Account Questions
Do I need to be a member to access your program?
Yes, you are required to have an active membership to access the Wonder Words program. We do offer a free trial, enabling you to experience the first week of our printable content so you can sample some of the activities we have available.
https://www.wonderwords.com.au/create-account/
If you are ready to access our complete offering, including the Story Hollow app, then get started here. https://www.wonderwords.com.au/join/
Do you offer a free trial?
You can trial the first week of the Wonder Words printable content by signing up for a free account at the following link.
https://www.wonderwords.com.au/create-account/
If you are ready to access our complete offering, including the Story Hollow app, then get started here. https://www.wonderwords.com.au/join/
What membership do you offer?
We have memberships for Teachers and Parents. You can learn more about what each offers at the following link.
https://www.wonderwords.com.au/join
We do not offer school memberships. However, if you would like to discuss a school membership. Please get in contact with our team.
Note: All our memberships are a 12-month term and automatically renew every year.
Do I need to renew?
No, there is no need to renew. Your membership will automatically continue for as long as you choose to remain a member.
How do I cancel my membership?
You can cancel your Wonder Words membership at any time. Your membership will remain active until the end of your subscription.
To cancel your membership, log in to your account and navigate to the ‘My Account’ page. Once here, click ‘My Subscription’ in the left menu and then click on the ‘Cancel’ button.
I am a member, but I cannot access anything.
Please contact us here.
How do I access the app?
You can access the Story Hollow App on any laptop, desktop or mobile device by logging into Wonder Words and clicking ‘Play App’. Or you can access it via the following link https://app.wonderwords.com.au/
Before accessing the app, you will need to add your students and get your class login details from the 'App: Add Students' page in your members area.
iOS and Android devices can download the app directly from the app store.
Program Questions
What age group is Wonder Words designed for?
Wonder Words is a curriculum aligned reading solution created for students aged 5-8 in Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2. Not only is Wonder Words tailored for the wide range of learning differences between these grades, but it is also suitable for older students aged 8-12 who may be learning English as a second language or have a learning difficulty or disability.
My child has a learning difficulty or disability, how does Wonder Words support them?
Wonder Words has been designed so that all students experience reading success. We recognise the unique needs of students with learning difficulties and disabilities and have tailored our program accordingly. Find out more on the Inclusive Learners page. https://www.wonderwords.com.au/supporting-inclusive-learners/
Do you include decodable readers?
Yes! We include a huge range of decodable readers in both digital and print formats. Each reader is designed to build on previous and current phonics knowledge so there are no ‘tricky words’ that will leave students guessing or using outdated reading strategies.
Our readers are engaging and aligned to the relevant phonics and high frequency word focus. As a result, students are able to read them independently and experience a new level of success each week, fostering a genuine love of reading.
What font do you use within Wonder Words?
The font used in Wonder Words is Sassoon Font, as research has shown that this is the easiest font for children to read. For this reason, Sassoon Font is used in the many published readers.
We will not be building out each of the 1000+ resources in each different font, which would drive the price up significantly.
Our focus at Wonder Words is building successful and excited independent readers, rather than using various designated handwriting fonts for the Wonder Words reading program. For this reason, we’ve chosen the font created specifically to ensure reading success.
When you segment your words, why don’t you use split digraphs?
We have created Wonder Words based on years of experience working with early years students. We found that omitting split digraphs reduces confusion, and it increases ease and understanding when learning to read and spell.
How do I keep my students/child motivated?
Wonder Words has been designed to keep students engaged through a range of hands on and digital activities. Using a combination of games, animations, worksheets and activities as well as the digital app, you will find children remain motivated and engaged throughout the program.
Plus, as a member you have access to our huge library of tips and tricks to further engage, differentiate and modify the Wonder Words program to suit your individual needs.
Automatic certificates and optional weekly checklists can be turned into reward charts so you can help foster a love of reading by celebrating student success.
How do I keep track of student/child achievement?
Tracking student achievement is simple with our easy-to-use assessment checklists and assessment tools. We’ve included everything you need as part of the Wonder Words program.
