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Read Write Inc Phonics at Roding Primary School
At Roding Primary School we aim for all our children to become fluent, confident readers who are passionate about reading.
Children who read regularly or are read to regularly have the opportunity to open the doors to so many different worlds!
More importantly, reading will give your child the tools to become independent life-long learners.
We can achieve this together through:
- Read Write Inc, a program to help to your child read at school
- Encouraging children to develop a love of books by reading to them daily, at home and at school
- Giving children access to a wide range of books at school and at home
At Roding Primary School we use Read Write Inc Phonics (RWI) to give your child the best possible start with their Literacy development. We have put together a guide to how the RWI programme works together with some useful links.
What is Read Write Inc. Phonics?
Read Write Inc (RWI) is a phonics complete literacy programme which helps all children learn to read fluently and at speed so they can focus on developing their skills in comprehension, vocabulary and spelling. The programme is designed for children aged 4-7. However, at Roding, we will continue teaching RWI to children beyond the age of 7 if necessary, as we use a stage not age approach.
Click on the video below to find out more about Read Write Inc. Phonics
How will RWI be taught?
All children are assessed regularly by our Phonics Lead (Miss Fish). From these assessments they are grouped into stages so they work with children at the same stage. This allows complete participation in lessons.
Reading
The children:
- Learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letters/letter groups using simple picture prompts – see below
- Learn to read words using Fred talk and sound blending
- Read from a range of storybooks and non-fictions books matched to their phonic knowledge
- Work well with partners
- Develop comprehension skills in stories by answering 'Find It' and 'Prove It' discussion questions
Writing
The children:
- Learn to write and form the letters/letter groups which represent the 44 sounds with the help of fun phrases
- Learn to write words by using Fred Talk
- Learn to build sentences by practising sentences out loud before they write
Talking
The children:
- They work in pairs so that they:
- Answer every question
- Practise every activity with their partner
- Take turns in talking and reading to each other
- Develop ambitious vocabulary
Click on the video below to find out more about the daily phonics lessons
How do I say the sounds?
We use pure sounds (‘m’ not 'muh’ ’s’ not ‘suh’ etc.) so that your child will be able to blend the sounds into words more easily.
Click on the video below to find out more about how to say the pure sounds
What is Fred talk?
Fred can only say the sounds in a word and needs your child to help him read the word. Fred will say the sounds and children will work out the word. For example, Fred will say the sounds c–a–t, and children will say the word cat. This is Fred Talk: sounding out the word.
Click on the video below to see an example of blending sounds with Fred.
What are Alien words/ nonsense words?
As well as learning to read and blend real words children will have plenty of opportunities to apply their sound recognition skills on reading ‘Nonsense words’. These words will also feature heavily in the Year One Phonics Screening check in the summer term. These words provide endless opportunities for children to apply and practice their thinking in a range of different contexts.
What are red words and what are green words?
Within all the RWI sessions/books children will be exposed to red and green words to learn to help them to become speedy readers. Red words are words that are not easily decodable and challenge words to extend children’s vocabulary. Green words are linked to the sounds they have been learning and are easily decodable.
Dots and dashes represent the sound each letter makes.
What is the Year One Phonics Screening Check?
The Phonics Screening Check is a short, light-touch assessment to confirm whether individual children have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard. The check will be made up of real words and alien words. It will identify the children who need extra help so they are given support by their school to improve their reading skills.
Children who have not met the appropriate standard will be supported in order to retake the check in Year Two.
Click on the video below to find out more about the Phonics Screening Check
How can I help at home?
- Read daily with your child, pick out sounds in their stories, encourage them to sound out ‘Fred talk’ if they get stuck.
- Words they can’t sound out are called ‘red’ words, eg: said. Children just need to learn to recognise these with your help.
- Play sound games, fastest finger to the sound. Encourage your child to teach you the rhymes that go with the sounds.
- Fred talk: “Go and get your c-oa-t.”
- Use the website: www.phonicsplay.co.uk there are interactive games to practice the sounds the children are learning in school. Just choose the free ones, no need to subscribe.
- Make up ‘alien words’ with your child for fun, children love these, they could draw their own aliens to go with the words.
- Use the Oxford Owl website for free reading book resources! https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/home/reading-site/find-a-book/library-page?view=image&series=Read+Write+Inc.