Abstract:
An illustrated phonics board is provided offering a simplified language learning system using visuals, and moving selectors that are easily manipulated to form simple words. To use, the operator chooses letters from three moving selectors to form a three letter word that shows within a target window. The art on the board provides readily available visual prompts, a quick reference to letters and their phonetic sounds for beginning readers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional patent application, U.S. App. Ser. No. 62/070,497, entitled “Illustrated Phonics Board” and filed on Aug, 26, 2014. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for displaying phonetics to assist elementary students in learning phonics. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. 
         [0004]    Learning to read should be fun and not passive, children should be able to use their eyes, ears and even their fingers to have a good experience. Ideally, children should learn through their discovery of new things, which does not happen very often in reading class, using most reading instruction methods. Then there is the problem that most teachers have introducing consonant sounds. Mostly, they are introduced by attaching a vowel, usually the e. To follow, D, a consonant, is introduced as D-e. As an example, the word, DOG is presented as D-e-O-G, two vowels are in that short word, which is puzzling to many young readers. It is desirable to have a learning tool that creates active learning and provides a better introduction to consonant sounds resulting in improved outcomes and accelerated reading capabilities for some students. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. 
         [0006]    The present disclosure, in one embodiment, relates to a learning tool comprising an illustrated phonics board. The illustrated phonics board comprises a panel having a front and a back, wherein the front comprises a window and a plurality of phonemes having an illustrative pronouncing symbol for each phoneme; at least three movable selectors comprising a first consonant selector comprising a plurality of consonants arranged in a first direction, a second consonant selector comprising a plurality of consonants arranged in a second direction, and a vowel selector, wherein moving the first consonant selector, the second consonant selector, and the vowel selector relative to one another displays selected consonants and selected vowels in the panel window to form a word. In at least one embodiment, the learning tool further comprises at least two slits, one above and one below the window. In at least one embodiment, the plurality of phonemes comprises vowel phonemes and consonant phonemes and a separation element is disposed between the vowel phonemes and the consonant phonemes. In some embodiments, the vowel selector is a strip. In some embodiments, the first consonant selector and the second consonant selector are rotating circular flat planes. In at least one embodiment, the first consonant selector can be rotated to display a first consonant in a first position in the window, wherein the second consonant can be rotated to display a second consonant in a second position in the window, and wherein the vowel selector can be positioned to display a vowel in a third position between the first position and the second position. In some embodiments, the learning tool further comprises a sign with a letter symbol and a highlighting symbol surrounding the letter symbol. In at least one embodiment, the sign can be displayed at an end of the window. In some embodiments, the learning tool comprises at least one tag having a notch, wherein the at least one tag can be displayed at either end of the window. 
         [0007]    While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the various embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, in which: 
           [0009]      FIGS. 1A-1E  show front views of one embodiment of the learning tool of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front view of one embodiment of the learning tool of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3   a - 3   b  are front views of one screenshot of one embodiment of a user interface of the system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous system and methods for improving outcomes and reading abilities for students. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a novel and advantageous learning tool, namely, an illustrated phonics board, and methods for helping students learn phonics using the learning tool. 
         [0013]      FIGS. 1A-1E  shows one embodiment of the illustrated phonics board  10 , includes a panel  12  having a front  13  and a back (not shown). The phonics board  10  may comprise hardboard (sometimes called high-density fiberboard), wood, paper board, cardboard, plastic or metal. The front  13  has a window  14  cut into the panel  12 , at least two slits  16   a  and  16   b,  and a number of phonemes  18  in upper and lower case forms with an illustrative pronouncing symbol  20  for each. A separation element  21  divides the vowels  18   a  from the consonants  18   b  to show distinction between the two. Window  14  shows a three letter word that is formed by manipulating at least three movable selectors  22 ,  24 ,  26 . The movable selectors  22 ,  24 ,  26  may comprise rotating circular flat planes or sliding elements. As shown in  FIGS. 1A-1E , a first consonant selector  22  is comprised of a rotating circular flat plane with a coupling puncture  28  in the center and coupled to the board from one side with a fastener  30 , which may be a metal fastener or comprise other materials. In at least one embodiment, the first consonant selector comprises a number of consonants  32  arranged in a first direction. In at least one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1B , the first direction is clockwise. As shown in  FIGS. 1A-1E , a second consonant selector  24  is comprised of a rotating circular flat plane with a coupling puncture  34  in the center and coupled to the board from one side with a fastener  36 , which may be a metal fastener or comprise other materials. In at least one embodiment, the second consonant selector comprises a number of consonants  32  arranged in a second direction opposite the first direction. In at least one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1C , the second direction is counterclockwise. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIGS. 1A-1E , a sliding vowel selector  26  is disposed between the first consonant selector  22  and the second consonant selector  24 . The sliding vowel selector  26  as shown in  FIGS. 1D-1E  comprises a strip that has a number of vowel sounds  38 . In at least one embodiment, the vertical vowel selector is double faced with five simple vowels on one side (as shown in  FIG. 1D ) and selected vowel blends on the other (as shown in  FIG. 1E ), with space to write in more of operators choosing. The sliding vowel selector  26  may be woven between the upper slit  16   a,  through window  14  between the consonant selectors  22 ,  24 , and finally through the lower slit  16   b.  The sliding vowel selector  26  may further comprise a retention element  40  at the ends of the vowel selector, which can be used to stop the selector from sliding out. In at least one embodiment, the retention element  40  comprises a hole and a string can be inserted to tie the sliding vowel selector  26  to keep it in a particular position. 
         [0015]    Although the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A-1E  shows a window  14  capable of containing up to three letters, it is contemplated by this invention that addition sliding letter selectors or movable selectors can be added between the first selector  22  and the second selector  24 . Additionally while the first selector  22  and the second selector  24  are described herein as having consonants and the sliding selector  26  has vowels, it is contemplated by this invention that the selectors  22 ,  24 ,  26  may include any letter or letter blend. 
         [0016]    To form a word, a user (such as a teacher, instructor parent, or student) may rotate one or both of the consonant selectors  22  and  24  and can slide the sliding vowel selector vertically relative to the window. Referring to the phonemes  18  and the illustrative pronouncing symbol, a student can begin to form the word verbally. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2-3  show additional features that may be added to the illustrated phonics board to make additional words.  FIG. 2  shows a sign  50  that comprises a shaft  52  with a letter symbol  54  attached to one end of the shaft  52 . In at least one embodiment, the letter symbol  54  is a lowercase e. In at least one embodiment the letter symbol  54  is surrounded by a highlighting symbol  56 . In at least one embodiment, sign  50  appears similar to a wand. As shown in  FIG. 3A , the sign  50  can be added to the end of the displayed word in window  14  (as shown M-A-T), the short vowel within the displayed word, becomes a long vowel sound and a new word is formed (as shown M-A-T-E). 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  also shows tags  62 ,  66  that can be used to teach lessons in consonant blends. Tags  62 ,  66  may be preprinted with a consonant or may allow for erasable writing with a erasable marker. As shown each tag has a notch  64 ,  68  on an end. As shown in  FIG. 3B , the notch can surround the fastener  30 ,  36  and allows additional letters to be added to a first and/or second end of the letters displayed in the window  14 . These tags can be used for teaching consonant blends. For example, by adding and second end left and  34  right used to teach lessons in consonant blends. With an erasable marker to write a letter, or letters on the tags before, and, or, after, the three letter word in the target window, the simple consonant becomes a consonant blend. An example. By adding the letter b to the beginning of the letters len in the window, and a d at the end, the word becomes blend. 
         [0019]    In the foregoing description various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The various embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principals of the disclosure and their practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.