1. Welcome to
Phonics for Parents

2. ? ? ? ? ? Don’t be afraid! Please feel free to ask any questions as we
go along. ? ?

3. What is phonics?
Phonics is a method of teaching reading and writing where children are systematically taught the relationships between the sounds (phonemes) in our language and the letters (graphemes) used to represent those sounds.
Once children have been taught which sounds are linked to which letters they are able ‘crack the code’ and can confidently have a go at reading and writing anything.

6. At St Joseph’s we use a systematic phonics programme called Letters and Sounds.
Letters and Sounds is divided into six phases, with each phase building on the skills and knowledge of previous learning.
There are no big leaps in learning. Children have time to practise and rapidly expand their ability to read and spell words.
They are also taught to read and spell ‘tricky words’, which are words with spellings that are unusual or that children have not yet been taught.

7. Reading together Playing with sounds Nursery Rhymes “I spy” Phase 1
Nursery/Reception
Activities are divided into seven aspects, including environmental sounds, instrumental sounds, body sounds, rhythm and rhyme, alliteration, voice sounds and finally oral blending and segmenting.
Reading together
Playing with sounds
Nursery Rhymes
“I spy”

8. Phase 2
Reception
Learning 19 letters of the alphabet and one sound for each. Blending sounds together to make words. Segmenting words into their separate sounds to spell them. Beginning to read simple captions.

9. Phase 3
Reception
The remaining 7 letters of the alphabet, one sound for each. Graphemes such as ch, oo, th representing the remaining phonemes not covered by single letters. On completion of this phase, children will have learnt one grapheme for each phoneme in the English language.

10. By the end of their first year in school, most children are
able to read and write most
phase 2 and 3 graphemes
and words containing them.

13. SEGMENTING and BLENDING
Blending is saying the phonemes in a word one after another to read.
Segmenting is breaking a word down into individual phonemes in order to spell. in
sat
dog h u ff d u ck

14. w ai t h igh m ar k e t sh ear s i ng er wait high market shear singer
HOW MANY PHONEMES?
wait
high
market
shear
singer w ai t h
igh m ar k e t sh
ear s i ng er

15. chip
shop
moon
barn
scarf
coin
night
train
queen
flower
form
ring
chair
cow
this
curl

16. Phase 2
Phase 3
Some words are decodable and can be segmented and blended.
Some are ‘tricky’ words that can’t
be sounded out. They just have to be
learnt by sight.

17. Phase 4
Children entering Phase Four should be able to read most Phase 2 and 3 graphemes. They should also be able to blend phonemes to read CVC words and segment CVC words
for spelling. They should also know letter names and be able to read and spell some tricky words. Phase 4 is usually started in Reception and completed in Year 1.

18. Words using Phase 3 graphemes
CVCC words
Words using Phase 3 graphemes
Polysyllabic words
went
gift
fund
camp
gust
hand
next
milk
chick
boast
fish
turn
spoon
paint
joint
theft
softest
shelter
giftbox
shampoo
chimpanzee
helper
melting
seventh

19. said so have like some come were there little one do when out what
High Frequency Words
Children learn to read:
said so have like some come were there little one do when out what
Children learn to spell:
he she we me be was you
they all are my her

21. Alternative graphemes
Some phonemes can be written in more than one way. For example, ee (bee), ea (tea), y (mummy), ey (key), eigh (Kayleigh), i (Mischa) and e_e (theme) are all different ways of writing (graphemes for) the ‘ee’ sound.

22. Alternative Pronunciations of Known Graphemes
i fin, find
ow cow, blow
y yes, by, very
o hot, cold
ie tie, field
ch chin, school, chef
c cat, cent
ea eat, bread
ou out, shoulder, could, you
g got, giant
u but, put
a hat, what

23. Pronunciation Support
Year 1 Phonics Check
Pronunciation Support

24. How do we teach phonics? • Daily for twenty minutes.
• Revisit/Review – Teach – Practise – Apply
• fast paced, engaging lessons.

25. How can I support my child at home?
Make time for school reading – feel free to help children with words they are stuck on but always give them time to have a go!
Practise Phase 2, 3 or 5 sounds briefly every night (see booklet).
As soon as your child has learnt a phoneme, they should be encouraged to practise using it in reading, writing and spelling words.

26. Quick write against the clock
Ideas
Word making
Sound talking
Shopping lists/
notes
Digraph spotter
Mummy says…
Quick write against the clock
How many phonemes/
words can
you read in minute?
Word hunts

27. Most importantly… Let your child see you enjoying reading and writing.
Little and often is best.
You don’t have to spend lots of money on things.
Ask your child’s teacher how you can help at home.
Use lots of praise and encouragement.
Make a special time and place for reading together.
Have fun and enjoy it!

28. My child doesn’t want to read or write!
Don’t panic, get cross or try to force your child to do work outside of school.
Try to get into a routine where work is done at a certain time each day.
Try asking ‘when would you like to practise your sounds?’ or ‘would you like to do your reading before or after tea?’
Even a minute is better than nothing! Try using a timer so your child knows that they are only working for a limited time.
Bribery isn’t effective in the long term but lots of praise or a sticker in their reading record can go a long way.
If you are still having trouble, speak to your child’s teacher who will be able to support you and discuss the matter with your child.

29. Thank you for
coming.
Any questions?