Crack the code is a step by step phonemic awareness and
visual-auditory program that helps students develop the essential skills of
reading and writing and in turn achieve literacy success.
It is a sequential program that incorporates visual (using
vowel signs) and auditory techniques to effectively teach the reading and
spelling of sounds (but especially vowels within words). It is structured in 5
parts, each focusing on a different vowel sound group.
Crack the Code is especially effective for students who
struggle to apply phonic skills to reading and writing by using this approach
of blended phonemic awareness, visual as well as auditory. It focuses on
improving the child’s ability to read and write vowel sounds within words by
teaching vowel signs
for each of the twenty
Australian vowel sounds.
The
program is immensely successful with students of all ages
because struggling students in this area usually have better visual than
auditory skills so benefit from learning visual signs for each of the twenty
vowel sounds.
Crack the Code is effective and successful at any age or
year level however early intervention is best.
The program can be applied at a whole class level with all
students learning the techniques and signs of the vowel sounds. At Currumbin
State School, students in the early years, who have difficulty learning and
applying the techniques of the program, or are identified as being behind their
peers within literacy are withdrawn and given focused one-on-one intervention still using the same skills and techniques of the program. Parents of struggling children are also trained to use, teach and practice the skills and techniques of the program at home with their children – especially during the first two years of school.