Sounds in Focus

Engage your pupils with stimulating activities to develop language proficiency.

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Identify and discover graphemes
Develop strategies for spelling
Explore and extend vocabulary

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Benefits of Sounds in Focus for your classroom

Sounds in Focus is an invaluable resource for primary school teachers in Ireland, offering comprehensive support for teaching spelling and language.

Develops much more than spelling

The series builds vocabulary and ensures that words are used in context. Grammar elements are built into each unit, ensuring that teachers work on these essential areas of writing holistically.

Foster an active, thinking approach to spelling

Pupils are encouraged to ‘Explore the Sound’ by brainstorming and making lists of words that contain the sound.

These words can be sorted by graphemes, enabling pupils to appreciate that a sound can be spelled in many ways.

Phonemic awareness approach to learning to spell

This whole-school spelling and language programme was designed and developed around a phonemic awareness approach to learning to spell. Phonemic awareness is identified as one of the learning outcomes of the new Language Curriculum.

This whole-school programme ensures that phonemic awareness is developed progressively through each class level. Promote a deeper understanding by replacing rote learning with reading, writing and spelling strategies. It includes clever ideas for direct instruction and play-based learning activities.

Ideal for multi-grade classrooms

Pupil books for 1st to 6th Class feature the same Sound Unit on the same page. This makes it easy to teach the focus sound to the whole class, and then direct pupils to work on the ‘Sound Unit’ with words and concepts appropriate to their level.

When your class adopts the programme:

Get access to the annual subscription for just €11.99 per pupil. This subscription includes a wide variety of resources, including:

Pupil Books: Books full of stimulating activities, perfect for day-to-day use.
Teacher Guides: Provide lesson structure and explicit teacher instructions.
Sounds in Focus Online: An online portal featuring weekly lesson plans, teaching slideshows, projectable pupil books and much more.
Support Materials: Include teaching charts, pupil glance cards, sound cards, and much more.

Please contact us at sales@prim-ed.com if you would like to find out more about our annual subscription.

What is phonemic awareness?

Phonemic awareness is the knowledge and understanding of the sounds and sound patterns of the English language. Sounds in Focus emphasises the importance of phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate these sounds. This awareness is a critical component of early reading and spelling development.

Understanding phonemes and graphemes

Phonemes and graphemes are fundamental concepts in learning to read and spell.

A single phoneme is the smallest unit of sound in a language. Simply put, phonemes are the individual speech sounds that make up words. Graphemes, on the other hand, are the letters or combinations of letters that represent different sounds. This understanding is critical for spelling and decoding words.

The curriculum covers different graphemes, from single letters representing individual sounds to combinations of two or more letters that form complex sounds.

Mastering this relationship between phonemes and graphemes is a key step in becoming a proficient reader and speller. By understanding that letters and letter combinations represent specific sounds, children can break down unfamiliar words into manageable parts, making it easier to read and spell new words confidently.

Aligned with the Language Curriculum

Sounds in Focus is meticulously aligned with Ireland’s Primary Language Curriculum ensuring that the content and methods used are relevant and effective for primary school pupils in Ireland. The programme's structured approach supports the curriculum's goals, providing teachers with a reliable framework for delivering high-quality spelling and language instruction.

Engaging activities for phonemic awareness

Sounds in Focus includes engaging activities designed to enhance phonemic awareness. These exercises help pupils recognise and manipulate sounds within words, a critical skill for effective spelling and reading.

Teachers can incorporate these activities into daily lessons, making learning enjoyable and interactive. From games to hands-on exercises, the Sounds in Focus programme offers a wealth of resources that cater to different learning styles and keep young pupils motivated.

A Closer Look

Pupil Book

Teacher Guide

Pupil Glance Card

Why choose Sounds in Focus?

Sounds in Focus from Prim-Ed Publishing is a fantastic resource for teaching spelling and language in Irish primary schools. With its engaging activities, clear lessons, and word lists, Sounds in Focus is the ideal programme for enhancing English lessons and supporting the development of strong language skills.

Explore our collection today and give your pupils the tools they need to excel.