The Phonic-Hand System (By Jacqueline Glen)

What Is Phonics? What is phonics? Phonics is a way of teaching children to read quickly and skillfully. They are taught how to: Recognize the sounds that different combinations of letters make, such as ‘sh’ or ‘oo’ and blend these sounds together from left to right to make a word. Children can then use this knowledge to words that they hear or see. This is the first important step in learning to read. (Department of Education 2013)

Why Phonics? Research shows that when phonics is taught in a structured way - starting with the easiest sounds and progressing through to the most complex - it is the most effective way of teaching young children to read. It is particularly helpful for children aged 5-7. Almost all children who receive good teaching of phonics will learn the skills they need to tackle new words. They can then go on to read any kind of text fluently and confidently, and to read for enjoyment. (Department of Education 2013)

Phonics Children who have been taught phonics also tend to read more accurately than those taught using other methods, such as ‘Look and Say.’ This includes children who find learning to read difficult, for example those who have dyslexia. (Department of Education 2013)

The Phonic- Hand System The Phonic - Hand is made of acrylic plastic cut into the shape of a hand. The Phonic - Hand was created as a tool to help with reading, spelling and writing and is used in much the same way as a phoneme frame. The difference, however, is that it’s hand design mimics the child’s own hands, encouraging the child to use their own hand as a portable phoneme frame. It is an effective tool that acts as a kinesthetic prompt, encouraging children to sound out letters on their fingers. It has been used for whole class teaching by four complete year one classes and helped to increase phonic and sentence awareness and consequently writing and reading levels. In 2013, 90% of two year one classes passed the government phonics test. This was in a school where 40% of the pupils were entitled to free dinners. It is used daily in literacy and phonic lessons, small groups, or as a whole class tool. Thus encouraging the children to identify the sounds to words using their hands, and also to form good sentences.

Consolidation,Consolidation, Consolidation First stage in using the Phonic-Hand system is to consolidate the learnt alphabet, phonemes and diagraphs. (Working through the phases) (e.g. Through song/rhyme/rap/drama/games/ worksheets exercises. It is also useful to consolidate the sound with one consistent image and matching action e.g … (Jolly Phonics) So that the child can use this one starter visual and action as a mental cue when the sound is heard.

Phonic-Hand for Writing.

How is it used? The Phonic - Hand is used much like a phoneme frame. Words are segmented into their sounds and then recorded on the fingers, capturing each sound on the relevant finger in a systematic way which when completed can then be blended back as a complete spelt word. As the children learn new phonemes and diagraphs (sounds) they will then be able to increase their spelling potential and accuracy. The Phonic - Hand can also be used to teach sentence structure, as each word can be written diagonally across the long fingers.

Fun way to Segment

Robot Talk (sound talk) for segmenting

The children are taught how to speak robotically, paired with using their hands as ‘robotic fingers.’ Note: A few students respond better to stretched, slow talk, using a stretchy toy to demonstrate. Doing the Robot.

Robotic Fingers The Students are asked to say the word and then turn it into ‘robot talk’ and ‘robotic fingers’- physically sticking up each finger, representing each sound, starting from the thumb.

Record the sounds on the Phonic- Hand The students are asked to write the identified robotic sounds/letters onto the Phonic - Hand fingers, starting with the thumb. Once completed, the blended word should be written on the palm.

Independence Children sometimes need a kinaesthetic trigger to get themselves started. Especially if they have become accustomed to being supported by us. The trigger or prompt is their own fingers. The verbal trigger could be: “Ask your fingers”, or “Let your fingers do the talking.”

Blend the word to complete on the palm. In time the child will become proficient at visualising the letters and sounds on their own hands and write proficiently directly onto the page, thus supporting their own writing and consequently becoming more independent.

Rhyme for Rembering to Use Fingers. Let your fingers do the talking Just like that Th-a-t

Phonic-Hand for Reading

Turning the Written Word into Robotic Talk. The children are taught how to identify, decode and segment the word into its individual sounds firstly, using their own ‘robotic finger’ as prompts. The word parts/sounds are then recorded on the Phonic-Hand and read in pieces, robotically, and then blended back into one.

Realization The children soon understand how to segment and will often read the word before needing to write it down on the phonic - hand. They then can use their own ‘phonic - hand’ to visualise the sounds and process the word.

Robotically segment/identify/sound out /read.

Phonic-Hand for Sentence Recall

Robotic Sentences The Phonic-Hand is used as a tool for writing sentences. It helps to segment the chosen sentence into a ‘robotic sentence’ and therefore into its word parts. The individual words themselves are then also decoded using ‘robotic fingers.’

Sentence Recall In time the child will become proficient at visualising each word in the sentence on each finger. When a word cannot be recalled easily, the robotic fingers can be used as kinaesthetic memory triggers.

Finger Spaces! The spaces between the fingers cement the need for finger spaces on the written page.

Rhyme for remembering to use fingers, full stops and capital letters.( Said as a rhyme or rap) Finger spaces And full stop Capital letters At the top

Phonic-Hand for Tricky Words.

Tricky words just have to be learnt. Write these all over the palm of the hand and fingers, whilst calling out the letters.

Engaging, Disarming Games Reading, writing and trying to remember can stress, so playing games helps the child to feel safe.

Phonic-Hand Games Throwing letters and words to be caught. Play ‘hang man’ using a square or house instead.

conclusion The Phonic-Hand is a Kinaesthetic tool that helps children to become independent readers and writers.

The Phonic-Hand Teaching System Copyright Jacqueline Glen