About the Program

Each lesson takes 20 minutes to complete. This has several components that close the gaps for a specific sound or blend. The examples shown below are taken from the Year 5 level.

Dizzy’s Spelling and Writing Tips

Dizzy (the word detective) presents a short list of Top Spelling and Writing Tips during each lesson. These tips guide you towards making the correct spelling and writing choices.

Sound Clicks

Once you are in the program, you are shown a picture. Click on the image to trigger a spoken word that describes what you see. Sound the word aloud and select from several letters to correctly spell that word.

Benefits of Sound Clicks

1. You become more confident in selecting the correct letter/sound options
2. When sounding similar letters such as ‘z’ or ‘s’, you learn to discriminate between these choices
3. This activity reinforces your knowledge of the connection between letters and sounds
4. It builds your vocabulary
5. With an image linked to each word, you quickly attach meaning to words
6. By learning to spell accurately, your reading and writing skills automatically improve

Spell Right

Click on an icon to hear a word. A hint may be given to reinforce a spelling tip or to remind the learner to use a memory trick. Sound the word aloud and type it in the box to get immediate feedback – green for a correct spelling or red for an incorrect version. If spelt incorrectly, make the correction immediately to reinforce the learning.

Benefits of Spell Right

1. Reinforces how to spell words within a specific family group
2. Consolidates learning with relevant hints and tips
3. Build your confidence by grouping words that contain a similar sound

Dictation

Click on the sound icon to hear a sentence. Sound it aloud and type the sentence using appropriate punctuation. (You may print out a paper template to practice writing between the lines). Click on ‘check’ and a green answer shows you have no errors. A red answer indicates errors that you find and make the necessary correction(s).

Benefits of Dictation

1. Dictation can build literacy skills quickly
2. Dictation consolidates your spelling skills into your writing
3. This reinforces words and sounds that you have previously learned

Speed Reading

Click on the arrow to hear the words and read with the voice if you want to. Read the words twice again and try to read faster each time. When you know the words well click on the timer and try to read all the words before the timer runs out. Day 1 has only 2 columns of words which increase each day until 5 columns are presented on Day 4 and Day 5.

Benefits of Speed Reading

1. This will speed up your reading
2. For slow readers with slow visual processing speeds, this activity speeds up reading rate
3. By timing this activity, you monitor your own reading rate
4. This encourages you to beat your previous time
5. This activity makes a remarkable difference to your reading speed, fluency and reading confidence

Word Games

A word game is given at the end of days 1 to 4. A different word game is played at the end of each lesson:

Game 1: Match a Word to a Picture. Find the image that matches to each word supplied
Game 2: Match a Word to a Verbal Definition. Click on the sound icon to hear a definition and choose the word that matches the definition.
Game 3: Word Closure. Choose the correct word to fit into a written sentence
Game 4: Sort the Letters: Click on the sound icon and unscramble the letters that are jumbled up to make a word

Benefits of Word Games

1. Games are a great way to end a lesson on a enjoyable task
2. The games reinforce the learning because they are linked to the lesson material and the focus words
3. These games improve your word knowledge
4. Games improve your sequencing of the letters within a word
5. They reinforce your understanding of a word’s meaning
6. They further reinforce your vocabulary
7. The games improve your listening skills

Story Reading

On day 5 of each module, you are given a story to read that includes the key words covered during the lessons. There is no assessment for this activity and the focus is on reading for pleasure. You should read accurately, with expression and at a steady pace. You may read aloud to a parent or mentor. The mentor gently corrects any errors as they arise and praises the child’s efforts.

Benefits of Story Reading

1. This translates the learning into a reading environment
2. Story reading further cements your growing vocabulary
3. It promotes a sense of confidence as you realise that your reading skills have improved
4. It promotes your sense of becoming an independent reader

My Sticker Board

You can select from a variety of stickers at the end of each week. Stickers are displayed in a cabinet that you can access at any time.