Literacy Sessions at Perth Hills Allied Health

At Perth Hills Allied Health, we use Sounds-Write as the foundation for our literacy instruction, and our approach is all about adapting to each child's unique needs and preferences.

Our sessions begin with a check-in with the client. This could be through a verbal conversation or a simple gesture. We assess their “readiness to learn” by scanning their body language and adjusting the room to their preferences. We might tweak the seating, lighting, add soft furnishings, or provide fidget toys, all to ensure the environment supports their learning. Depending on the day and how the child is feeling, this initial check-in can take anywhere from 2 minutes to over 30 minutes.

Next, we move on to a warm-up activity. One of our favourites is Sound Swap, which often involves using a peanut ball or fit ball to make the activity more engaging and to integrate movement into learning.

Sometimes, we incorporate the child’s own toys to make the learning process fun and relatable. At the beginning, we might only get through 3-4 words before needing to take a break, but as the child progresses, we work up to 9-10+ words. This warm-up typically takes 5-10 minutes.

Our teaching activities vary with each child’s literacy journey. Depending on where they are in their learning, we might include Sound Brainstorming, Word Building, Word and Sentence Reading, Sound Sorting, Dictation, and games tailored to their current level.

We believe in flexibility, so these activities can be done in different ways. The child doesn’t need to be seated at a table. We use various types of letters, offer different seating options, and incorporate movement around the room. As much as possible, we connect the activities to the child’s interests to keep them engaged and motivated.

Here are some examples of the activities we do:

Word Building with letter tiles on whiteboard table

Word Building with wooden letters on whiteboard table. Also, note the fidget toys that were a big part of the session.

Word Building with duplo tiles on whiteboard table

Word Building on Initial Code App on iPad

Word Building with letter tiles using a floor table and mini whiteboard

Sound Sorting whilst seated on a beanbag and under a blanket

Sound Sorting using different colour pens on the whiteboard table

Brainstorming the /or/ sound using different colour pens and involving the child’s favourite fidget toy.

Word Building a Polysyllabic word using letter tiles and mini whiteboards

Word reading and writing supporting letter formation using Sky, Grass, Ground whiteboard

Snakes and Ladders game with Sound Sorting

Word Reading and Writing game – tapping into the child’s interest of ‘Under the Sea.’

Silly Sentences using words that were built earlier in the session

Sentence building and reading using word tiles and a hula hoop. 

Step 1: words placed around the hula hoop.

Step 2: Child used an octopus to slam the next word in the sequence.

Step 3: Child built the sentence, then read the sentence a few times to improve fluency.

Step 4 (not pictured) write the sentence.

Word reading whilst jumping around the circle and slamming the octopus on each word.

Sentence building, reading and writing. 

Post-It Notes were posted around the room and then brought back to the table to build the sentence.

By keeping our sessions adaptable and centered around each child’s needs and interests, we strive to make literacy learning a positive and enriching experience for everyone.