The ACE Approach to Learning to Read

The ACE approach to learning to read is based upon teaching children the basic phonics sounds and training them how to put the sounds together to make up words. The initial Reading Readiness programme teaches the children a sound a week so that at the end of the first year the children have been introduced to the 35 basic sounds they will need to know. One of the big differences to the usual approach is that the children at this stage are not writing stories or printing letters.

In the following year, or when the children have tested as being ready to learn to read, the children begin the actual learning to read programme. The basic programme at this stage takes about twelve to fifteen weeks and the children are taught a sound a day for three days and then have a review day before a test that day.

The sounds are taught by using cartoon animals to represent each sound eg Aging Ape represents the long "a" sound and Abbie Antelope the short "a" sound. The programme each day would include a story about the animal of the day, with a song with the animal in it. As the children progress they are taught how to then put the sounds together to make words. After the lesson on the mat the children then have work to do in their PACEs (workbooks) about the letter of thc day and with some reading to be done using the sounding out method. Reading is never done in front of their peers but individually to the teacher. This saves any of the slower children the embarrassment of being shown up in front of the class.

Once the children have mastered these basic 35 sounds they do the Advanced ABCs lessons, which take about three weeks and cover some of the blends such as sh, ck, cr etc. By this time most children are confidently sounding out unknown words and working them out for themselves. They are then ready to start on the PACE programme where they get reading practice and consolidation of what they have learnt.

Purchase of Reading Systems Kit

Once it has been determined which programme is the correct one for the child, parents need to purchase the correct kit from Australia. H.E.N.Z. will advise you as to how to proceed with the order. On the following sheet are the prices and details of the two Reading Systems Programmes. We have circled the item number of the kit we would recommend for each programme but you may want to discuss other options with us.

When budgeting for purchase please keep in mind the following:

1. The $520.00 Preschool Kit is without PACEs. The $395.00 ABC's Kit is with PACEs.
2. Prices are in Australian dollars. Allow for exchange rate, freight and customs GST.
3. THESE PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.