Over the past 40 years, research has indicated that the best predictor of literacy skills is phonological awareness – that is, the ability to segment spoken language into words/concepts, syllables and sounds. Without this crucial skill, reading, sounding out new words and spelling English are severely compromised.

To that end, speech and language pathologists, psychologists, teachers, parents and other educators have taught these phonological awareness skills explicitly to their students/children.

Syllable awareness is typically the easiest and first phonological awareness skill that children can learn. This syllable awareness Tap-App (Home Items) is a fun way for children to increase this vital pre-literacy skill.

Instructions for Syllable Awareness Tap-App

1.Tap on the icon for the Syllable Awareness Tap-App

2.A picture of a vocabulary item will appear; the item is also named. The item can be named at any time by pressing the ‘Speaker’ button.

3.The child determines the amount of syllables or ‘beats’ the item has and taps the corresponding number of buttons (in left-to-right sequence) as he/she repeats the name of the item.

4.If the child has tapped correctly, he/she will be rewarded with a verbal reinforcer (e.g. “Yay, you did it!”).

5.If the child has made an error, he/she hears “Oops! Try again!”

6.The screen changes to the next item by pressing the arrow at the bottom right-hand corner.

7.There are 25 items to tap out.

8.The results page can be accessed by pressing the ‘Report’ button at the top left-hand corner.

9.The results include a total number correct on the first try as well as a percentage of that number.

10.The complete report can be e-mailed, if desired.