi-sensory approach to the teaching of structured literacy, using synthetic phonics, reading comprehension and writing.

Margaret Corner and Irene Chamberlain

$50.99 per package – 4 books full colour: 52 pages $30.99 per package – 4 books b & w inside pages: 52 pages

Copy of flashcard pictures – reinforce earlier teaching on alphabet sounds and associated words
Blending and segmenting of known sounds – develop word building, reading and spelling skills
Cumulative word banks – build vocabulary knowledge using known sounds only
Special words – introduce the most common words with undecodable or alternative spellings
Scaffolding vocabulary and writing activities – encourage steps towards independent writing
Review of sounds – visual association and word gap fill tasks assist memory of letter sounds

Reading of coded CVCC words with alphabet sounds– helps word building and vocabulary
Reading of simple coded sentences – creates steps towards independent reading fluency
Listening to and writing coded CVCC and CCVC words – extends vocabulary and writing skills
Copy of flashcard picture for consonant digraph– reinforces earlier teaching on digraph sounds
Reading of coded CVC and CVCC words with digraphs – further develops reading fluency
Building words using single adjacent consonants/consonant digraphs – develops blending skills

Phonics Action Mime Game – kinaesthetic exploration of sound requires memory of graphemes
Phonics Memory Sounds and Memory Matching Sets games – use grapheme and phoneme recall
Consonant digraphs /th/ and /th/ – introduce concept of voiced and voiceless sounds
Segmenting for CVCC words using digraphs and CVCCVC words – develops spelling fluency
Writing and illustrating simple sentence – develops creative and reading comprehension skills

Copy of flashcard picture for vowel digraph – reinforces earlier lesson/s on digraph sounds
Adjectives with vowel digraphs in sentences – develop syntax awareness and reading fluency
Activities and games with 2-syllable compound words – extend word building and vocabulary
Language activities for vowel digraphs /oo/ and /oo/ – assist in correct usage
Writing sentences using word substitution – scaffolding towards independent writing
Predicting and illustrating next part of the story – encourages creative thinking and tests reading comprehension skills

Fast-track Phonics Videos Older learners

Older learners: Lesson 3 /t/; Set 1

Older learners Review: Set 1

Older learners: Set 7, Lesson 35 /or/

Older learners review: set 7

The videos do not have a soundtrack. The teacher should read the instructions (contained in the slides) out loud and then do a voiceover as a guide for pronunciation of sounds and words.

They can be accessed as follows:

Set 1: s a t p i + ‘sounds review’
Set 2: n m d g o + ‘sounds review’.
Set 3: c e u r h + ‘sound review’.
Set 4: b f l j v +‘sounds review’.
Set 5: w x y z qu + ‘sounds review’.
Set 6: ch sh th th ng + ‘sounds review’.
Set 7: ai oa ie ee or + ‘sounds review’.
Set 8: ou oi ue er ar + ‘sounds review’.
Set 9: oo SHORT oo LONG ǝ (zh)+ ‘sounds review’.

Part 2

This course covers alternative spelling of long vowels.

Part 3

This course covers alternative spelling for short vowels, consonants, diagraphs and silent letters

This course was authored by Margaret Corner and Irene Chamberlain. It meets the criteria for the New Zealand Made Logo.