(follow this link to : Primary Steps Maths)
Primary Steps Phonics is designed to aid the tuition of synthetic phonics - the revolutionary literacy teaching method where children are taught the sounds of the letters and how they form words. Playing in groups or individually the pupils use the dance mat to physically select the correct letter sounds to form a word. They are then prompted to blend sounds together to form the word. Setup enables the teacher to add new words, word groups, pupils, pupil groups, and select a range of game options.
Research results concluded that synthetic phonics produces better reading and comprehension results than the NLS with boys and the socially disadvantaged performing at least as well as girls and the socially advantaged respectively, follow this link to a summary of synthetic phonics research
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The main screen shows the four multiple choice answers to the phonics question, the pupil selects their answer using the dance mat arrows. The clock, bottom right, tells them how long they have.
- Game setup. First of all choose between solo or group game. Phonics also has the same pupil and group setup screens that are shown on the Maths web page
- Game setup. Then use the word group selection screen.
- Add New Words and add them to groups in the New Words setup screen
Primary Steps runs on PC's, and Cobalt Flux Just For Schools dance mats can be also used with PC's through the universal USB plug that is fitted as standard,
A wireless option is available to connect mats to PCs. This means you can rapidly switch the mats between different games.
