Phonics and Reading
Phonics
At The Grange Primary School we use Sounds-Write to teach the children to read, write and spell using the sounds of language.
Sounds-Write teaches children:
- Letters are symbols (spellings) that represent sounds.
- Each sound may be represented (spelled) by a 1, 2, 3 or 4-letter spelling.
- The same sound can be spelled in more than one way (goat, slow, note, toe, over).
- Many spellings represent more than one sound (ea in read and bread).
The following skills are taught throughout the Sounds-Write program:
- Blending – the ability to push sounds together to build words (c-a-t = cat)
- Segmenting – the ability to pull apart the individual sounds in words (pig = p-i-g)
- Phoneme manipulation – the ability to insert sounds into words and delete sounds out of words. This skill is necessary to test out alternatives for spellings that represent more than one sound.
It is important to note that speed and accuracy need to be achieved for all three of the above skills in order for them to become automatic.
Oral blending and segmenting is taught in Nursery (Foundation 1) along with an emphasis on alliteration and initial sounds.
Home School Reading Books
We encourage our children to read three times a week at home. Children take home two books.
Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1:
- Book 1 – A book matched to specific sounds. This book focuses on sounds known to the child so they can consolidate their learning. This book is to be read aloud by the child.
- Book 2 – A book from the classroom library shelves. This book is to be read together with an adult to develop reading comprehension and a love of reading. There may be words and sounds in this book that are unfamiliar to the child.
Key Stage 2:
- Book 1 – A book that is matched to reading fluency and comprehension ability. This book is to be read by the child to develop their fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
- Book 2 – A book from the library or classroom library shelves. This book is to be read independently or shared with an adult to develop reading comprehension, knowledge of authors and genres and a love of reading.
Key Stage 2 pupils who are receiving specific phonics intervention:
- Book 1 – A book matched to specific sounds. This book focuses on sounds known to the child so they can consolidate their learning. This book is to be read aloud by the child.
- Book 2 – A book from the library or classroom library shelves. This book is to be read together with an adult to develop reading comprehension and a love of reading. There may be words and sounds in this book that are unfamiliar to the child.
Reading
We teach decoding accuracy and fluency using the Sounds Write phonics scheme to build a firm foundation with books specifically matched to the sounds the children are learning. Once children are proficient in the use of phonics, they become independent readers. We continue to provide children with books carefully matched to their reading fluency and comprehension ability right up to the end of Year 6.
Children read individually and within groups across school on a daily basis, as part of teaching across the curriculum, specific phonics or book talk sessions or interventions. Every classroom has a reading area to encourage children to develop an interest in reading where a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts are provided for children to choose from. E-books are also available to engage reluctant readers. Books linked to the topic of study at the time are included in displays and in the learning environments. Each class has a story or novel which is read on a daily basis.
Pupils have access to the school library where they may borrow books from a wide range of genres, which appeal to their interests. The library also has a selection of Dyslexia Friendly and larger print books.
We aim to promote a love of reading through engaging our pupils with a vast range of books and providing them with the necessary skills required to enjoy them. We also promote a love of reading through clubs, author visits, competitions and celebrating when the pupils read with rewards.
How Parents Can Support
- Use letter sounds rather than letter names with their children at home. This will avoid confusion for the children and will reinforce the learning being done at school.
- When listening to your child read encourage them to have-a-go at unfamiliar words by encouraging them to: “Say the sounds and read the word”.
- Avoid adding an extra vowel when pronouncing letter sounds eg ‘buh’ ‘duh’
- Visit the Sounds-Write website for further information, support and resources: http://www.sounds-write.co.uk/
Parent Reading Workshop
Please see the link below of a recorded parent reading workshop delivered by Sarah Tipler, Senior Development Officer Community and Family Engagement, North Lincolnshire Council.
It is about sharing the importance of reading to children and listening to children read.
Imagination Library
Free books for children from birth to five years
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a 60 volume set of books. Each month a new, carefully selected book will be delivered to your home and addressed to your child. Best of all it is a free gift! There is no cost or obligation to your family.
The programme is available across the whole of North Lincolnshire. All children from birth to five years who live in North Lincolnshire are eligible to register.
Please follow the link below to register your child.