Improve reading, writing, and spelling results by 2-5 grade levels, in just 10 weeks. Guaranteed.
School Literacy Program
A proven, whole-school literacy solution—trusted by educators across Australia.
Guaranteed to improve literacy results by 2–3 school years in just one term.
Foundations of Maths
LEVEL ONE MATHS EDUCATOR TRAINING
Multiplication and Division
LEVEL TWO MATHS EDUCATOR TRAINING
Focus on
Fractions
LEVEL THREE MATHS EDUCATOR TRAINING
Total Maths Mastery
COMPLETE MATHS EDUCATOR TRAINING: LEVELS ONE, TWO AND THREE
Whether you're aiming to lift struggling students, reduce the pressure on teachers, or improve whole-school literacy outcomes, The Sound Way delivers measurable results—fast.
Most students improve by 2–3 school years in just one term.
Some even gain more than 5 years in reading, writing, and spelling.
Why Schools Choose The Sound Way
Dramatic progress in weeks, not years
From Year 1 to Year 12, students typically improve 2–3 school years in just 24–35 hours of instruction. Older students often gain 4–5+ years.
No teacher prep required
All lessons are pre-recorded and fully guided by our video-teacher. No planning, no marking, no training required—just press play and supervise.
Scaleable for any class size
Whether it’s used across a year level, a targeted intervention group, or the whole school, the program delivers results at scale.
Backed by research and decades of school success
Since 1994, The Sound Way has helped thousands of students across Australia—and been credited with improving NAPLAN results, lifting whole cohorts, and transforming literacy outcomes in schools nationwide.
Ideal for Diverse Learners
The Sound Way is effective for mainstream learners and those with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, and ESL/EAL needs.
Achieving Real Results
for over 20 years
Increasing their oral reading age beyond 5 years!
"Swan View Senior High School has now engaged every student from Years 8 through 11 in the program. We have seen outstanding results with some students increasing their oral reading age beyond 5 years. We have also seen an improvement in whole cohort systemic test performance."
Damian Shuttleworth
Principal
Swan View Senior High School
Record improvement being 6.9 years in 10 weeks!
"The Sound Way is definitely the best program of its kind that I have come across. We have now put well over 150 students through the programme with excellent results. Students regularly increased their spelling age by 5 years in one term, with our current record improvement being 6.9 years in 10 weeks. Students also exhibit marked increases in comprehension levels, regularly doubling their understanding."
Patrick Deadman
Engaging Lofty Futures
Toowoomba Senior High School
Reading improved 2.9 yrs, and Spelling by 2.5 yrs - in 1 term!
"In the past years students' test results after completing The Sound Way have been outstanding. The pre and post test results documented below indicate just how amazing The Sound Way program is. Our school's NAPLAN results have improved and over the past few years we have achieved above both the State and the Australian mean."
IMPROVEMENT RESULTS: Reading 2.9 yrs, Spelling 2.5 yrs
Louise Santarelli
John Forrest Secondary College, WA
Improving up to 5 years in spelling age and over 6 years in reading!
"We were blown away with the results we gained after the 8 weeks of The Sound Way program. We had students improving up to 5 years in spelling age and over 6 years in reading. Their confidence soared.
A dyslexic student come to the programme one morning and say, "Guess what I did yesterday - I read". For the first time in his life he had been able to read the assignment, follow the written instructions and then respond in writing."
Robyn Spalding
Newstead College
Launceston, Tasmania
What will The Sound Way do for your school?
Take the pressure off your teachers, with all lesson planning and prep complete
Improve reading and writing results by 2-3 years within one term
Whole school solution, including students with diverse needs
With our methodology, phonetic teaching with clear and explicit instruction produces:
Precise Speech
Phonetic teaching helps students pronounce words clearly by understanding the relationship between sounds and letters.
Legible Handwriting
By reinforcing correct letter formation through sound-based instruction, students develop neat and consistent handwriting.
Correct Spelling
Explicit phonics instruction teaches the patterns and rules behind spelling, eliminating guesswork and boosting accuracy.
Accurate Reading
Students learn to decode words confidently and fluently, leading to greater reading accuracy and comprehension.
Why It Works
Through a sequentially developed set of Explicit Instruction, phonic based video teaching lessons, the Sound Way program's video teacher explains and leads whole classes (small or large) through a step-by-step, face-to-face process to learn and master the essential phonetic skills, along with the necessary spelling rule knowledge that allows them to successfully spell, write, read and pronounce English words.
Program Details
The Sound Way is a structured, phonics-based literacy program delivered via a series of interactive, face-to-face video lessons. It’s built on the science of reading and designed to give students—from Year 1 to Year 12—a clear, logical understanding of how English actually works.
