1. PGCE Lecture Middlesex University
Systematic Synthetic Phonics

2. CONTEXT
The Rose Report: independent review of the teaching of early reading 2006 2

3. High quality phonic work as the first approach to reading.
Year 1 lecture introduction to the teaching of phonics
Recommendations
High quality phonic work as the
first approach to reading.
To foster speaking and listening skills.
To blend in order left to right through
HFW – discuss the ‘tricky bit’
the word.
There are statutory amendments to the National Curriculum
in En2 reading and the EYFS
Lorraine Singh November 2007 3

4. What is synthetic phonics?
It refers to an approach to the teaching of reading in which the phonemes (sounds) associated with particular graphemes (letters) are pronounced in isolation and blended together (synthesised).

5. What is systematic phonics instruction?
‘Phonics instruction is systematic when all the major grapheme-phoneme correspondences are taught and they are covered in a clearly defined sequence.’
Review into the Teaching of Early Reading
(2006: 17)

6. Year 1 lecture introduction to the teaching of phonics
Lorraine Singh November 2007 6

7. Rose report : key recommendations
The teaching of early reading should be contextualised within a broad and rich
multi-sensory language curriculum, i.e:
Varied opportunities to listen and talk
Quality reading experiences, i.e. being read to, sharing or independently reading from a range of reading materials, e.g. poetry, narrative, non-fiction.
A holistic view of learning that makes sensible links between subject areas.
Appropriate use of ICT.

8. Background Rose Review in the Teaching of Early Reading 2006
Changes in the statutory requirements of National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage to reflect new focus on phonics
Letters and Sounds resources sent to all schools 2007
Emphasis on systematic phonics teaching ( synthetic regarded as best approach)
Increasing attention on systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) as main teaching approach in early reading 2010
Government’s decision on a phonics screening check for 6 year olds 2010 ( pilot 2011 and rolled out 2012)
Change in criteria for phonics programmes 2010 now includes ‘decodable books’
New standards for Teachers (2012) includes ability to demonstrate a clear understanding of SSP.

9. The English language has 44 phonemes and 26 letters
A phoneme can be represented by one or more letters. E.g. t kn igh
The same phoneme can be represented (spelt) in more than one way. E.g. rain may lake
The same grapheme may represent more than one phoneme .E.g mean deaf field tried

10. Phonemes are represented
Alphabetic code
Phonemes are represented
by graphemes
The skill of
Blending
(synthesising)
READING
The skill of
Segmenting
SPELLING
C a t = cat
Cat = c a t
Blending and segmenting are reversible processes

11. The four principles of SSP
Learn grapheme/phoneme (letter/ sound) correspondences (the alphabetic code) in a clearly defined, incremental sequence (GPC);
Apply the highly important skill of blending (synthesising) phonemes, in order, all through a word to read it;
Apply the skills of segmenting words into their constituent phonemes to spell;
Blending and segmenting are reversible processes. 11

12. A segmenting activity
Segment these words into their constituent phonemes:
shelf
dress
thing
boat
eight
Answers on next slide 12

13. Segmenting shelf sh e l f dress d r ss thing th i ng boat b oa t eight
WORD
PHONEMES
shelf sh e l f
dress d r ss
thing th i ng
boat b oa t
eight
eigh
The grid shows the constituent phonemes.
Misunderstandings around segmenting can lead to incorrect teaching. 13

14. Phonic Terminology These terms can be used with children
Phoneme
Grapheme
Digraph
Split digraph
Trigraph
Blending
Segmenting

15. Support Resources
UniHub University resources ( Rose Review, planning templates and examples, Letters and Sounds Handbook, observation prompts)
Websites ( National Archives, )
Software ( Multimedia, Splash)

16. A phonics quiz What is a phoneme? What is oral blending?
What is a digraph/ Give an example.
How many ways to spell the /ie/ sound?
What is a grapheme?
What is a tricky word
What do the letters GPC mean?

17. Phonic Resource
Any programme that meets the criteria for high quality phonic work:
Jolly Phonics
Read Write Inc

18. Phase 1 in Letters and Sounds Summary
Distinguishing between different sounds e.g. environment, instruments, body percussion, speech.
Awareness and experimenting with speech sounds and words e.g. alliteration and rhymes.
Beginning to orally blend and segment phonemes.

19. Phase 2 in Letters and Sounds Summary
The start of systematic phonic work.
Introduction of the GPCs (grapheme-phoneme correspondences)
19 letters in 5 sets over 6 weeks
1st set is s a t p
Teaching a letter – hear it , say it and write it.
Blending and segmenting VC and CVC words.
Read high frequency words HFW
Also introduce two syllable words and captions

20. Phonological awareness