Phonics

What is Phonics? Phonics is a strategy for teaching children how to read. Phonics is a strategy for teaching children how to read. Teaching children to learn the connections between letter patterns and the sound they represent. Teaching children to learn the connections between letter patterns and the sound they represent.

A phoneme A phoneme is a unit of sound. A phoneme is a unit of sound. There are approximately 44 units of sound There are approximately 44 units of sound hatcatflat trailbeadsheet

Blending and segmenting Segmenting is a skill that needs to be taught – it involves being able to break a word down into the units of sound Segmenting is a skill that needs to be taught – it involves being able to break a word down into the units of sound Blending involves blending the sounds that have been segmented back into a word Blending involves blending the sounds that have been segmented back into a word

Graphemes For each phoneme there are different ways of spelling it For each phoneme there are different ways of spelling it For example: the ay sound can be spelled in many different ways: For example: the ay sound can be spelled in many different ways: a_e ayaiaeigh Children have to be able to choose the right spelling for the word.

Reading The goal is to give children the strategies they need to read with fluency and skill Read certain words automatically Read certain words automatically Decoding, segmenting and blending in their heads Decoding, segmenting and blending in their heads Decode, segment and blend out loud Decode, segment and blend out loud

Letters and Sounds Letters and Sounds is a systematic way of teaching the 44 sounds and how to spell them Letters and Sounds is a systematic way of teaching the 44 sounds and how to spell them It is split into 6 phases which increase with difficulty. It is split into 6 phases which increase with difficulty. There is no set time at which a child should move onto a phase but roughly Letters and Sounds is to be used in Early Years and Key Stage 1 There is no set time at which a child should move onto a phase but roughly Letters and Sounds is to be used in Early Years and Key Stage 1 But is applicable to KS2 for children that don’t acquire the skills But is applicable to KS2 for children that don’t acquire the skills Letters and Sounds sets out activities and ideas to use to teach the various skills Letters and Sounds sets out activities and ideas to use to teach the various skills

Phases Phase 1 – is essentially about sound discrimination, listening and becoming used to hearing sounds and words Phase 1 – is essentially about sound discrimination, listening and becoming used to hearing sounds and words Phase 2 – this is where 19 specific sounds are begun to be taught and the skills of blending and segmenting. Mostly this are sounds represented by one letter but they are also taught: ck, ff, ss Phase 2 – this is where 19 specific sounds are begun to be taught and the skills of blending and segmenting. Mostly this are sounds represented by one letter but they are also taught: ck, ff, ss

Phase 3 In this phase 25 additional graphemes are taught. This means that children should be able to represent every sound with a spelling In this phase 25 additional graphemes are taught. This means that children should be able to represent every sound with a spelling A vowel digraph – is where two vowels are used together to represent a sound e.g. ai, ee, oa, A vowel digraph – is where two vowels are used together to represent a sound e.g. ai, ee, oa, A consonant digraph – is where two consonants are used to represent a single sound e.g. sh, ch, th, ng A consonant digraph – is where two consonants are used to represent a single sound e.g. sh, ch, th, ng

Phase 3 is where children learn to understand that two letters together represent one sound e.g. Phase 3 is where children learn to understand that two letters together represent one sound e.g.coindearnight

Phase 4 – Consolidation In this phase children are given the chance to practice the sounds they have learned in phases 2 and 3 In this phase children are given the chance to practice the sounds they have learned in phases 2 and 3 They continue to learn the skills they need to ‘sound out’ They continue to learn the skills they need to ‘sound out’

Phase 5 Children’s knowledge of graphemes and the sounds associated with them is extended Children’s knowledge of graphemes and the sounds associated with them is extended Children are also taught split vowel digraphs (no magic e) Children are also taught split vowel digraphs (no magic e)maketheselikehomerule

In this phase children are also taught how 1 grapheme can be read in different ways e.g. In this phase children are also taught how 1 grapheme can be read in different ways e.g. catcentimetre chinschoolchef

Phase 6 Children are confident readers Children are confident readers At this stage the rules of spelling are taught specifically At this stage the rules of spelling are taught specifically Children should be confident with the graphemes and their phonemes and apply them to spelling rules Children should be confident with the graphemes and their phonemes and apply them to spelling rules

Tricky Words Within all of these units are the tricky words. Those that are pains because they exist out of the rules and are not easy to read. Within all of these units are the tricky words. Those that are pains because they exist out of the rules and are not easy to read. These words MUST be learned by sight and the aim is for children to read them automatically without thought. These words MUST be learned by sight and the aim is for children to read them automatically without thought. wereheronesome

High Frequency Words There are a set of 100 high frequency words that children should also learn on sight. There are a set of 100 high frequency words that children should also learn on sight. Some of these may be easily decodable but occur so often in children’s reading that learning them automatically will make reading easier Some of these may be easily decodable but occur so often in children’s reading that learning them automatically will make reading easier

What is the Phonics Screening Check? All children in year 1 must take a test of their phonics knowledge. Those that don’t pass must take it again in year 2. We, as a school, must show what we have done to help children pass. We provide interventions for those children who struggled to pass the test. There are 40 words in the test. It is made up of real words and made-up words. The pass mark last year was 32.

Phonics is not the only way you become a good reader. Continue to read with your child regularly, practising phonics and also encourage them to: Check their reading makes sense and look at pictures. Ask questions about the book; Use the library. Encourage independence, allow children time to try. Encourage them to use their sounds and actions to find the sound they need. Children can practise their phonics by playing games online. Have fun with reading. How can you help?