Phonics and Early Reading
Reading and Phonics at Great Malvern Primary School
At Great Malvern Primary School we teach reading in many different ways, but our main focus is synthetic phonics. Phonics is an approach to teaching reading and spelling that enables a child to identify, blend and segment the individual 'phonemes' or sounds that combine to form words.
The term synthetic phonics refers to the direct, systematic and usually swift teaching of the phonic code; blending for reading and segmenting for spelling. The materials and resources that we use to do this are from the phonics programme Read, Write Inc. The children learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letters/letter groups using simple picture prompts and rhymes. These sounds enable children to initially blend the sounds together to read.
In Read, Write Inc. we use pure sounds (‘m’ not’ muh’,’s’ not ‘suh’, etc.) so that your child will be able to blend the sounds into words more easily.
Please see the following video clips to support with pure sounds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEzfpod5w_Q
Watch this clip to hear the sounds:
When using RWI to read the children will:
- learn that sounds are represented by written letters
- learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple picture prompts
- learn how to blend sounds
- learn to read words using Fred Talk
- read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out
- show that they comprehend the stories by answering questions.
When using RWI to write the children will:
- learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent 44 sounds.
- learn to write words by saying the sounds in Fred Talk
- write simple sentences
We use the same phonics programme across the school providing continuity and a vehicle for guaranteed progression.
Pupils are taught in ability groups in Year 1 and Year 2 thus enabling them to be taught according to their reading level not their age. Teaching is very precise and tailored to the needs of each child irrespective of year group.
Our Read Write Inc. Leader is Mrs Dudman. If you have any queries or would like to discuss our phonics programme further, please do not hesitate to ask.
For further information please click on the link below:
