Phonics

Mrs Innes

Y6 teacher, English Lead

Read Write Inc., developed by Ruth Miskin, provides a structured and systematic approach to teaching literacy. It is used by more than a quarter of the UK's primary schools and is designed to create fluent readers, confident speakers and willing writers.

Read Write Inc - Our Phonics Scheme

The Government strongly recommend the use of synthetic phonics when teaching early literacy skills to children. Synthetic phonics is simply the ability to convert a letter or letter group into sounds that are then blended together into a word.

Here at Newker Primary School, we are using the Read Write Inc (RWI) programme to get children off to a flying start with their English. RWI is a method of learning based upon letter sounds and phonics, and we use it to aid children in their reading and writing.

Reading opens the door to learning. A child who reads a lot will become a good reader. A good reader will be able to read more challenging material. A child who can read more challenging material is a child who will learn. The more a child learns, the more he or she will want to find out.

The children are assessed regularly and grouped according to their ability. They will work with a RWI trained teacher or teaching assistant.

Our Read Write Inc 'Reading Leader' is Mrs Innes.

To find out how Read Write Inc is developed in schools, please watch the following video:

How the Read Write Inc. phonics works - a parent/carer’s guide

Reading

When using RWI to read the children will:

• Learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple prompts
• Learn to read words using sound blending (Fred talk)
• Read lively stories featuring words they have learnt to sound out
• Show that they comprehend the stories by answering 'Find It' and 'Prove It' questions

To hear how the sounds are introduced when learning them, please watch the following video:

How to help your child learn the Read Write Inc. phonics sounds

Writing

When using RWI to write the children will:

• Learn to write the letter/letter groups which represent the 44 sounds
• Learn to write words by saying the sounds and graphemes (Fred fingers)

Talking

When using RWI the children will also work in pairs:

• To answer questions
• To take turns talking and listening to each other
• To give positive praise to each other

Blending

Help your child learn to read words by sounding-blending (Fred talk) eg. c-a-t = cat, sh-o-p = shop. Children learn to read words by blending the letter-sounds that are in the Speed Sounds set (see FAQs sheet).

Help your child to say the pure sounds ('m' not 'muh', 's' not 'suh' etc.) as quickly as they can, and then blend the sounds together to say the whole word.

For guidance on how to do this, please watch this video:

Read Write Inc. sound blending tutorial using phonics flashcards

Reading Books Sent Home

Children will bring home a RWI book, this is a book based at their current phonics level and a ‘book banded’ book – these could be Oxford Reading Tree, Collins Big Cat, Songbirds, Usbourne Readers or Maverick Early Readers. These are stories to encourage your child to apply their phonics knowledge, reading strategy skills and knowledge of ‘tricky’ and high frequency words.

Watch this short video to show you how to listen to your child read:

Parents: how to listen to your child read a Read Write Inc. storybook

Read Write Inc Books

Please encourage your child to read though the speed sounds page first, then the green and red words page and then check your child understands the meaning of words on the vocabulary check page, before they start reading the book. Your child will have read this book before they bring it home. They should be able to read this book with fluency and expression by the time they bring it home and they should have a good comprehension of what the book is about. At the back of the book are find it/prove it questions for you to do with your child.

Reading for Pleasure

Reading for Pleasure books are books that will be given out on a Friday and asked to be returned by a Wednesday. These are books that have been chosen by your child to be heard read by you at home. 

Finally, don't worry if your child is struggling at first with their sounds and words, they will get there in their own time. If you have time (we know it is very precious!), we would urge you to try and read stories to your child before they go to bed. This will help develop a wider vocabulary which makes a vast difference to their quality of writing but it will also encourage them to enjoy a good story.

For more information please ask your child’s class teacher, Mrs Innes or visit the links below:

https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/

https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/reading-schemes-oxford-levels/read-write-inc-phonics-guide/