"Trying to learn words on a list by rote memory is inefficient, even if they are ‘tricky’ words.  We store words in an oral filing system; each word made up of a unique sequence of sounds. We can read words automatically, and without conscious effort, when we have learned how to connect the sounds in the word with the correct sequence of letters.  The 'Heart Word' method draws on this to teach high-frequency words to beginning readers.  Suitable for Junior Infants to Second Class."

 

Bio - Deirdre O’Toole (Dee) is a Primary School Teacher in Ireland and is currently teaching Junior Infants (Kindergarten). She fell down the rabbit hole of Early Literacy Research a few years ago and hasn’t looked back since. Every day is a an opportunity to learn something new!

 

Dee runs ‘Playful Classroom’, which you can find on Instagram, Facebook and ww.playfulclassroom.ie. She is also the founder of the Facebook group ‘Science of Reading Discussion for Irish Teachers’. All are welcome to join!