Research Study

The PhonicsQ System
The PhonicsQ System (2000) is a commercially available visual-learning system designed to help students link the phonemes of oral language and the graphemes of written language to decode, encode, and produce new words. The materials include wall posters consisting of picture/letter(s) cues grouped as alphabet, single vowels, consonant combinations (e.g., /bl/, /sm/, /tw/), and vowel combinations (e.g., /ai/, /oy/, /ue/). The program also contains (a) 116 stimulus display cards grouped as alphabet, short vowels, consonant blends, digraphs, ending and vowel combinations, open syllable, long vowels, vowel-consonant e, and less common single-vowel sounds, (b) blackline cue sheets, and (c) audiotapes for pronunciation cues. The PhonicsQ was initiated in January 2002 and continued through the end of the academic year (May 2002). Student ability groups were initially determined through CBA. PhonicsQ was used directly to supplement daily literacy instruction already ongoing at the school. As a supplement in small ability-level groups, PhonicsQ was used in shared reading and guided reading. When working individually, teachers used PhonicsQ as added academic time on task though explicit teacher-directed instruction and hands-on activities. Wall charts were accessible references when students worked independently throughout the day across other curriculum areas.