Our System | Reading and Writing | Phonics in MotionPhonics in Motion

What is the Phonics in Motion© method?

PIM is a multi-sensory teaching method used by educators, parents and school districts alike to assist in the teaching of reading and writing. PIM integrates the use of kinesthetic motions for the sounds within the English language, introduces a structure for daily modeled writing, addresses directionality and letter formation, and teaches a system for the development of vowel sounds and their alternate spellings.

Phonics in Motion© integrates into authentic literacy experiences throughout the school day. It can be used as an independent stand-alone system or can be used in correlation with learning systems you already use in your classroom.

LANGUAGE CALENDAR™

Modeled Written Language

The Language Calendar™ integrates all of the components of the PIM system. It is a structure for modeling written language daily and features how letters, sounds and words work in the English language for effective communication, as well as developing the concepts of print for early literacy. It is a format for the teacher or parent to demonstrate how they think as they write.

READING & WRITING MONSTER™

Letter Formation & Directionality

The Reading & Writing Monster™ is a free-flowing animated character placed on the left of any writing surface. It develops directionality and helps students understand letter formation based on writing towards or away from the character. PIM utilizes stories and activities that integrate the KMPs™ to help students learn through auditory, visual and kinesthetic modalities.

VOWEL HOUSE™

Vowel Sounds & Alternate Spellings

The Vowel House™ is a graphic organizer of the vowel sounds and alternate spellings used in the English language. The Vowel House™ is built in the first grade with the children as they develop their analytic skills and is displayed and expanded throughout the primary grades. The Vowel House™ incorporates the KMPs™ to reinforce the phonemic foundation for the vowels.

KMPs™

Kinesthetic Motions for the Phonemes

The development of phonemic awareness is critical to the long-term learning and mastery of reading and writing. There are approximately 41 phonemes in the English language. PIM has a KMP™ for each phoneme and various word endings, which makes learning more memorable, engaging and fun for both students and teachers Pre-K through elementary.

1. Although children develop Phonemic Awareness naturally as they interact in their world of language, approximately 20% do not develop the ability to hear, express and manipulate phonemes (IRA, 1998). PIM integrates Kinesthetic Motions for the Phonemes (KMPs™) in authentic language experiences throughout the day to support learners with deficits in this area.

2. Letter Identification and Phonemic Awareness are two of the best predictors of early reading success (Share et al., 1984). The Language Calendar™ incorporates the use of the KMPs™ for phonemes daily as children are guided to anchor the sounds with letters. The routine remediates deficits in letter identification and phonemic awareness in an authentic practice.

3. The use of a concrete marker in phonemic awareness development for young children and strugglers is recommended (Blachman, Ball, Black, & Tangel, 1994; Castiglione-Spalten & Ehri, 2003; Clay, 1979; Lindamood & Lindamood, 1998). Each KMP™ in the PIM system is a concrete marker for the phoneme and each is available at your fingertips!

4. The importance of socially interactive, engaging, and playful activities is stressed for Phonemic Awareness Activities (IRA, 1998; Yopp & Yopp, 2000). In the PIM system, children sing, recite poems, communicate orally, and record language using the KMPs™ for Phonemic Awareness activities.

5. Marzano (2001) emphasizes the effectiveness of incorporating nonlinguistic representations to strengthen the learning process. The KMPs™ of PIM are nonlinguistic representations of the fleeting phoneme.

6. In best practice, the effectiveness of guiding students to observe similarities and differences is stressed (Marzano, 2001). The Vowel House™ is a graphic organizer of vowel sounds and spellings that is organized by similarities and differences of vowel sounds and spellings.

Phonics in Motion© Method