Alphability Resources
Video Resources
Alphability Downloads
Alphability Downloads
Alphability Videos to support tutoring and systematic, synthetic phonics instruction
Alphability Downloads
Alphability Downloads
Alphability Downloads
Free pdfs by Alphability to support your child or students
Alphability Videos
44 Sounds of English
Make sure you can pronounce the 44 sounds (phonemes) of English language with this video. It follows the sound desk chart from Smart Kids (https://www.smartkids.com.au/products/44-sounds-desktop). Some synthetic phonics programs pronounce 'qu' as /k/ then /w/ separately. The pronunciation of /w/ and /y/ is the way Australian speech pathologists say it, without the 'uh' sound added. It is also commonly pronounced this way in the UK.
Online Alphability Session Example
This example of an online Alphability session for a 6 year old in 4-5 minutes. Try showing it to your child and see how they respond. In a real session, every activity goes longer than this example and is adjusted to the literacy skills of the child, plus their age, learning needs and interest/attention span. I try to make it as interactive and fun as possible - you learn so much better if you are enjoying it!
Alphability Sound Cards Introduction
Learn about the theory behind Alphability Sound Cards and how to utilise them in your instruction or home practise.
Alphabet Sound Card Flip
Use the sound card focus for the week to flip through and say the sounds. If you have previous sound cards, add them for revision (but not too many if it is too much cognitive load for the child.) This is with the alphabet sounds, so if you want to check your pronunciation of these sounds, follow this or mute it for your child to say the sounds along with the video.
Cued Articulation - 5 Short Vowel Movements
Cued Articulation by Jane Passy helps children to pronounce sounds using hand signals to represent the mouth shape and sound production. This is the 5 short vowels together in one video. If you click below, you can find the explanation video also.
CVC Vowel Sound Swap - 'hat' & 'gut'
A simple way to practise the 26 alphabet sounds, particularly those tricky short vowel sounds. Set up consonant-vowel-consonant and flip through the 5 vowels. Say the sounds and blend to read the word. Some will be real words, some non-words (aka 'alien' words as I like to call them). Just be careful to set up appropriate words with the cards you give the child.
Initial CVC Sound Swap - 'ing'
Set up an initial CVC sound swap to practise sounding and blending words, either real or non-words. This can be done by the child watching the video for modelling of pronunciation, then practising together or on 'mute'. Follow-up with their own CVC sound swap using their own sound cards or magnetic letters.
CVC Vowel Sound Swap - 'ng' & 'th'
The end nasal sound 'ng' can be difficult for many children to articulate. They often add the /g/ and make two sounds /n/-/g/. Practise with a CVC sound swap by changing the vowel or the initial consonant. The same goes for 'th', which is a sound expected to be mastered during the first year or so of school. Watch this video for correct pronunciation and then try it for yourself. Set up C-V-ng or th-V-C words to keep practising.
Consonant CV Sound Swap - 'ay' ending
Practise a simple initial consonant sound swap with the ending 'ay'. Listen to me say it and then 'mute' the video to have a go yourself. Great for children to practise and for teachers/parents to check their pronunciation.
Consonant CV Sound Swap - 'oy' ending
Practise a simple initial consonant sound swap with the ending 'oy'. Listen to me say it and then 'mute' the video to have a go yourself. Great for children to practise and for teachers/parents to check their pronunciation.
Consonant CV Sound Swap - 'ow' as in 'cow'
Contrasting between the different phonemes (sounds) for each grapheme (letter or letter combination) is really important as children develop their knowledge of the code. This is particularly helpful with vowel sounds and identifying homographs, words spelt the same, but have different pronunciation. Start simple like with the two phonemes for 'ow' and build on their understanding, systematically and explicitly, to move into phonemes or graphemes that have more than two representations. Link it to their vocabulary and sentence structure for context and meaning.
Consonant CV Sound Swap - 'ow' as in 'snow'
Contrasting between the different phonemes (sounds) for each grapheme (letter or letter combination) is really important as children develop their knowledge of the code. This is particularly helpful with vowel sounds and identifying homographs, words spelt the same, but have different pronunciation. Start simple like with the two phonemes for 'ow' and build on their understanding, systematically and explicitly, to move into phonemes or graphemes that have more than two representations. Link it to their vocabulary and sentence structure for context and meaning.