At the heart of the program is our professional video-teacher, who leads students through each concept step-by-step. Lessons begin by introducing the 45 key sounds (phonemes) in English and the 75 ways they’re written (phonograms), then build toward full fluency through targeted spelling rules, word formation, and sentence construction.
As students follow along with the video-teacher, they complete exercises in their individual workbooks. This interactive, multi-sensory approach reinforces each skill through seeing, hearing, and doing—ensuring the learning sticks.
For teachers, there’s no need to plan or present the lesson. Your role is to simply oversee the classroom, guide where needed, and track student progress. It’s like having a second teacher in the room, giving you the freedom to focus on individual support.
This dual-teacher approach makes the program ideal for:
Full-class delivery
Small group intervention
Learning support and inclusion settings
EAL/D and ESL learners
Students with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and other learning needs
And because The Sound Way follows a proven sequence of explicit instruction, the transformation in student ability is often visible in the first few weeks. What once took years can now be achieved in one term.
Inclusions in the School Program
Teacher Resources
Teacher/Facilitator Manual (PDF)
One day online video Teacher/Facilitator Training Course
Junior Program
(All Children 5 to 10 years of age)
Introductory Video Lesson
53 x 35-minute Video Lessons
Student Junior Manual (PDF)
Student Junior Workshop Book (PDF)
Student Junior Sound Way Book (PDF)
Senior Program Short Course
(Not including Cursive Writing)
Introductory Video Lesson
35 x 40-minute video lessons
Marking Workshop Book 1 for Senior Lessons 6 - 34
Student Manual (PDF)
Student Senior Workshop Book 1 (PDF)
Senior Program Long Course
(Including Cursive Writing)
Introductory Video Lesson
50 x 40-minute video lessons
Marking Workshop Book 1 for Senior Lessons 6 - 34
Student Manual (PDF)
Student Senior Workshop Book 1 (PDF)
Student Senior Workshop Book 2 (PDF)
The Results You Can Expect
In general, we see a lift and improve reading and writing standards of students by an average of 2 to 3 school years in just 24 hours of online teaching.
By the end of the first six online video lessons you will observe a dramatic transformation in the writing standard of the student.
Used in classrooms across Australia since 1994.
No planning. No prep. Just proven results.
Program Benefits
Proven
Since 1994, we've been teaching children, teens, and adults to read, write, spell, and speak English clearly, effectively, and fast.
Rapid Results
Improves reading and writing by an average of 2–3 school years in just 10–12 weeks, with older students often gaining 5+ years in the same timeframe.
Relief
Takes the struggle out of literacy - for students, teachers, and families alike.
Opportunity
Stronger literacy skills lead to better opportunities, higher confidence, and greater earning potential.
Access
Get instant access to online video lessons designed for all ages—including learners with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADD, or ADHD.
Clarity
Lessons are led by a native English speaker, providing a clear model for correct pronunciation and fluent speech.
Confidence
Builds confidence, self-esteem, and a renewed sense of capability in every learner.
Guarantee
Every program is backed by our risk-free money-back guarantee.
"I've got so much pleasure out of seeing the huge improvement in these lovely, happy, excited (formerly dejected and overwhelmed) children. I have never felt the thrill of success like I have this year. It really HAS made such a difference to the children and to me and my teaching style and focus."
Jayne West
Heatley State School, QLD
Adult Learner Programs
The Sound Way isn’t just for kids. It’s a structured, practical literacy program that helps adults strengthen their reading, writing, spelling and spoken English—regardless of background or experience.
Ideal for workplace training, adult education, and ESL programs, the lessons are simple to follow, culturally inclusive, and designed to produce rapid progress—even for those who’ve struggled in the past.
No jargon. No pressure. Just clear instruction that delivers life-changing results.
Learn on all your devices
The Sound Way programs are available securely online via all devices. Simply log into your account from any device and start or continue your program.
Guarantee
The Sound Way guarantees major reading and writing improvements for all who complete the program. If not, we will refund your purchase.
About Us
Developed by Australian educator Craig Henderson, The Sound Way is a proven phonics-based program designed to rapidly improve spelling, writing, reading, and speech clarity for students of all ages and abilities.
First released in 1994, the program gained national recognition for its measurable impact on student literacy—most notably when Garbutt State School received Australia’s top National Literacy Award.
Since then, The Sound Way has helped thousands of students across Australia and internationally achieve dramatic gains in literacy, often improving by 2–3 school years in just one term.
Built on decades of research and classroom success, The Sound Way is now available as a complete, online, direct-instruction program—ready for schools, families and individuals seeking lasting, measurable results.
