Sounds in Focus

• Tuesday 28 September 2021

The English language is widely regarded as one of the most difficult languages to learn, largely due to its unpredictable spelling. Whilst there are only 26 letters in the English alphabet, there are approximately 40 phonemes (sound units), with sounds being represented by over 250 different spellings. This is what we refer to as graphemes. Graphemes can represent the same letter making different sound or different letters making the same sound. For example:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sounds in Focus series provides the necessary resources for pupils to gain a strong understanding of the English language from the time they enter their schooling lives. Whether you take advantage of the pupil books, teacher guides, online portal or support materials, each resource provides the best opportunity to deliver an effective spelling lesson. 

 

Pupil Books

The Sounds in Focus series consists of six pupil books, full of engaging and exciting activities designed to make learning the English language fun! The series has been divided into six books, which allows for pupils at all levels to continue to grow their understanding phonemes, graphemes and the language as a whole. Each pupil book is broken down into weekly units, and each unit focuses upon a certain phoneme. The pupil books for 1st to 6th Class feature the same phonemes on the same page. This makes it easy to teach the focus sound to the whole class, then direct pupils to work on the phonemes with words and concepts appropriate to their own level. 

If you would like to hear more about the Sounds in Focus pupil books, click here to watch a video dedicated to these products. Alternatively, if you would like to see an example of some of our interactive learning activities, take a look at some of our samples for Sounds in Focus below. 

Download a Free Sample of Sounds in Focus Pupil Books here

Teacher Guides

The Sounds in Focus series has a teacher guide that accompanies each of the pupil books. These resources contains all the details required for teachers to explore all units within the program. These teacher guides contain a comprehensive weekly programme, explicit teaching directions, pupil book answers and much much more. Additionally, these resouces have multiple engaging games and fun acitivities ideas for teachers, which focus upon consolidation, differentiation and extension of the learning in the units. 

If you would like to hear more about the Sounds in Focus teacher resources, click here to watch a video dedicated to these products. Alternatively, if you would like to see an example of our teacher guides, take a look at some of our samples below. 

Download a Free Sample of Sounds in Focus Teacher Guides here

Online Portal

The Sounds in Focus online portal is where you can find the online resources for the program. The online platform has a wide range of support materials, including weekly lesson plans, brainstorm kickstarters, teaching slideshows, projectable Pupil Book pages and answers as well as hundreds of downloadable copymasters for each class. 

If you would like to take part in a free 30-day trial for the Sounds in Focus Online Portal, click here!

Support Material

The Sounds in Focus support material includes a range of products that are designed to assist pupils with their spelling whilst writing. The program has various support materials, including pupil glance cards, teaching charts and sound cards. Both the glance cards and the teacher charts are designed to display all of the sound discussed throughout the Sounds in Focus program, with small images used as visual reminders of the sounds. 

If you would like to find out more about the Sounds in Focus Support Material, click here!

 

"I loved the resources that came with it online and they were used every day for literacy stations. The students worked very well with this approach with sounds, list and special words being remembered and used." - Mash.ie

 

"We found the brainstorming session on introduction of each sound to be beneficial for the children, whilst the downloadable games and activities acted as effective reinforcement." - Heidi Jordan

 

Want to purchase the Sounds in Focus class subscription for just €11.99 per pupil? Click here to be re-directed to the Sounds in Focus series page! 

 

• English