I registered for the Florida Literacy Conference on a whim. My rationale went something like this, “Adult and Family Literacy certainly applies to SensAbleLearning, LLC, I’ll go.” It was a very good whim I followed.
Souns® is a hands-on phonemic awareness program inspired by the Montessori Method. Letter sounds are taught before letter names. It’s a simple switch with brilliant results. Brenda Erickson, founder of Counterpane Montessori and creator of Souns® , designed it for ages 0-3, but I have used it as intervention with children in high school and Brenda has used Souns® with adult refugees. (I learned Souns® for my two children, then ages 3 and 4, now 4 and 5. They learned to read so naturally using Souns®, I had the thought, “So many kids need this.” And SensAble Learning, LLC was born.
At the conference, I had my first experience using Souns® with an adult learner. He inquisitively looked at the Souns® symbols (letters) and I explained quickly how the program worked the first time he happened by. I realized quickly that his curiosity was more than piqued as he touched the letters and said the sounds with me. I wondered if he could read, but I did not ask.
He left to attend a workshop but he soon returned and apologized for having to leave. I asked if he would like to sit and work with me for a bit using Souns®. He said yes. We went through each letter sound, just as the program suggests. Most of the sounds he learned very quickly. I have the tracking sheet we used. He did not recognize many of the letter sounds initially, but we practiced and he learned. Next, I began building words with him using Souns® symbols and the objects I have ready in my box of three letter words. With each new word he built, a smile stretched from ear to ear displaying his delight in what I can only assume is a new understanding of this mysterious language code. I wish I had more time with this young man.
I loved every ah-ha moment that came across the faces of trained professionals, tutors and scholars as they “got” how teaching sounds first before letter names removes much of the confusion not needed for a beginning reader. But, the ah-ha that will remain in my heart is the one I saw in the smile of the curious young man.
Della Palacios
Founder and Owner of SensAble Learning, LLC
I am a traditionally trained teacher who chose to put my career and doctoral work on hold to stay at home and raise children. Last year, I met Brenda Erickson, founder of Counterpane Montessori and the creator of Souns® . The trajectory of my life has changed as we have joined hands to make sure kids will read, and read well. I tell her she will be the bridge from Montessori to mainstream. She tells me, Souns® will be the bridge from Montessori to mainstream.
The Opening General Session is only ONE WEEK away! Can you smell the Tampa Bay water yet??
Are you open to looking at numbers? In 2012 
Could you imagine an adult education classroom where students are just given worksheet after worksheet or book after book to read on their own? How dry and boring would that be, and, more importantly, how quickly would those classrooms be empty because students leave due to sheer boredom? Now imagine the exact opposite of that first situation: a fun, interactive, visually-stimulating classroom where all three types of learning styles are accommodated and everyone’s engaged. Doesn’t that sound a million (or more) times better?
