Thank you, Jenny and Jim, for your replies.
I wrote a blog post as a tribute to Dave. If you'd like to read it, it's here:
https://www.thereadingcentre.com/2018/0 ... nds-write/
Best wishes to all.
John
Search found 369 matches
- Sat Mar 17, 2018 7:30 pm
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: David Philpot 1945-2018
- Replies: 3
- Views: 4724
- Mon Mar 12, 2018 12:39 pm
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: David Philpot 1945-2018
- Replies: 3
- Views: 4724
David Philpot 1945-2018
I'm writing with great sadness to inform you that my friend and colleague at Sounds-Write over many years Dave Philpot passed away suddenly on March 9th. David was centrally involved in helping to create Sounds-Write from its inception in 2002 and he kept up a lively interest in everything we did su...
- Mon Dec 04, 2017 8:07 pm
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: Recent blog post by Greg Brooks
- Replies: 4
- Views: 6171
Re: Recent blog post by Greg Brooks
Hi Jenny, I'll be interested to see what you make of Clarke's new book. Have you ever come across Alison Clark, who writes the Spelfabet blog? She recently reviewed Clarke's Reading the Evidence: Synthetic Phonics and Literacy Learning , which I feel sure must be the same. Here's the link: https://w...
- Mon Dec 04, 2017 5:24 pm
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: Recent blog post by Greg Brooks
- Replies: 4
- Views: 6171
Re: Recent blog post by Greg Brooks
Well done, Jenny! What an excellent rebuttal.
Thank you and best wishes, John
Thank you and best wishes, John
- Tue May 17, 2016 1:42 pm
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: NZ study finds no advantage in learning to read from age 5
- Replies: 9
- Views: 13124
Re: NZ study finds no advantage in learning to read from age 5
I agree with both Jenny and Derrie on this. However, I'd also point out that rather than waiting for 'readiness', I'm always encouraging teachers to aim their instruction at pupils' 'ripening functions', rather than what they can do independently. As I'm sure we all agree, young children can do far ...
- Sun Jan 17, 2016 12:51 pm
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: National Literacy Trust 'explanation' of SP
- Replies: 4
- Views: 4871
Re: National Literacy Trust 'explanation' of SP
Hi Ken, I'm in favour of using language that is accessible to all. Although at a teachers' conference I would expect teachers to be using the 'jargon of the trade' and talking about 'digraphs', 'trigraphs' and 'phonograms', I think it's much better to use terminology that is likely to be understood ...
- Wed Dec 02, 2015 9:29 pm
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: Decodable Books
- Replies: 8
- Views: 7117
Re: Decodable Books
Pjay, I think you'll find that Dandelion Readers follow the order of sounds presented in Sounds-Write.
- Thu Sep 10, 2015 7:34 am
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: Michael Rosen webchat wednesday 2nd Sept
- Replies: 14
- Views: 15582
Re: Michael Rosen webchat wednesday 2nd Sept
For practical tips, advice and lots more (the English writing system, etc.), why not visit The Literacy Blog: http://literacyblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Best wishes,
Best wishes,
- Sat Sep 05, 2015 4:02 pm
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: Michael Rosen webchat wednesday 2nd Sept
- Replies: 14
- Views: 15582
Re: Michael Rosen webchat wednesday 2nd Sept
What a terrific response to the question! 

- Wed May 20, 2015 2:59 pm
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: Anyone aware of Alphabet Babies
- Replies: 2
- Views: 3824
Re: Anyone aware of Alphabet Babies
I've just been looking at their video. About 40 odd seconds in you can see an alphabet chart. One of the spellings on it G g with a picture of a guitar. Presumably the <u> is silent!! :lol: But, given that they say it's taken four years to write, you'd think they'd have used 'goat' or 'glass', somet...
- Tue May 19, 2015 7:12 pm
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: New non-fiction decodables by Elizabeth Nonweiler
- Replies: 4
- Views: 5114
Re: New non-fiction decodables by Elizabeth Nonweiler
Firstly, well done to Elizabeth for producing these decodable, informational texts. :grin: I've been arguing for years for the inclusion of more informational texts in children's reading. I normally have to wait until pupils are halfway through the Extended Code before introducing my favourite Kingf...
- Mon May 18, 2015 5:37 pm
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: Prof.Willingham's book on reading
- Replies: 21
- Views: 22450
Re: Prof.Willingham's book on reading
The review is right on the money. 'Silent letters', 'words that break pronunciation rules' [What?!] - all the contradictions of a print to sound approach are exposed. Which all goes to show: you can be a great cognitive psychologist and understand very well how children learn, but if you don't under...
- Fri May 01, 2015 8:46 am
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: Michael Rosen's 'understanding' and protestation mystifying!
- Replies: 7
- Views: 6492
Re: Michael Rosen's 'understanding' and protestation mystifying!
Well done, Debbie! This is an excellent point-by-point critique of Rosen's piece. I suspect Rosen doesn't have quite the same influence he had a few years ago; nevertheless, it is still absolutely vital that his views are challenged at every step in order to mitigate the pernicious effect he may hav...
- Fri May 01, 2015 8:33 am
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: Phonics Works
- Replies: 4
- Views: 4415
Re: Phonics Works
Thanks, Jim.
- Fri May 01, 2015 8:30 am
- Forum: General Forum
- Topic: Elizabeth Nonweiller's response to Phonics Check critic
- Replies: 1
- Views: 2656
Re: Elizabeth Nonweiller's response to Phonics Check critic
I'll second that, Geraldine! A very well-argued and restrained response, Elizabeth! 