Since 2025, The Sound Way has proudly partnered with and distributed by Maths Australia.
Get Started Today
Request a call with a member of our team
Frequently Asked Questions
Will The Sound Way work for my children or me?
Yes! The experts from the U.S.A., the U.K. and Australia all now agree that Direct Instruction phonetic teaching is the quickest and surest method of providing clear and accurate reading and writing instruction to students of all ages. The Sound Way programs are the only online interactive face-to-face video teaching programs that teach advanced phonics skills while simultaneously combining the essential rules and knowledge of English spelling to its students.
Whether your child is a beginning six-year-old reader, a struggling 15-year-old teenager with major spelling and reading problems, or a mature 65-year-old who just wants to be able to read and write English better; this program is for you. It will teach and equip anyone with the necessary phonetic skills and knowledge to enable them to independently unlock almost any word in the English language.
Is the Sound Way effective with adults?
Yes, the senior program works extremely well with adult learners and has proven itself to work equally effectively with all people of every age - regardless of nationality, or past learning experience.
Does The Sound Way work with those who have English as a Second Language (ESL Students)?
Emphatically yes! The Sound Way programs have experienced major success in India, China, Malaysia, USA and the Middle East. The programs have fast-tracked clear speaking and enunciation of English words, while at the same time hugely improving and advancing the learners' fundamental skills of English Reading, writing and spelling. (See "Success Stories - International Testimonials" click here).
Some have gone as far as to label and nominate The Sound Way program as, "The essential breakthrough program required for any ESL learner to fast-track and fully grasp the fundamentals skills of English reading, writing, spelling, and clear pronunciation of English words."
What results can I expect?
Average improvement of 2 to 3 school years in reading and writing ability in a 10-12 week period - regardless of whether they used the Junior or the Senior program. Older and more mature students have recorded improvements of over six years in their reading ability and four years in their spelling ability in the same timeframe.
Who are best suited for The Sound Way programs?
All primary school children -regardless of current chronological age or reading and writing ability level.
▪ Remedial primary school children - including those diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and other learning disabilities.
▪ Remedial secondary school students. Many high schools put their entire cohort of Year 7 and 8 students through The Sound Way program.
▪ TAFE and VET students needing improved literacy skills to cope with their studies.
▪ Adults in the workplace requiring improved literacy skills to enable them to have more job mobility; undertake further training; or move up into supervisory or managerial positions.
▪ All International (ESL) students wanting to improve their accuracy at clearly pronouncing and enunciating English words; while at the same time greatly improving their English reading and writing ability.
Is The Sound Way effective with those who have ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, etc?
Yes, powerfully so!!! The straightforward, clear and positive presentation of the video lessons contained within the program provides a much-desired positive change and improvement in participants' self-esteem, self-worth and self-confidence; all of which greatly helps and aids them overcome their disabilities.
What is the cost of The Sound Way program?
HOME PROGRAM
Complete Junior or Senior Sound Way Program: $295 AUD
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE PROGRAMS
School Site License: $3,400
Student Fee: $25/student
WORKPLACE PROGRAMS
Workplace Site License: $5,500
Participant Fee: $125/participant
How does The Sound Way line up with the latest worldwide literacy research?
All three of the three major international governmental investigations and enquiries into the teaching practices of English literacy; the 2000 U.S. National Reading Panel Report; the 2005 Australian National Literacy Review; and the 2005 U.K. Independent Review of the Teaching of Early Reading by Sir Jim Rose; were unanimous, clear and concise in their findings and recommendations. Their recommendations are already embedded into all of The Sound Way literacy programs and have been since 1994. The 4 major findings of the investigations were:
▪ Must be Phonic-based - The Sound Way teaches all 45 sounds of the English language (phonemes) and the 75 ways of representing the sounds on paper (phonograms).
▪ Must be Multisensory - Uses all four of the possible learning avenues into the brain. Students HEAR-the sounds; SAY- the sounds; WRITE- the sounds; READ- the sounds.
▪ Must be Sequentially Developed - The Sound Way starts students with the very simple and progressively moves them up into the more complex - commencing with words like "go" and "at"; then progressively moving them up to a senior high school level teaching words such as "proficiency" and "conscientious".
▪ Must be Cumulative - The sequential development and impartation of the essential body of knowledge necessary for student success is all contained within The Sound Way video lessons and student workbooks. Upon completion of a Sound Way program students are left equipped with a complete understanding and working knowledge of the structure of English words. This knowledge can now be applied to the reading or learning of any new words they may encounter in the future.
How easy is The Sound Way to implement?
