SMILE Resources

SMILE - a new way to early literacy!

SMILE Instruction Manual

Cover of SMILE instruction manualSMILE Instruction Manual

The SMILE Manual provides the framework for implementing the instructional approach. A lesson master is provided for both phases to assist teachers with planning. A range of oral and written tasks and games are provided to support each of the SMILE components.

Phonemic, alphabetic and sight word assessment tasks are provided as black line masters (BLM) with clear guidelines to administer. These provide valuable information for teachers to match students to learning, and provide essential information on students moving into formal instruction.

Additional BLM's to support the SMILE strategy include sight word cards, supplementary games, alphabet letters, assessment masters and Reading Observation Record sheet.

Bookmarks featuring the 100 high frequency words grouped in tens are available as additional support. Letters using colours to match the game cards and deskstrips are available to download and this is advisable to maximise learning opportunities.

SMILE Phonemic Game Cards

This resource provides a range of games and strategies to assist children to develop phonemic awareness and internalize phonemes.

The SMILE Phonemic Games contain 141 cards comprising:

The SMILE games promote the overlearning of initial phonemes and rhymes in words. A knowledge of rhyme and rime patterns develops essential knowledge of english phonology and establishes an auditory awareness of high frequency rimes.

A feature of the SMILE cards and deskstrips is the inclusion of short and long vowel sounds and hard and soft sounds for c and g. The high repetition of hearing, seeing, saying and playing with these phonemes in games assists children to generalise that while letters may have more than one sound, the sound itself remains constant. Regular and explicit play assists children to overlearn these low order language elements, thereby freeing up attention for more complex solving and higher order cognition. Coloured letters have been used strategically to enhance the memorisation of letter shapes and names.

Example phonemic cardExample phonemic card

SMILE Writer's Aid Deskmat: (Beginner's)

The A4 SMILE Writer's Aid Deskmat features the 64 ways to represent the initial phonemes using single letters, blends and digraphs. The front side features the alphabet and student name strip, while the reverse features initial blends and digraphs. Both sides use images and colour to match the Phonemic Game Cards and assist children to consolidate knowledge.

Alphabet side of A4 DeskmatFront side of the Deskmat - Alphabet
Blends side of A4 DeskmatBack side of the Deskmat - Blends

The front side features the alphabet and student name strip, while the reverse features initial blends and digraphs. Both sides use images and colour to match the Phonemic Game Cards and assist children to consolidate knowledge.

Order SMILE Resources

SMILE resources can be purchased by completing our Resources order form (Word 47 kB) and returning it to us.