Phonics at Downton Primary School

How we teach reading and writing First of all we play lots of listening games – we have met Mr Croc who can only sound talk words. Next we teach children to read by teaching them the phonemes (sounds) that letters make. These are taught in a specific order which is not alphabetical so that children can begin to blend sounds right from the beginning.

s,a,t,p,i,n Sat Tap Pat Pin Tin Nap

What do we use to support learning? Song of sounds – share song, share powerpoint, share game example Games Magnetic letters Printing letters Reading books Guided reading Handwriting books / sand / paint / playdough Fun!

What do we send home? Initial sound cards – weekly Name cards Picture books – initially Library books –parent helpers Tag words - weekly Scheme books – can be changed up to 3 times a week, please sign green and pink books (Mon, Weds, Fri)

What can we do at home? Find a relaxing time at home that suits both you and your child. This time may be different in every family depending on your child. Practise name writing and letter formation Reading is designed to be a pleasure and not a chore! It is my desire to foster a love of reading in your child. Look closely at the pictures for clues about what the words might say and what is happening in the story. When reading, if your child gets stuck on a word, read it for them and then read the word again together. Doing this means you won’t interrupt the ‘flow’ of the story. You can return to the word together at the end of the page and try it again. Ask your child lots of questions about what is happening in the story to ensure they have understanding. If your child gets through a book very quickly, can you extend their reading? Can you think of a different ending to the story? Can you write a book review? Act out the story? Draw pictures of favourite characters? Use other books that you have at home or can get from the library. It is important for children to experience a range of texts to know that not all stories are about Kipper and Floppy the dog! Model reading to your child – if they see you reading they too will become much more interested in this activity. Reading is everywhere and is such an important life skill. Read everything! Road signs, shop names, newspapers, letters, emails, magazines and cereal boxes! Keep encouraging your child and praising their efforts, it is so exciting watching children come alive when they realise they can do it! 