Phoneme Diagnosis app for iPhone and iPad

Developing the skills of reading is a significant milestone in the life of a young child and phonological awareness is one important prerequisite for reading proficiency (National Reading Panel, 2000). There is further evidence to suggest that a child’s social background may impact upon their level of phonological awareness

This study will examine whether a gap exists in the phonemic awareness levels of children as they begin formal education in a disadvantaged and a non-disadvantaged school. The study will also investigate whether any gap exists at the end of junior infants. The assessment tool that will be used is unique in that it will allow multiple children to be assessed at one time (less time-consuming for teachers) and it will be presented to the children in the format of a game on an iPad (such assessment are generally paper- based tests which can lead to difficulties when trying to engage very young children).

As a result of the assessment tool, the assessors will be able to provide very specific data to class teachers in relation to the strengths and the needs of individual children’s phonological awareness (and letter knowledge) within their class. This data should prove very useful to teachers of junior infants in September.