How we teach phonics

Phonics is a way of teaching children to read and write by blending and segmenting individual sounds. Every letter and different combinations of letters make particular sounds for example the letter ‘s’ makes a hissing like a snake. At Hannah More we follow the Letters and Sounds Programme of teaching which is split into 6 phases that systematically build on skills and knowledge of previous learning. Alongside Letters and Sounds we use Jolly Phonics actions for learning sounds and use rhymes from Read Write Inc. to help develop letter formation. See the pictures below for these.

Children throughout Reception and Key stage 1 take part in daily phonics sessions. These sessions focus on key reading skills such as decoding to read words and segmenting the sounds in a given word to spell. During Phonics lessons we also teach children to read and write ‘tricky words’ also known as ‘sight words.’ These are words that you cannot sound out and children are just expected to remember how to read and write.  See the list below for these.

At Hannah More Primary School, we are also using phonics sessions to develop vocabulary by ensuring words are given a context and visual aids are provided to promote understanding of new language. Additionally, when we are revisiting sounds, words get progressively more challenging in order to continuously expand our children’s vocabulary. Phonics sessions also promote reading for meaning by including an activity where children have to assess whether a statement is true or false.

Key terms we use in our teaching:

Digraph – two letters make one sound (e.g. sh, ch, ai, ea, ou, ow).

Trigraph – three letters make one sound (e.g. igh, ear, air, ure).

Split digraph – two letters make one sound but the letters have been split apart by another letter.

Phoneme – a single unit of sound

Grapheme – a written letter, or group of letter that represent a sound.

Consonants – b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z

Blend – to put or merge the sounds together to make a word (e.g. the sounds d-o-g are blended to the word ‘dog’.)

Segment – to break down the word into its individual sounds to spell (e.g cat can be split into the sounds c-a-t.).

Sound buttons – ways of visually isolating different sounds in a word. We use a dot under letters where one letter makes one sound and a line understand digraphs or trigraphs.

How you can help at home

  1. Reading every night at home with your child

Every week each child will be sent home a phonics decodable book at their reading level (these have coloured bands). Read these with your child and ask them questions about the story.

  1. Practise reading and writing tricky words

If children know these they are more likely to gain speed and fluency in their reading. See the list above.

  1. Practising your children’s handwriting

It is important children are forming their letters the correct way round. You can use this video with your child to help you.  

  1. Log into Bug Club

Every child in school also has a bug club log in which gives you access to interactive phonetical books and games. Ask your teacher if you need these details again.

  1. Phonics Games. See the links below.

Other Useful links:

http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UapRIdsWvpc&t=337s

https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/Phase3Menu.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVycZ8257uo

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Contact us

0117 9039936
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Hannah More Primary School, New Kingsley Road, St Philips, Bristol, BS2 0LT

    

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