Post by Ann Rooney

Welcome back for Part 3 of our ongoing series on TWLS’s Core Academics and reading programs.  Last week we talked about phonemic awareness, what it means, and how it differs from the more commonly-discussed subject of phonics.  This week, we’re going to look directly at phonics.  Phonics teaches children the relationship between the letters of written language and the sounds of spoken language. It is the sound symbol relationship we use to read and write words. Scientific based research concludes that the use of a systematic direct instruction approach is particularly beneficial for students having difficulty learning to read.

At The Whole Learning School, we use the Sonday System, an Orton-Gillingham methodology of phonetics that emphasizes a holistic approach, using visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning styles. Instruction begins by focusing on the structure of language and gradually moves towards reading. The program provides students with immediate feedback and a predictable sequence that integrates reading, writing and spelling. It establishes a firm foundation of phonological awareness and phonemic skills.

(Go back to Part 1 or Part 2)

Ann Rooney is Head of School at The Whole Learning School.  She has worked in special needs education for 16 years after receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in K-12 special education from St. Cloud State University and Master of Education degree from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. She holds licensures in Specific Learning Disabilities, Developmental Cognitive Disabilities and Emotional Behavior Disabilities.