English (Including Phonics)
“If a child memorised ten words, the child can only read ten words, but if a child learns the sounds of ten letters, the child will be able to read 350 three-sound words, 4,320 four-sound words, and 21,650 five-sound words.” – Dr. Martin Kozloff (2002)
Phonics Teaching at Kingshill Infant School
At Kingshill, we use Read, Write Inc Phonics by Ruth Miskin from Nursery to Year 2.
The Read Write Inc. phonics programme is for:
- Pupils in Nursery, Year R to Year 2 who are learning to read and write
In Read Write Inc. Phonics pupils:
- Understand what they read
- Read aloud with fluency and expression
- Write confidently, with a strong focus on vocabulary and grammar
- Spell quickly and easily by segmenting the sounds in words
- Acquire good handwriting
- In addition, we teach pupils to work effectively with a partner to explain and consolidate what they are learning.
Pupils are assessed every half-term and groupings are adjusted accordingly.
We group pupils homogeneously, according to their progress in reading rather than their writing. This is because it is known that pupils’ progress in writing will lag behind progress in reading, especially for those whose motor skills are less well-developed.
Our aim is for pupils to complete the phonics programme as quickly as possible. The sooner they complete it, the sooner they will be able to choose books to read at their own interest and comprehension level. Here is how we teach Read Write Inc:
- The Read Write Inc. ‘cycle of instruction’ is embedded across our curriculum – MTYT, TTYP. Pupils do not raise their hands to answer questions
- Close grouping in Phonics is maintained – pupils are moved on quickly
- The purpose of each activity is clear to both teachers and pupils
- Planning and marking is thorough
- In Phonics, pupils read books at home that closely match their word reading ability
- Teaching is monitored and teachers are coached weekly
- We use daily 1:1 tuition for those children who need to catch up quickly.
Further information about Read, Write Inc can be found using the following links:
Early Reading Guide and F&Qs:
Ten Top Tips For Reading Stories To Your Child:
Click To Download the Guide
Ruth Miskin Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/miskin.education
Free e-books for home reading:
http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/Reading/
Writing and Handwriting:
Children who finish the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme move on to the Essential Writing scheme as well as whole-class guided reading. These children also take home matched ability chapter books to read each week.
We follow the HfL Essential Writing scheme, a high-quality writing scheme which puts
high-quality texts, oracy and writing for pleasure at its heart. The scheme is planned so that children are always writing for a particular audience and purpose. We make skillful adaptations where necessary to enable all children to access the desired outcomes.
For handwriting, we follow the LetterJoin scheme.