Self-Paced phonics in the classroom setting: The Speech Sound Pics (SSP) Approach, with the Ten Day Speech Sound Play Plan, part of the Word Mapping Mastery system®. Letters that function as graphemes in words are known as sound pictures, that is, Speech Sound Pics. We show the Code through Speech Sound Mappping with Phonemies - Speech Sound Monsters - making the sound value visible.
The Speech Sound Pics (SSP) Approach: Four Core Phonics Code Levels
Children work through The Core Code at their pace within The Speech Sound Pics (SSP) Approach
These are the graphemes they are learning! They can be seen on the chant strips
The aim of the Speech Sound Pics approach is to move each child through The Core Code as efficiently as possible for them, making learning as easy as possible by reducing reliance on direct teaching and enabling children to reach the self-teaching phase, where they can work out unfamiliar words independently. Start One, Two, Three and Away! when children have mastered the Green and Purple Core Code Levels. Keep going with the Core Code, but the books will get them reading and spelling more easily. It's the pathway to Speedie Readies! They use The Code Overlay for as long as they need to.
The SSP Core Code
These are the 100 or so GPCs tested in the PSC and in the
old DfE Letters and Sounds programme.
In a classroom setting The Core Code is taught through the Speech Sound Pics Approach, which is the visual and linguistic whole class programme, offering self-paced learning even when there are ocer twenty children learning side-by-side. When ready to start the One, Two, Three and Away! readers join Speedie Readies.
The entire alphabetic code is not taught within a whole class phonics programmes, so most children need opportunities to explore the full code to become confident readers and spellers. Use the One, Two, Three and Away! series of over 100 books so that children read real stories and become emotional invested in the characters
The Speech Sound Pics (SSP) Approach is still the only self-paced phonics approach for the Prep/ Reception classroom.
This aligns with Mark Seidenberg’s emphasis on understanding what individual children need, rather than assuming one level of explicit instruction suits everyone. The Speech Sound Pic Approach is designed to match instruction to each child’s readiness, recognising that too much explicit teaching for some children can be just as problematic as too little support for others.
If you are teaching phonics on a 1:1 basis, for example if your child has not yet started school, you are home educating, or you are a tutor, you don’t need to follow the Speech Sound Pics SSP) Approach classroom routines. These are designed to manage learner needs in a large group setting.
Simply use Path 1 of Speedie Readies.
Emma Hartnell-Baker MEd SEN | Expert in Preventing the Dyslexia Paradox
Train with me at SpeedieReadies.com
Learning The Core Code with the SSP Chants!
This is the Speech Sound Pics (SSP) Approach Core Code
Speech Sound Play (SSP) with Speech Sound Pics! (SSP) Approach
Children will always love SSP
This aligns with the DfE recommended GPC teaching order
Our focus is on moving children into reading and writing activities as quickly as possible, supporting self-teaching during their first year of school. The Core Code is simply a kick-start to statistical learning.
SSP: The Core Code
Phonics Shop
These are the graphemes children learn at their own pace within The Core Phonics Code. This is the GPC teaching order, the phonics learning sequence used within The Sound Pics (SSP) Approach.