What is Sounds-Write?

Sounds-Write is an expertly structured synthetic phonics programme based on the science of reading. It is a multisensory, code-oriented, comprehensive approach to literacy instruction.

Sounds-Write teaches the skills, concepts and code knowledge necessary to teach children to read and spell from Prep to Y6, and can also be used in intervention settings at any age.

Sounds-Write teaches the complete code (175+ of the most common spellings of the 44 or so sounds in English) through our Initial Code and our Extended Code. We also teach students to read and write polysyllabic words.

The course includes a robust rationale for linguistic phonics and covers the theoretical underpinnings of the programme, as well as lesson demonstrations, practical activities and guidance for implementation in your setting.

Your face-to-face experience will be with a small cohort of trainees (up to 24) so that your trainer is able to get to know you, giving you bespoke feedback on your practice and answering your questions about your setting.

What does the training cover?

• Learn how to teach the skills, concepts, and code knowledge students need to master in order to become competent readers, writers, and spellers.
• Discover how to introduce them to the Initial Code in the first year of school, moving from CVC words to words with a progressively more complex structure, and then transitioning to learning the Extended Code, alongside polysyllabic words in Y1.
• Learn how to teach all the different Sounds-Write lessons (or activity types), and have ample opportunity to practice them yourself.
• Find out how to teach Sounds-Write to groups of different sizes, so you can work with the whole class, small intervention groups, or one-to-one.
• Learn how to teach through errors—one of the cornerstones of the Sounds-Write approach—and how to conduct formative assessment and use differentiation as an integral part of your teaching.
• Understand how to use diagnostic tools to determine where new students should start the programme.

Presenter: Kylie Eckermann

Kylie is one of our Trainers and Education Advisors. The majority of her time is spent delivering the 4-day Face-to-Face training to teachers and Speech Pathologists and supporting schools in their Sounds-Write journey with follow-up communication and visits to their classrooms. Prior to training as a presenter, Kylie co-ordinated the tutoring program in our office.

Before joining the team at Speld Qld, Kylie spent 28 years working as a primary school teacher. She is passionate about helping busy teachers by directing them to evidence-based programs and offering ongoing support.

Dates/times:

9.00am to 3.30pm each day

9 Jun, 10 Jun, 11 Jun and 12 Jun 2025

(Please arrive 15 mins early for a 9.00am start)

Venue:

The Surf Club Mackay

Lot 67 East Point Road
Mackay Harbour Qld 4740

Inclusions:

• 4 day training course.
• Course manual; contains all the lesson scripts, word and sentence lists and texts needed to teach the programme from Prep all the way up.
• Certificate of Completion; There is a compulsory assessment component to be completed within a month from the course end date.  This is required to receive your certificate of completion to become a certified Sounds-Write practitioner.
• Lifetime access to the Sounds-Write Practitioners’ Portal; contains additional downloadable resources and documents.
• Light lunch provided each day.  (Please provide your menu preference of vegetarian, gluten free or dairy free on registration. Catering preferences cannot be changed with less than 7 days notice of course start date. We may not be able to cater for specific allergies/dietary requirements as we have set menu options with caterers)

Price

• Non-member $1220.00
• Member $1155.00

How to register:

1. Online: Register to book and pay online. Enter Attendee name and email in billing details. (Purchase one ticket at a time. Instant confirmation but please allow 2 business days for your Tax Invoice to be emailed)

2. Phone: Please call our office during business hours (8.30am – 3.30pm) to register and pay over the phone.

Registration closes 30 May 2025 (or earlier if sold out), as venue/catering bookings need to be confirmed a week prior to course start date.

Important Notes

1. Payment is required at the time of booking to confirm your registration and is non-refundable.
2. Changes requested within 7 days of start date are not able to be made, as course details are confirmed with venue/trainer.
3. If you are unable to attend, you may:
   3.a. Opt for a Credit Note for a future course. 14 days notice is required.
   3.b. Transfer your ticket to another person. 7 days notice required.
4. Speld Qld reserves the right to cancel or reschedule an event if minimum numbers (as determined by us) are not met, or if the presenter is unable to attend. You may choose to transfer to the new event, send another attendee in your place or receive a refund.