Phonics

Set 1 Sounds are taught in the order shown, together with rhymes to help children form the letters correctly and instantly recognise sounds ready for blending.

At this stage we do not use the letter names.  Play the video below that shows how to say the sounds correctly.

Set 1 Speed Sounds Slideshow

Set 2 Speed Sounds Slideshow

Set 3 Speed Sounds Slideshow

The children are then taught Set 2 Sounds - the long vowels.

When they are very confident with all of set 1 and 2 they are taught Set 3 Sounds. 

When the children learn Set 3 sounds they begin to use letter names as they have been exposed to more ways to write a sound, for example ‘air’ and ‘are’.

Reading

The children:

Learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letters/letter groups using simple picture prompts

Learn to orally blend sounds into words

Learn to read words using Fred talk and sound blending

Read from a range of storybooks and non-fictions books matched to their phonic knowledge

Work well with a partner

Develop comprehension skills in stories by answering 'Find It' and 'Prove It' discussion questions

Writing

The children:

Learn to write and form the letters/letter groups which represent the 44 sounds with the help of fun phrases

Learn to write words by using Fred Talk

Learn to remember a dictated sentence by practising the sentence out loud before writing. 

This is called hold a sentence and encourages children to remember a whole sentence while focusing on spelling and punctuation.

Talking

The children:

Work in pairs to answer questions

Practise every activity with their partner

Take turns in talking and reading to each other

Develop ambitious vocabulary

   In RWI sessions children will be exposed to red and green words to learn to help them to become speedy readers.  Red words are words that are not easily decodable and challenge words to extend children’s vocabulary.  Green words are linked to the sounds they have been learning and are decodable.  Children will first read words with dots and dashes that represent the sound each letter makes, before expected to read words without the dots and dashes and read them ‘at a glance’.

As well as learning to read and blend real words children will have plenty of opportunities to apply their sound recognition skills to read ‘Nonsense words’. These words will feature in the Year One Phonics Screening check in the summer term.  Nonsense words allow children to apply and practice their sound/reading skills so they will be able to decode any unfamiliar words they may come across on their reading journey. 

Over the week, children will read the storybook three or four times and at the final read, children are confident to respond to comprehension questions and read the story with appropriate expression. This book is sent home on Thursday so they can show you their amazing reading skills. Children will also bring home a ‘Book Bag book’ that links to the school storybook.  This will be a book they have not seen or read before, unless they have been reissued a book for fluency purposes.  Children may also have QR codes to scan and watch at home.  The QR codes are to reinforce sounds taught in school, to accelerate progress by filling sound gaps quicky, or provide your child with more practise reading sounds and words.

The reading books that are sent home should not be challenging for the children to read as they are pitched at the appropriate level for your child. Phonics sessions will provide your child with challenge; reading at home is for practise and enjoyment.

More resources such as word slideshow and practise sheets