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PHONICS

KEY STAGE 1 PHONICS

At Maltby Lilly Hall Academy we use the Read Write Inc. Phonics Programme produced by Ruth Miskin.  Read Write Inc Phonics teaches children to read accurately and fluently with good comprehension. They learn to form each letter, spell correctly, and compose their ideas step by step. Read Write Inc. Phonics is focuses on learning the sounds of the letters (phonics), and blending them together to read words.  The children also learn to break down words into individual sounds in order to write them. We then introduce the children to books which they can decode using their current phonic knowledge.  We regularly assess their phonic skills to ensure the books they are reading at the right level of challenge.

Understanding Phonics

https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/#lg=1&slide=0 

What is Read Write Inc. Phonics?

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Reading

Children learn the English alphabet code: first they learn one way to read the 40+ sounds and blend these sounds into words, then learn to read the same sounds with alternative graphemes.

When using 'Read Write Inc' to read the children will:

  • Learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple picture prompts
  • Learn to read words by blending the sounds together
  • Read lively stories featuring words they have learnt to sound out
  • Show that they understand the stories by answering 'Find It' and 'Prove it' discussion questions

Writing

The children write every day, rehearsing out loud what they want to say, before spelling the word using the graphemes and 'red' words they know. They practise handwriting every day: sitting at a table comfortably, they learn correct letter formation and how to join letters speedily and legibly.

When using 'Read Write Inc' to write the children will:

  • Learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent the 44 sounds (graphemes)
  • Learn to write words by sounding them out and then writing the corresponding graphemes
  • Learn to write simple and then increasingly complex sentences

Talking

When using 'Read Write Inc' the children work in pairs to:

  • Answer questions to practise every activity
  • Take turns talking to each other
  • Give positive praise to each other

Blending

Children learn to read words by blending the letter-sounds that are in Speed Sound sets- e.g c-a-t = cat. We ensure that children are taught to say the pure sounds which enables them to blend the sounds together to say a whole word.

How to say the sounds

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Reading Books

At the start of Foundation 2 children are taught how to blend. Once children are confidently blending they will receive a ditty or red book to take home each week. This book will be taught during the daily phonics sessions in school and the children will be familiar and confident with reading it at home independently. Children will also receive a Read Write Inc. Book Bag Book that is matched to the child’s phonic knowledge. In KS1 children will continue to receive a Read Write Inc. book each week that has been taught in the phonics session and matched to their phonic ability.

Why read to your child?

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For more information about the Ruth Miskin Read Write Inc. Phonics programme and ways that you can support reading at home please follow the link below.

https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/

Phonics Screening

At the end of Year 1 pupils will undergo their phonics screening check which consists of 40 words that will be a mixture of real and nonsense words (also known as alien words). Alien words can be made up of any of the phonemes taught and be put together in any sequence. 

The Phonics Screening Check

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