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Sound Waves 23/2/21
Whether you formally provide homework or not, many parents are eager to support their child’s spelling practice throughout the year. However, some parents may have learned to spell using different approaches to those used in Sound Waves. To ensure Sound Waves is effectively embraced at school and at home, use our top tips for getting parents on board.
At the start of the year, provide parents with an overview of Sound Waves using these handy resources.
Send parents a link to the Getting Started with Sound Waves video for a quick explanation of what learning to spell with Sound Waves entails.
If you’re teaching Years 1–6, send parents the Sound Waves: An Overview for Parents letter which clearly outlines the Sound Waves approach, what their child will be learning in their spelling lessons and how they can support their child from home. If you’re teaching Foundation students, send parents the Foundation Letter to Parents which explains the two phases of learning specific to their child’s first year of school.
Give parents a more thorough overview of synthetic phonics with our DIY Parent Workshop pack. The pack includes:
Download an order form or contact your local education consultant for more information.
Let parents know that students usually explore one or two focus sounds per week. There are a number of ways you can notify parents of each week’s focus sound, such as:
To prevent parents from resorting to outdated ‘look, cover, write, check’ activities, provide them with a selection of activities to do at home to support what their child is learning in class.
Remember to pass on your Student Access Code (located on the program home page of your own Sound Waves Online access) to parents and students alike so they can access www.soundwaveskids.com.au for the following activities.
Remember, it’s also important to encourage parents to reach out and talk to you if there’s something they don’t understand to avoid confusing students.
Tell us about your ideas and strategies for getting parents onboard with Sound Waves. Tag us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.