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Precision Teaching Resources

This page has two sets of files, Probe Sheet Generator and On Screen Probe files.

Probe Sheet Generators

These files enable you to create Precision Teaching "probe sheets" by simply typing in each sight words just once each - the file fills in all the other boxes in a psuedo-random way.
All the sight words are used before being repeated in a different order each time.
The files give you the option of creating probe sheets with 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18 or 20 sight words.

You can involve the child in producing their next probe sheet!
You can also use the precision teaching technique to teach synthetic phonics and number facts.

These files are very popular and are recommended by a number of LEA Educational Psychology services.
Downloads during the Autumn term 2011 totalled 15 402, an average of 3851 a month!

Smaller print version
Uses comic Sans size 16.
Updated & more idiot-proof.
Needs Excel 2000 or later.		 Larger print version
Uses comic Sans size 24.
Limited to words of up to 7 or 8 letters.
Updated & more idiot-proof but
needs Excel 2000 or later.

old standard version
original version, needs more care but
works on Excel version 5
NEW cursive version
needs Lucida Handwriting font.
Works on Excel 2000 onwards.


PT Probe semi-logarithmic record sheet
The advantages of this using this style of chart are:
1. They show fine changes in performance which could be very significant with children who have experienced learning difficulties,
2. These charts focus attention on the magnitude of the change that is occurring rather than absolute change. It is felt that looking at children’s progress in this way provides a more accurate representation of their learning.

On Screen Probe Files

To use this file you must say yes to using macros, and you must enable the Analysis Toolpak Add-in - instructions on how to do this are given on the SETUP sheet.

On Screen Precision Teaching LITERACY Probe
This file can be used for reading or spelling probes
The file uses the computer screen to randomly display words. You simply click on a tick of cross button at the bottom of the screen for each child response. The file counts correct and incorrect responses; but this is hidden from view until you scroll down at the end.
If using this file for spelling probes make sure the kid(s) can't see the screen!
The file has a sheet of high frequency words to paste in, plus a sheet on which you can store sets of words for particular children.
On Screen NUMBER FACTS Probe
This program enables you to use precision teaching to practise number facts. It works in the same way as the other On Screen Precision Teaching Probes file. It uses the same on-screen buttons and keeps a hidden score. You can copy/paste in practice number facts from the sheets of tables an number bonds. You can even prepare sets of your own preferred number facts.

Grateful thanks go to Howard Kittle of Eugene, Oregon for helping me to refine and improve these two files.