Home Programs
It's actually very easy! The Sound Way Home Program online lessons have an Introductory video which contains all of the necessary instructions to make it very simple for a Home Learner (young or old) or a Home Schooling parent to effectively implement and successfully complete a Sound Way program.
Parents do not need to pre-learn any material, nor any part of the program before their children can commence. The Introductory Video clearly explains matters such as frequency of lessons and how parents can be supportive and encouraging as they oversee their children's progress. Older students, 11 years and over, will generally not need the same level of support. If, however, they are young teenagers, they will need some level of support and supervision.
School, College and Workplace Programs:
The 12-hour online Teacher/Facilitator Training videos, along with the accompanying Teacher/Facilitator Manuals makes implementation of the program extremely easy for both facilitators and students. All that is required to achieve outstanding results is a committed and motivated teacher/facilitator who will diligently facilitate and oversight their students during the presentation of the video lessons.
All of the necessary Lesson Preparation, Programming and Timetabling have been provided for the Teacher/Facilitators and can be found within their Teacher/Facilitator Manuals.
Who developed The Sound Way?
The Sound Way to Spelling, Writing and Reading program was developed and produced by West Australian Craig Henderson. Craig, a highly qualified teacher and trainer, began his career back in the early 1970's. Since 1988 his focus and attention have been solely devoted to researching, developing and refining the optimal approach to the teaching of the fundamental literacy skills of English spelling, writing and reading.
His first video version of The Sound Way program was produced in 1994. Within two years of being released, The Sound Way was receiving national acclaim with one school who had acquired the program receiving the major Federal government's top National Literacy Award for the entire state of Queensland; its dramatic effect upon the students' literacy abilities within the school being repeatedly featured on national television.
In 1996 his courses were awarded both National and State Accreditation status by the Skills Standard and Accreditation Board of Western Australia; now the Training Accreditation Council of Western Australia.
Married since 1973, Craig and his wife Maria have three adult children and nine grandchildren.
What do The Sound Way programs comprise of?
HOME PROGRAMS
Senior - Home
▪ Introductory Video.
▪ Online access to the complete set of 35 x 40-min. Senior Lessons on video.
▪ Online access to the marking of Workshop Lessons numbers 6 to 34 on video. PDF of the student Senior Manual. PDF of the student Workshop Book 1.
▪ Online access to the full set of Phonic Practice Drills on video.
Junior - Home
▪ Introductory Video for the junior program.
▪ Online access to the complete set of 53x 35-min. Junior Lessons on video.
▪ Five-minute Storytime segment at the completion of each lesson.
▪ PDF of the student Junior Manual.
▪ PDF of the student Junior Workshop Book.
▪ Online access to the full set of Phonic Practice Drills on video.
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE PROGRAMS
Senior - School
▪ PDF of Teacher/Facilitator Manuals.
▪ Two-day Teacher/Facilitator Training Course on video (8 sessions - approx. 1.25 hours each).
Introductory Video for students.
▪ Online access to the complete set of 50 x 40-min. Senior Lessons on video.
▪ PDF of the set of 75 Phonic Practice Cards.
▪ PDF of the set of 3 Phonic Practice Wall-charts.
▪ PDF of the student Senior Manual.
▪ PDF of the student Senior Workshop Book 1.
▪ PDF of the student Senior Workshop Book 2.
▪ Online access to the full set of Phonic Practice Drills on video.
Junior - School
▪ PDF of Teacher/Facilitator Manuals.
▪ Two-day Teacher/Facilitator Training Course on video (8 sessions - approx. 1.25 hours each).
Introductory Video for students.
▪ Online access to the complete set of 53 x 35-min. Junior Lessons on video;
▪ PDF of the set of 75 Phonic Practice Cards.
▪ PDF of the set of 3 Phonic Practice Wall-charts.
▪ PDF of the student Junior Manual.
▪ PDF of the student Junior Workshop Book 1.
▪ PDF of the student Junior Workshop Book 2.
▪ Online access to the full set of Phonic Practice Drills on video.
WORKPLACE PROGRAMS
Senior - Workplace
▪ PDF of Teacher/Facilitator Manuals.
▪ Two-day Teacher/Facilitator Training Course on video (8 sessions - approx. 1.25 hours each).
▪ Introductory Video for students.
▪ Online access to the complete set of 50 x 40-min. Senior Lessons on video.
▪ PDF of the set of 75 Phonic Practice Cards.PDF of the set of 3 Phonic Practice Wall-charts.
▪ PDF of the student Senior Manual.
▪ PDF of the student Senior Workshop Book 1.
▪ PDF of the student Senior Workshop Book 2.
▪ Online access to the full set of Phonic Practice Drills on video.
The Sound Way is proudly distributed by Maths Australia.