This is an outline presentation on phonics which may be used with parents. Please amend it as necessary to meet the needs of your own school.

Aims of session: - To support parents in understanding how we teach phonics to how we teach phonics to children… children… - and how this impacts on the development of writing. development of writing.

Synthetic Phonics Our language system consists of 26 letters of the alphabet which are used to form the 44 phonemes. Our language system consists of 26 letters of the alphabet which are used to form the 44 phonemes. These phonemes can be written in over 120 combinations – for example, i-e side, ie pie, igh high, y fly. These phonemes can be written in over 120 combinations – for example, i-e side, ie pie, igh high, y fly. We use the Letters and Sounds programme to teach all the combinations by the time children leave Year 2. We use the Letters and Sounds programme to teach all the combinations by the time children leave Year 2.

Same sound, different letters MayMakePain

Same letters, different sounds Mean, bread Read, read Bow, bow Wind, wind

Phonics for reading Sounds (phonemes) and their letter (grapheme) are pronounced in isolation and blended together. For example c-a-t, g-ar-d-e-n,

Phonics for writing Words are segmented into sounds orally, and a letter (grapheme) written to represent each sound (phoneme). photograph of work phonetically spelt. photograph of work phonetically spelt.

Terminology Children are taught from the beginning to use phonic terminology that may be unfamiliar to us. A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound in a word. A grapheme is the letter, or letters, representing a phoneme. t ai igh t ai igh

Enunciation It is important that phonemes are articulated clearly. It is important that phonemes are articulated clearly. (This can bring challenges when taking local dialect into consideration). (This can bring challenges when taking local dialect into consideration). (get child to run through Jolly Phonics sounds)

Digraphs, Trigraphs and Split Digraphs Some phonemes have more than one letter. -Digraphs have two letters (sh, ck, th, ll) - A vowel digraph contains at least one vowel ai, ee, ar, oy vowel ai, ee, ar, oy -Trigraphs have three letters making one sound igh, dge sound igh, dge -A split digraph has two letters making the -A split digraph has two letters making the sound, but they are not adjacent, cake, (a- sound, but they are not adjacent, cake, (a- e), mine (i-e), pole (o-e). e), mine (i-e), pole (o-e).

Blending Blending is recognising the letter sounds in a written word, for example c-u-p, and merging or synthesising them in the order in which they are written to pronounce the word ‘cup’. Blending is recognising the letter sounds in a written word, for example c-u-p, and merging or synthesising them in the order in which they are written to pronounce the word ‘cup’.

Segmenting Segmenting is identifying the individual sounds in a spoken work (‘him’ h-i-m) and writing down letters for each sound to form the word. Segmenting is identifying the individual sounds in a spoken work (‘him’ h-i-m) and writing down letters for each sound to form the word.

Now it’s your turn… … Count the phonemes in the words, and place them in the appropriate place on the grid. … Count the phonemes in the words, and place them in the appropriate place on the grid.

How we teach phonics at xyz All children experience a daily lesson following the Letters and Sounds programme. This means that from very early in the Reception year, they begin to learn to read and write. All children experience a daily lesson following the Letters and Sounds programme. This means that from very early in the Reception year, they begin to learn to read and write. Teachers provide opportunities for them to practise and apply what they learn in other lessons. Teachers provide opportunities for them to practise and apply what they learn in other lessons.

How you can help your child Book sharing and playing games. Book sharing and playing games. Rhymes, chants and songs. Rhymes, chants and songs. Plenty of opportunities to talk and listen to develop language structures and vocabulary. Plenty of opportunities to talk and listen to develop language structures and vocabulary. Provide opportunities to mark-make. Provide opportunities to mark-make.

When writing begins to take the form of letters Continue to provide opportunities to write. Continue to provide opportunities to write. Correct letter formation. Correct letter formation. Tripod grip – froggy legs. Tripod grip – froggy legs. (examples of progression) (examples of progression)

Phonics is a means to an end, not an end in itself. It starts the car, but it doesn’t drive it out of the garage! You teach phonics so that the children can use if for reading and writing.