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Review - Phonics International

What is Phonics International?

Phonics International (P.I) is a comprehensive synthetic phonics programme produced in 12 progressive downloadable (printable) units.

The step by step resources teach the 44 phonics phonemes/graphemes to teach reading, spelling and writing in the English language. (An extensive collection of worksheets, posters, games and other teacher guides & resources are supplied to help teach these skills)

It is suitable not only for early readers but for all ages including ESL students and older students who are struggling.

The central core to the programme is the 'Alphabetic Code' (consisting of a 'simple' & 'complex' code) which is basically a colour coded chart of all the 44 graphemes/spellings split into 12 colours that correspond with the 12 downloadable units.

The programme introduces a progressive group of graphemes/phonemes and the three skills of blending, segmenting and handwriting are taught in each unit.

The first unit is FREE - so you can try before you buy. Even if you decide NOT to go ahead with the programme you will end up with some great worksheets & lesson plans that are yours to keep.

The charts of the Alphabetic Code are very useful to 'see at a glance' what needs to be taught and when. The audio-visual resource is excellent. This is used with units 1-6.

Nothing 'fluffy' about this programme - even the graphics are suitable for all ages and not just geared at the younger end of the market like so many other reading programmes

Click here to download unit 1

Created by Debbie Hepplewhite - an accredited Jolly Phonics Read Write Inc presenter

What you get with Phonics International:

  • Programme Overview and Guidance Manual
  • Assessment sheets
  • Parent letters (useful for schools, tutors)
  • Picture Cards - phonemic awareness & vocab development
  • Picture Posters - mapping phonemes to graphemes
  • Extensive range of charts & posters of the 'Alphabetic Code'
  • Colour in Sounds Book - build up a 'code book'
  • Sounds Book - Most important strand of the programme, providing essential skills and practice with activity and work sheets.
  • Teaching Guidelines for introducing the phonics sounds
  • 'Hear the Sounds' - online audio-visual resource - useful for both teacher and learner
  • Active online forum and email support
  • Grapheme Flash Cards/Tiles for spelling
  • Printable Games
  • Handwriting resources
  • Blend Word Cards - cumulative words for teaching and learning aid
  • My Words - cumulative word lists for blending, handwriting & spelling
  • Read the words, make up a story - revise new letter/sounds - build vocabulary, speaking & listening
  • 150 cumulative text for reading, discussing and dictation

How Phonics International teaches letters & sounds

Phonics International resources are highly practical and designed to introduce the 44 phonemes/graphemes systematically. The resources are designed to provide learners with many ways to recall the letter/sounds and to rehearse the three essential skills little & often. The three essential skills being:

  • Reading - sounding out and blending (synthesising) the phonemes represented by the letters and letter groups (graphemes) all-through-the-printed-word, from left to right
  • Spelling - segmenting or splitting up the smallest identifiable sounds (phonemes) all-through-the-spoken-word and then knowing the written code - the graphemes - which represent the phonemes.
  • Handwriting
    • - recording the letters or letter groups (graphemes), from left to right, which represent the phonemes identified from segmenting the spoken word from beginning to end.

How International Phonics teach blending letters

Blending is the method of putting letters together and sounding them out to make words. International Phonics begins by blending after introducing 12 letters - S,A,T,I,P,N,C,K,CK,E,H,R . So for example your child would be reading the following words by the end of unit 1:

  • as, at, sat, is, it, sit, tip, pit, sip, tap, pat, sap in, an, ant, has, his, tan, nap, pin, tin, nip, pan, tips, pits, spit, sips, taps, pats, spat, spits, pans, tins, nips, snip, spin, tint, pins,tans, naps, snap, span, pant, tints, snips, sits, spins, stint, pants, snaps, cat, can, cap, kit, kip, kin, scan, skin, skip, pick, sick, tick, tack, stick, stack, pen, ten, set, pet, net, peck, neck, pens, pets, nets, pecks, necks, speck, sent, tent, hit, hat, hen, hip, hits, hat, hens, hips, rat, rip

This is similar to the first letters introduced in the Jolly Phonics Programme. However the big difference between the two programmes, is that Jolly Phonics is geared towards early learners, where as Phonics International is suitable for ALL ages and abilities.

Print your FREE Unit 1 - Click Here

I purchased this phonics curriculum for use with my own children.

A to Z Phonics have chosen Phonics International as their preferred phonics curriculum. I recommend it to anyone who is considering a synthetic phonics approach to teach reading. You know you will be covering everything your child needs to know to become confident fluent readers, writers AND spellers which turns you into a confident TEACHER/TUTOR! It is especially recommended for classroom settings

Jane Buckley - founder of A to Z Phonics

See how I am using Phonics International to teach my two boys

Try before you buy!

Click here to download Unit 1 (FREE)

Follow our progress

See how I am using Phonics International to teach my two boys

Is Phonics International right for you?

  • Suitable for ages 5yrs - Adult
  • Sight Words Used? NO

This programme can be used as a stand alone reading/spelling curriculum or as a supplement to other synthetic phonics programmes

It is especially useful if you are teaching children of different ages or abilities.

Phonics International is suitable for schools, pre-schools, parents, teachers, student teachers, homeschoolers, teacher-training establishments, in fact, ANYONE who has an interest in literacy or who is teaching a child OR ADULT to read and spell using the English Language in any country in the world where English is spoken or taught as a second language
    Download First Unit for FREE
The whole of unit 1 is free to download with no obligation to purchase additional units...

Even if you decide not to go with this programme the resources are well worth printing - especially the 'Alphabetic Code' charts

Click here to visit their website and print your free printables

Follow our Progress

I have decided to use Phonics International to teach my two sons (a struggling 13yr old & 6yr old) how to read & spell.

I will soon be allowing you to follow their progress - watch this space!

Other Points:

  • I suggest you download the first unit (free) and familiarise yourself with the resources

  • Because all the resources are stored online - you just print what you need, when you need them!

  • Each Sounds Book Activity Sheet includes:
  • New focus letter
  • A cumulative word bank for sounding out and blending
  • Teacher instructions
  • Handwriting Section
  • Drawing opportunity
    • Each worksheet is in effect like a lesson plan.

What about Phonics Readers?

Phonics International has over 150 cumulative texts for reading and dictation! A 'Word Bank' - a cummulative of de-coded words are added to the students vocabulary helping them create their own stories and reading text

Can you make personalise the programme?

This is one of the strengths of Phonics International. It is a very flexible programme. I would recommend at the very least you follow the Sound Book Activity Sheets and Alphabetic Code.

I would welcome any comments how you are using this reading programme

Bottom Line:

I think what sold me on this reading programmes was the thoroughness of it all. It really does cover everything - you know that as a Teacher you will not be missing any vital links!

It is flexible - I can follow it 'as is' or use with other resources.

Goodness, I have filled up a whole page talking about P.I - make up your own mind and try it out for free here!

Online Phonics Magazine for Early Reading Success

Click topics to explore site:

Download Unit 1 - FREE phonics printables from Phonics International. Endorsed by Jane Buckley founder of A to Z Phonics.com Click Here!

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