Learning to read with Unik and Tipi is a new learning method using visual cues for phonics. This helps young readers practice reading two or three-letter combinations that make one sound. The visual cues for the phonics make reading easier and more fun. This also helps to learn spelling patterns for each sound. This visual method is especially useful for dyslexic and strong visual children. It can also help exceptional children and adults with illiteracy.
When to start learning to read with Unik and Tipi ?
Once your learner knows the sound that each letter of the alphabet makes, you may start with « Learning to read with Unik and Tipi ». For help with pronunciation, you may use https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/
The word learning sheets and texts are free to use for a personal use (like for homeschooling) for learning to read in english, and for teachers in a classroom, their pupils and parents, and childhood professionals (speech therapists, psychologists, doctors, …)
All rights reserved. No commercial use. No changes. No reuse of images, texts, and the reading method without authorization. Sharing only with reference and link to the website www.uniktipi.com and with reference to the name of the method (« Learning to read visually with Unik and Tipi »).
ee sound as in tree, be, Tipi
The ee-sound like in « tree » is represented by
– 2 trees when the sound is made of 2 letters (like « ee »)
– 1 tree when the sound is made of 1 letter (like « e » in « me » or « i » in « Tipi).
The sound is the same whether there are one or two trees.
Guessing game : Who is Tipi ? Let your pupil guess. Don’t tell the answer. Say « Maybe you’re right … we will have to read more texts to find out ».
You can use the sheets on-line, or print them. The words in the word sheets can be cut out to make a reading game with the word flashcards, where you can play « pick up a word » and « read it ».
oo sound as in moon, soup, Luke
The texts are put in a logical sequence, each text reusing sounds already studied before. You should follow the sequence.
You may say to your pupil : « we can make the oo sound in different ways : oo, o, ou and u. The image for the sound will always be the same : a moon. «
- The moon is bigger when there are 2 letters for the sound like in « oo » or « ou ».
- The moon is smaller when there is 1 letter like in « o » or « u ».
- The sound is the same whether the moon is bigger or smaller.
Here the « y » in the word « happy » is pronounced like an « i » (like the « i » in « hit »), so a little blue « i » is put above the letter « y » on the right side to help the reader.
y sound as in you, yes and Unik
The « y » sound like in « you » is represented by two eyes looking at « you ». The « ou » sound is represented by a moon, as learned just above.
In the name « Unik », the « U » sound- which sounds the same as « you » – is represented by the two eyes in the « U » and the moon underneath.
The letters d, m, and p are emphasized to make reading easier for dyslexics.
- m has a flamingo flying over it,
- p with its blue triangle like a slice of a pie,
- d is filled with blue inside.
The letter q will be emphasized too (see below) when the sound is studied. So this makes it easy to distinguish m from n, so as b, d, p and q, which is especially useful when learning to read with a dyslexia.
th sound as in « the » and in « feather »
ea sound as in sea (same image as for the ee sound)
For the words « feels » und « feeds » there is a small blue « z » on the upper right of the letter « s » to show the reader that these « s » are pronounced like a « z », for example like in the word « buzz ».
I sound as in I, kite, eye
The I sound like in I, kite, eye is represented by a kite. When there are two or three letters for the sound, like in « pie », « bye » or « eye », the kite is bigger and tilted. The sound remains exactly the same.
sh sound as in she, mushroom
ow sound as in snow, boat, goes
The snowflake is bigger when the sound is written « ow » – with 2 letters – than when it is written « o » – with 1 letter. The sound remains exactly the same.
ai sound as in rain, day, make
ow, ou sound as in meow, how, our
th sound as in tooth, think
u, o, oe sound as in umbrella, done, does
oo, ou, u sound as in book, could, full
Text to read : Unik is sad
Text to read : Unik is happy
ch, tch sound as in chimp, watch, teach
ur, ir, er, or sound as in turtle, first, her, world
o, oo, aw sound as in fork, door, paw
ear, air, are, ere, eir sound as in bear, fair, dare, there, their
Practice – Text to read : Unik changes
The Colors
The easy one :
Below you really have to read the words. You can have the learner circle the words with the right color or color the background of each word.
The Water Cycle
The water cycle is essential to life on Earth.
We have to protect water quality and to reduce water use.
Deforestation alters the water and air cycle. We have to protect the trees and the woods.
The Air Cycle
The air cycle too is essential to life on Earth.
Humans and animals need oxygen to breathe, thereby producing carbon dioxide.
Forests and plants regenerate oxygen from carbon dioxide by photosynthesis.
This is why forests are so important. Also, forests contain 80% of all species (this is also called biodiversity).
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Learning to Read the Numbers from 1 to 10 and 11 to 20
qu sound as in square
Questions and Feedback
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Sharing and helping us to gain momentum
If you like our visual reading method, we will appreciate if you share it with your friends, pupils, professional groups, etc. Please include the reference and link to the website www.uniktipi.com and the name of the method (« Learning English Visually with Unik and Tipi »).