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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| New phonics method 'gets results' | New phonics method 'gets results' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A system of phonics which builds on a child's own language has been found to boost reading skills, academics say. | A system of phonics which builds on a child's own language has been found to boost reading skills, academics say. |
| A study of more than 900 primary school children taught using a system known as linguistic phonics found they made more progress than those who were not. | A study of more than 900 primary school children taught using a system known as linguistic phonics found they made more progress than those who were not. |
| Researchers at Stranmillis University College in Belfast said pupils advanced by several months more than expected. | Researchers at Stranmillis University College in Belfast said pupils advanced by several months more than expected. |
| They say the system could have benefits for children with a wide range of regional and other accents. | They say the system could have benefits for children with a wide range of regional and other accents. |
| Linguistic phonics has been developed over several years by the Belfast Education and Library Board. | Linguistic phonics has been developed over several years by the Belfast Education and Library Board. |
| Lead researcher Dr Colette Gray said it had been rigorously tested in the study, which involved 22 schools in the Belfast area. | Lead researcher Dr Colette Gray said it had been rigorously tested in the study, which involved 22 schools in the Belfast area. |
| "The results were significant and children who were taught using the linguistic phonics approach did make more progress in reading than those who were not," she said. | "The results were significant and children who were taught using the linguistic phonics approach did make more progress in reading than those who were not," she said. |
| "The system also appears to have had an impact on their spelling and writing performance." | "The system also appears to have had an impact on their spelling and writing performance." |
| Low achievers | Low achievers |
| A system known as synthetic phonics is endorsed by the Scottish Executive and is becoming the main way children are taught to read in England. | A system known as synthetic phonics is endorsed by the Scottish Executive and is becoming the main way children are taught to read in England. |
| Under it, children learn the sounds of letters and groups of letters in a particular order before putting them together to work out words and start to read. | Under it, children learn the sounds of letters and groups of letters in a particular order before putting them together to work out words and start to read. |
| England's curriculum is being revised so that the system is used "fast and first" following a review of phonics by former Ofsted inspections director Jim Rose. | England's curriculum is being revised so that the system is used "fast and first" following a review of phonics by former Ofsted inspections director Jim Rose. |
| He looked at the success of the system used in a long-term study in Clackmannanshire. | He looked at the success of the system used in a long-term study in Clackmannanshire. |
| Dr Gray argues that other phonics approaches are not always compatible with regional accents and colloquialisms. | |
| Linguistic phonics draws on a child's existing language Dr Colette Gray | Linguistic phonics draws on a child's existing language Dr Colette Gray |
| "Some teachers had been using the synthetic phonics approach and the sounds of the letters were different because of the regional accent. | "Some teachers had been using the synthetic phonics approach and the sounds of the letters were different because of the regional accent. |
| "Linguistic phonics draws on a child's existing language." | "Linguistic phonics draws on a child's existing language." |
| Dr Gray said the system would work with various regional accents. | Dr Gray said the system would work with various regional accents. |
| The other distinctive aspect of the approach, she said, was that it involved games and made reading fun. | The other distinctive aspect of the approach, she said, was that it involved games and made reading fun. |
| In the study, the researchers looked at the existing performance of children at similar schools, then checked again when some of the schools had been following the programme for nine months. | In the study, the researchers looked at the existing performance of children at similar schools, then checked again when some of the schools had been following the programme for nine months. |
| The greatest gains, they said, were among those who were the lowest achievers at the beginning. | The greatest gains, they said, were among those who were the lowest achievers at the beginning. |