Wonder Words uses literacy-specific vocabulary. Should I be using these words with my students/child, or should I use basic terms for ease of understanding? I am worried they won’t know what I am talking about.
Use the literacy-specific vocabulary. You will be surprised by how quickly they pick it up and how it makes sense to them. We try not to use fabricated stories and rules for spelling. We like to keep it clear and explicit.
We already have programs in our school for spelling, reading and writing. Why should we use Wonder Words?
Wonder Words combines reading, writing and spelling in one program. Wonder Words contains resources that support student learning in all of these areas. Everything that you need is in the one place. Our resources are in Sassoon Font, so they are user-friendly for everyone.
My child’s school uses a different program. What would be the benefits of doing Wonder Words at home? Will it confuse them?
Wonder Words will assist your child to learn to understand how to break words into sounds and to understand the spelling choices for these sounds. If your child is using a different program at school, Wonder Words will not confuse them, but will support their learning.
Often students are required to rote learn lists of words. Wonder Words will help them understand how the words within these lists are broken into sounds and spelling choices. Have you ever had difficulty explaining why ‘said’ is not spelled ‘sed’? Wonder Words demonstrates that there can be different spelling choices for the same sound.
I have been using a different spelling phonics program, and some of the ways you segment words is different. Why is that?
At Wonder Words, we have chosen to refer to words only as they sound in isolation, that is, not the sound the word makes mid-sentence. Based on our experience, it can be confusing for young students to have to pronounce a word as it is said in a sentence and then spell it in isolation. This is not to say that other spelling programs are incorrect. We believe, however, that our approach at Wonder Words reduces confusion. For example, with the typical Australian accent, the word ‘collar’, in isolation, is pronounced collʌ. However, if you listen carefully when said mid-sentence, it is pronounced collə. At Wonder Words, we believe that a child will isolate the word when sounding out in both reading and spelling and therefore, we refer to the phoneme as collʌ to reduce confusion. If you would like more information, refer to the International Phonetic Alphabet.
I like the way that the spelling program we currently use at school segments words, but I also like your resources. Can I use both?
Yes, you can use all of our resources. We would suggest omitting the segmenting flashcards if you wish to segment words based on a different phonetic tool/ program.
I’ve already started using a different program. Can I switch to yours, or will that be confusing for the students?
Wonder Words will enhance any current program. You can make the switch easily. The combination of resources including videos, printable and online resources makes the transition simple. You also have the option of using any combination of resources you deem appropriate, so you can mix and match to work alongside your current program or make a complete switch.
Can I rearrange the sets of words?
No, as we have carefully aligned all the resources. For example, the books in Set A1 only contain words to which students have been previously introduced. Any unfamiliar words are simple to decode using their current phonics knowledge and the letter sound representations students have explicitly been exposed to.
I have students/children on different sets. Can they access different resources?
Yes. You can access different sets based on the needs of individual student or child.
Is Wonder Words aligned to the curriculum?
Wonder Words is an Australian curriculum aligned reading solution created for students in Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 so you can be assured our program follows all state and school requirements.
Our program is curriculum aligned for students aged 5-8 but is also suitable for older students aged 8-12 who may be learning English as a second language or have a learning difficulty or disability.
Are there international versions of Wonder Words?
Yes, Wonder Words is available in Australia, the USA and the UK.
Our program is curriculum aligned for students aged 5-8 but is also suitable for older students aged 8-12 who may be learning English as a second language or have a learning difficulty or disability.
- Wonder Words USA is aligned to the CCSS for Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2.
- Wonder Words UK is aligned to the National Curriculum UK for Year 1 (KS1), Year 2 (KS1) and Year 3 (KS2).
In New Zealand, Wonder Words is aligned to Level 1 and Level 2 of the New Zealand Curriculum using Wonder Words Australia.
In Canada, Wonder Words is aligned to the Ontario Elementary Curriculum - Senior Kindergarten - Grade 2. You may choose from Wonder Words AUS, UK or USA depending on your needs.