It was a great feeling to finally have the 1000 copies of each of the four books in hand, a process that took a further 18 months. In the meantime, I researched companies to get the boxes made that hold the four books. Read More
A phonemic approach to literacy
Blog/News
Barbara’s Blog: Books printed but more hard work and challenges ahead
Barbara Murray - Friday, November 08, 2019
Phonemic awareness endorsement from Grover Hill, Ohio
Barbara Murray - Friday, October 25, 2019
Isn’t it interesting where you read about phonemic awareness? It’s not just the Australian curriculum that is a supporter of this approach to help young learners speak, read and spell. Read More
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan advocates for phonics
Barbara Murray - Thursday, October 10, 2019
The Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan in talking about NAPLAN has stated that there should be a stronger focus on phonics, a method that involves teaching kids the sounds made by individual letters or groups of letters. Read More
Barbara’s Blog: The Sound Stories journey takes shape
Barbara Murray - Monday, September 30, 2019
After the disappointment with the first illustrator [read earlier blog here], a couple of months went by before the urge to publish the Sound Stories picture books starting niggling at me again. Barbara's blog continues ... Read More
Sound Stories advertisement says it all!
Wendy McWilliams - Thursday, September 12, 2019
If you'd like a snapshot of what Barbara Murray's Sound Stories has to offer, just check out this advertisement. It only takes a few seconds to read. Barbara Murray is well known for the Sound Waves program that she co-authored. Read More
Education Matters Primary magazine, September 2019
Wendy McWilliams - Thursday, September 12, 2019
Great news! Barbara Murray, author of Sound Stories, is featured in the September issue of Education Matters Primary magazine. The topic is: "A phonemic approach is the key to learning to read and write". In the full page article, Barbara explains why teachers need to develop in their students an awareness of the 43 sounds (phonemes) used in Australian spoken English. Read More
Sound Waves Foundation wins two prestigious awards
Barbara Murray - Wednesday, September 11, 2019
The Educational Publishing Awards Australia recognises the best of the best in educational resources with 2019 producing outstanding resources for student learning across the country. Twenty vital learning tools produced by local publishers and used in primary, secondary and tertiary classrooms were awarded. Read More
Barbara's Blog: Sound Waves to Sound Stories
Barbara Murray - Friday, September 06, 2019
When writing the third edition of the Sound Waves Program in 2010 and expanding the Foundation section, it occurred to me that teachers needed stories to introduce each of the 43 sounds, the basis for the whole Sound Waves Program, to beginning readers and writers. Read More
Response to the article in Teacher Magazine titled: Using picture story books (PSBs) in the classroom
Barbara Murray - Monday, August 26, 2019
Melissa Wray’s research findings with regards to picture story books are totally in accordance with my experience in the classroom as explained below. She carried out a research project that informed her thesis, as part of her Master of Education studies with Deakin University, that investigated teachers’ use of PSBs from Foundation to Year 6. Read More
Barbara’s Blog: The birth of the Sound Waves program
Barbara Murray - Monday, August 19, 2019
Around 1999, someone came to the school to talk to the staff about a phonemic approach to decoding (reading) and encoding (writing/spelling). None of us had heard the term, phonemic, but as the session unfolded a couple of my friends and I began to realise that I was basically teaching that way. Read More