I was never able to ride the Coney Island roller coaster called "The Cyclone," but my life on solid ground was full of many ups and downs. I always had a job, sometimes 2 jobs, yet my bills were more than my paychecks.

I had attended church on a regular basis. I had lived with two husbands and raised three children, but poverty and pain had always taken over my life. I had been taught to never question God, but the pain became so severe that I had to find out what was the matter. Only God could give me the real answers.

The Children of Israel walked around in the desert for 40 years never understanding their purpose. I was spared.

Can you demonstrate a clear understanding of systematic synthetic phonics? If you are training to be a primary school teacher you need to have, and to demonstrate, a clear understanding of systematic synthetic phonics to meet the Teachers' Standards. This companion text to the popular Teaching Systematic Synthetic Phonics in Primary Schools enables you to audit your knowledge, making you more aware of the subject and the areas in which you need to know more. In all chapters, self audits are accompanied by guidance on next steps for developing your knowledge. All chapters feature sections that link your learning to the classroom, showing you how to use your knowledge to teach phonics. Designed to help build your confidence and develop your knowledge of phonics, this text supports your development as an effective teacher of reading. This is a companion text to: Teaching Systematic Synthetic Phonics in Primary Schools Joliffe, Waugh and Carss About the Transforming Primary QTS series This series reflects the new creative way schools are beginning to teach, taking a fresh approach to supporting trainees as they work towards primary QTS. Titles provide fully up to date resources focused on teaching a more integrated and inclusive curriculum, and texts draw out meaningful and explicit cross curricular links. David Waugh is Director on Primary PGCE at Durham University where he is also the subject leader for English. He has published extensively in Primary English. David is a former deputy head teacher, was Head of the Education department at University of Hull, and was Regional Adviser for ITT for the National Strategies from 2008 to 2010. Ruth Harrison-Palmer is a former acting head teacher. She has worked for the National Strategies and Cumbria Local Authority as a literacy consultant. Currently Ruth has a senior role in ITE at the University of Cumbria.