27 th January 2016

 Application of phonics in writing  Old style testing was not successful  We wanted individualised spelling lists  We wanted children to feel successful and supported  We already had Read Write Inc. phonic programme in place.

 A programme designed for year 2 – 6 and meets demands of the new national curriculum 2014  Teaches spelling in short snappy 20 minute daily sessions  Engaging children – new concepts are introduced by aliens on an exciting online spelling planet  Records progress through pupil log books  Includes practice tests to build confidence prior to the statutory assessments

 The programme has a practice book, that the children work in, and a spelling log that the children can record individual words in. This will come home so you can practise these words with the children. The programme repeats a series of activities and games, that the children will become familiar with.  It has an online element so that the children are more engaged in the programme.  All children had initial activities to establish readiness for the programme. Also children needed to be reading at a certain level to be able to access the programme.  Mrs Bridegman has a spelling group, who are on a spelling programme that is revising some year 1 concepts. This is for the children who were not ready for the programme yet.

 The online element is called the spelling zone.  We visit the spelling zone each week and it has 3 different spelling characters.  We would like to show you this part of the programme

 Now take a look at a unit from the programme. An activity is completed after the spelling zone.  Dots and dashes – applying phonics by segmenting words.  Word changers – changing root words by adding prefixes or suffixes.  Words to log and learn – the children identify the words they are finding tricky from dots and dashes and word changers.

 Dictation is as it says, but is done as partner work. Each child takes turns to read a sentence from the back of their practice book and then they mark and correct it together.  Four in a row – a practising spellings game  Team teach – a group of 4 children have 10 red words to learn. One child takes the role of teacher calling out the words that the group try to spell. They then discuss tricky parts and come up with strategies to help them learn the words.

 Red words are part of the Read Write Inc. Programme. Your child has already learnt to read these words as part of their phonics lessons and sent home as keywords. They are also know as common exception words or ‘Tricky words’ as they are not easy to spell using phonics. These are the Year 1 and 2 words (Please see list in spelling logs)  We then move on to Orange words which are the same as red words but the year 3 and 4 or 5 and 6 word lists.

 Mneumonics  Words in words  Say it as it looks  A sticky letter  Rap it

 Jumping red words – a spelling game to practise the spelling of red words. The children then record spellings to learn in their log book.  Now it is time for you to have a go at improving your spelling of some tricky words!

 The children need to have them in school everyday and they will be kept in their book bags.  We only have 1 log book per child so they cannot be easily replaced if lost.  Talk to the children about the words in their log book and discuss strategies for learning them.  Ask them to practise spelling the words in their log and date and initial a word if they spell it correctly that day.

Please feel free to ask any questions or come and speak to us at the end if you prefer.