The Code Overlay: Show the Code!
Phonemies help children see, hear, and articulate phonemes, which makes the speech to print relationship clearer and word mapping more accessible. This visual and linguistic 'Show the Code' support is particularly helpful for neurodivergent learners who benefit from explicit cues when developing early reading and spelling skills. Welcome to the home of Speech Sound Mapping with Phonemies®, pronounced /f əʊ n iː m i: z/. Speech Sound Monsters® are phonetic symbols for kids. WWM "Show the Code" Training: ShowTheCode.com
Word Mapping Mastery®
Whatever the route, the destination remains the same: confident bidirectional word mapping, connecting speech, print and meaning for life.
Welcome to the Word Mapping Mastery® System
One Goal. Many Pathways. One Foundation.
Every child is different.
Some children need support to find their voice. Some need support with speech sounds, phonological working memory or articulation. Some are at higher risk of later reading and spelling difficulties. Some are ready to become confident, independent readers. Some need a more systematic approach to learning the Core Code. Some require individualised intervention.
The goal is always the same:
Word Mapping Mastery®: confidence with bidirectional word mapping, because this is the foundation of communication, reading and spelling.
Children may reach this destination through different routes, depending on their individual needs.
Start with the Foundation Training
The first step for parents, practitioners and schools is the Word Mapping Mastery® Foundation Training at ShowTheCode.com.
The Foundation Training explains:
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how to Show the Code so that the way speech, print and meaning are connected becomes clear to all
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how children develop confidence with bidirectional word mapping using the English Pronunciation Code and their own Individual Pronunciation Code
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what Phonemies® are as Phonetic Symbols for Kids and why they matter
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when and why children focus on Phonemies® even while Sound Pics (graphemes) remain visible
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how to use the Word Mapping Mastery® technologies, resources and approaches to support speech, reading and spelling
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how to choose the most appropriate route for each child
Following the Foundation Training, specialist courses are available through ShowTheCode.com, helping parents, practitioners and schools understand how to screen for dyslexia risk at age 3 through Dys-Code, and how to implement the different Word Mapping Mastery® resources, technologies and approaches, including MySpeekie®, Speech Sound Play, Speedie Readies®, the Speech Sound Pics (SSP) Approach, Speech Sound Mapping (SSM) and the 60 Second Spelling Routine.
The Technology
MyWordz® Word Mapping Technology
MyWordz® connects speech sounds, print and meaning through bidirectional word mapping.
It includes:
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MyWordz® word mapping tools with options to generate and download mapped words
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MySpeekie® one-screen AAC
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Phonemies®
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Code Mapping® (showing which letters are graphemes, which we call Speech Sound Pics®)
Children use Phonemies® to develop speech, communication, reading and spelling skills while always seeing the Sound Pics (graphemes), with the exception of the first five days of the Speech Sound Play Plan.
The Monster Spelling Piano app provides a fast and engaging way to learn the Core Code and over 100 mapped Common Exception Words, supporting speech-to-print and print-to-speech word mapping.
The Word Mapping Mastery® Routes
Fliss and the Phonemies®
The world’s first one-screen AAC for children who cannot yet read or spell.
Children use Phonemies® to turn their thoughts into speech sounds, see words appear on the screen and have them voiced.
MySpeekie® also supports children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), including children developing clearer speech.
MySpeekie® activities naturally lead into Speech Sound Play and Speedie Readies®.
Speech Sound Play supports:
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phonemic awareness
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phonological working memory
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phoneme articulation
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speech-to-print mapping
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the 60 Second Spelling Routine
Children use MyWordz® Word Mapping Technology and the Monster Spelling Piano app to begin their word mapping journey. This leads naturally into the Speech Sound Pics (SSP) Approach and Speedie Readies®.
Dys-Code is an age 3 dyslexia risk screening approach.
The long-term vision is for every child to be offered a free Dys-Code screen at age three through nurseries and early years settings.
Dys-Code identifies children who may be at greater risk of later reading and spelling difficulties, allowing families and practitioners to make informed decisions about support and monitoring.
Children identified as at risk may benefit from Speech Sound Play and MySpeekie® before starting Reception.
Speedie Readies® is the reading-for-pleasure route using The Village With Three Corners. The first 52 of over 100 books in the series are mapped to Show the Code.
Children can begin when ready in the early years, and it is also used within the Speech Sound Pics (SSP) Approach once children reach the end of the Purple Core Code Level.
By the final books, the goal is confident, independent reading and ongoing self-teaching.
The Speech Sound Pics (SSP) Approach
A whole-class, self-paced phonics approach for Reception following the 10 Day Speech Sound Play Plan.
The approach includes a range of activities supporting children to become confident readers and spellers through bidirectional word mapping.
The 60 Second Spelling Routine is used throughout the Word Mapping Mastery® System.
Children use daily speech-to-print and print-to-speech word mapping to store new words in long-term memory.
They can use the routine with or without Phonemies®.
Words are selected from texts they are reading and have had difficulties with, or from their own writing, making the routine personal to the learner.
Speech Sound Mapping (SSM)
Speech Sound Mapping is an individualised intervention approach, which may be included within EHCP provision.
Practitioners draw from across the Word Mapping Mastery® System according to the individual child’s profile, including Speech Sound Play, MyWordz®, MySpeekie®, Monster Spelling Piano, Speedie Readies® and the 60 Second Spelling Routine.
One Child. One Goal. Many Possible Routes.
Children do not all follow the same route.
Some children begin by finding their voice with Fliss and the Phonemies®. Some are identified through Dys-Code as needing closer monitoring. Some move quickly into reading for pleasure through Speedie Readies®. Some benefit from the structured progression of the Speech Sound Pics (SSP) Approach. Some require individualised Speech Sound Mapping (SSM).
Whatever the route, the destination remains the same:
Word Mapping Mastery®: confident bidirectional word mapping, connecting speech, print and meaning for life.
