Phonics

Read Write Inc.

The Government strongly recommends the use of synthetic phonics when teaching early literacy skills to children. Synthetic phonics is the ability to convert a letter or letter group into sounds that are then blended together into a word.

At St. Teath, we are using the Read Write Inc (RWI) program to get children off to a flying start with their reading. RWI is a method of learning based upon letter sounds and phonics and we use it to aid children in their reading and writing.

Children work through the scheme at their own pace and are assessed and grouped regularly according to their current ability. The scheme is split into 3 sets of sounds.

Children progress through a range of colour levels. Each level is carefully matched to your child's current phonic ability. This means children are able to read and access texts by themselves and quickly grow in speed and confidence. The progression through book levels is shown below.

As part of the reading and writing sessions of Read Write Inc children will take part in reading the following words:

Green Words

Green words are words that the children will encounter in stories that they can phonetically decode. They are split into Speedy Green (Words that children will encounter often) and Story Green (Words that are specific to the story).

Firstly, children practise reading these words together with their teacher. They discuss the meanings of these words where needed so that children understand this new vocabulary before they begin reading.

Children then practise reading their green words in partners.

Red Words

These are words that children cannot use their sounds to read and need to be recognised by sight. Children practise and discuss these words with their teacher before practising in pairs.

Set 1

First, your child will learn to read:

Set 1 sounds: these are sounds written with one or two letters.
Simple words containing these sounds, by sound-blending
Red, Green and Purple Storybooks.

Each sound is linked to a picture hook and short rhyme to help the children learn and remember them.

Clear pronunciation of sounds is extremely important. This video will demonstrate how to say Set 1 sounds clearly.

//www.youtube.com/embed/TkXcabDUg7Q#t=0.5

Your child will learn to read words containing Set 1 Speed Sounds by blending sounds together to create words. We call this 'Fred Talk'.

m-a-t mat

g-o-t got

f-i-sh fish

s-p-o-t spot

b-e-s-t best

s-p-l-a-sh splash.

The below video explains the process of teaching blending and Fred Talk.

//www.youtube.com/embed/dEzfpod5w_Q#t=0.5

Set 2

Now that your child knows all their single sounds, some simple 'special friends' and has learnt to blend simple words, they will now learn:

To read and recognise Set 2 Speed Sounds: ay ee igh ow oo oo ar or air ir ou oy
To read words containing these sounds.
Read a wider range of 'red words'. (Words that cannot be read using phonic skills e.g. the, to, great)
To read Pink, Orange and Yellow Storybooks, building speed and fluency.

Each sound is linked to a picture hook and a rhyme to help the children learn and remember the sounds.

Clear pronunciation of sounds is extremely important. This video will demonstrate how to say Set 2 sounds clearly. Start video from : 2:04.

//www.youtube.com/embed/TkXcabDUg7Q#t=0.5

Set 3

Your child is now growing in reading ability and confidence. In Set 3, they will learn to:

Read Set 3 Speed Sounds: ea oi a-e i-e o-e u-e aw are ur er ow ai oa ew ire ear ure
Read words containing these new sounds.
Read further 'Red words' that cannot be read using phonic skills.
Read Blue and Grey Storybooks with increasing speed.

Each sound is linked to a picture hook and a rhyme to help the children learn and remember the sounds.

The pronunciation of these sounds can be found near the end of the below video. Start video from : 2:32.

//www.youtube.com/embed/TkXcabDUg7Q#t=0.5