The 4S Approach To Literacy And Language (4S) is an accelerated, teaching methodology designed to cater for the literacy needs of all age groups. An important objective is to give adults and other older learners with literacy deficiencies, a ‘second chance’ to obtain language skills they failed to acquire in the education system. This objective is pursued through the SCILLS English Literacy Program.
4S stands for Symbols, Sounds, Sight and Self. Its methodology is a “bridge” between the traditional Phonic Systems and the Whole-Word - Look and Say methods. It is different because of the special importance it places on teaching the characteristics of English, the symbol-combination structure of words, the relationship between words and imparting an understanding of how words are made.
The SCILLS English Literacy program is an interactive 25 module accelerated English program that is downloaded via internet. This learner-centred, user-friendly program emphasises “ownership” as a vital learning tool.The program is undertaken over a period of approximately 60 hours or in any extended time frame required depending on the literacy-skill level of the course participants. Students can revisit each module as often as required. Each module is self contained, and has practice assessments tasks for students to complete. Module 25 is an assessment module, which students must successfully complete in order to attain a Certificate of Completion.
This program is designed to fast-track learners of all literacy levels. For students learning English as a second language (ESL), this program is ideal for learning background rules of the English language.
It teaches students “WHY” things say what they say, and “WHY” they are spelt the way they are.
SCILLS helps learners to improve their pronunciation skills by teaching them the sounds of the alphabet and the importance of stress in syllables.
SCILLS imparts user-friendly, learning techniques and tools such as Targeting, Exchanging, Sound, Word and Whole Word Families, Clue Words and Skills Transference between words by offering keys to understanding “English word and letter rules” and exploring words as “symbol combinations” rather than just using the “whole-word” or “single letter-phonic” methods.
Literacy Concepts Taught:
The Special Characteristics And Attributes Of The English Language
The Phonic, Graphic, Semantic, Syntactic Relationship Between English Words
The 4S Methodology Difference
The 4S Techniques And Tools - Targeting - Exchanging - Word Families - Word Creation
Keys To Word Recognition, Reading, Speaking, Spelling, Writing, Listening And Viewing
The Symbol Combination Structure of Words
The Importance Of Extended Symbol Combinations And The Syllabic Structure Of Words
Symbols and Symbol Combinations That Make More Than One Sound - The Variations
Different Symbols and Symbol Combinations That Make The Same Sound - The Variations
The Five Influential Consonants - w, r, l, q, v
Vowels That Influence - Position And Presence
Addressing Pronunciation Problems
The 4S Keys To Understanding Pronunciation In English
Addressing Spelling Problems - Foreign words; Silent Symbols, Pluralising; Homophonic Words.
The 4S Keys To Understanding Spelling In English
Silent Symbols In English Words
Homophonic Words In English
Pluralising Words In English
Creating Words With Affixes - The 4S Exchanging Techniques - Skills Transfer
Basic Grammatical Concepts
Rare And Difficult Combinations And Literacy Concepts