Phonics and Reading

Phonics & Reading at St Michael’s
Name of Lead: Miss Gannon

“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” - Victor Hugo

Intent

At St Michael's we believe that every child matter’s and that every child should be given the opportunity to be taught the skills to first ‘learn to read’ and then ‘read to learn.’ Here at St Michael's we are enthusiastic, passionate and dedicated in ensuring that all children become confident, motivated and enthusiastic readers. We aim to develop and enhance children’s confidence in their reading, so they can acquire the skills to decode words to be able to read fluently with understanding of what they have read. We consider phonics provides the foundations of learning to make the development into fluent reading and writing easier. We believe this is achievable through a combination of strong, high quality, discrete phonics teaching taught through Read Write Inc, combined with a whole language approach that promotes a ‘Reading for Pleasure’ culture.

Supporting you child at home with phonics:

From Monday 23rd March there will be Read Write inc live lessons via YouTube and facebook for children to watch at home. There will be three short speed sound lessons with a Read Write Inc trainer every day for the next two weeks. The videos will only be available from:

• Set 1 Speed Sounds at 9:30am and again at 12:30pm.
• (initial sounds - m, a, s, d, t, i, n, p, g, o, c, k, u, b, f, e, l, h, sh, ck, r, j, v, y, w, th, z, ch, qu, x, ng, nk).

• Set 2 Speed Sounds at 10:00am and again at 13:00pm.
• (ay, ee, igh, ow, oo, oo, ar, or, air, ir, ou, oy) 

• Set 3 Speed Sounds at 10:30am and again at 13:30pm
• (ea, oi, a_e, i_e, o_e, u_e, aw, are, ur, er, ow (brown cow), ai, oa, ew, ire, ear, ure, tion, tious/cious) (addtional sounds - (kn, ue, ie, au, ph & wh).

The films will be streamed live and will not be available at other times.

There will be a film of a poem for Reception and Year 1 children at 2pm everyday on YouTube (these will be available to watch again)

Films for parents

Films for parents to help your child to learn to read at home with Read Write Inc Phonics are available on the Read Write Inc website and Read Write Inc YouTube Channel. There will also be a parent film added to Facebook every day too.

Click the links below to find the YouTube Channel and Read Write Inc Website.

How to say the sounds:

Please find links to phonics sites which include games you can play with your child at home.

Year 1 Phonics Screening Test information for parents.

The Year 1 Screening Check

The phonics screening test is a short assessment to see if children have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard. It will identify the children who need extra help so they are given support by their school to improve their reading skills.

Remember, it is important to read with your child every day.