Information and Documents

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.

Read Write Inc., developed by Ruth Miskin, provides a structured and systematic approach to teaching literacy/English. It is designed to create fluent readers, confident speakers and willing writers.

Each Read Write Inc. programme meets the higher expectations of the new curriculum and uses effective assessment to accelerate every child's progress.

Read Write Inc - Our Phonics Scheme

Synthetic phonics is simply the ability to convert a letter or letter group into sounds that are then blended together into a word.

At Christ the King, 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.

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

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'

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)

Write simple sentences

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 (shown further down the page).

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.

Reading Books Sent Home

Children in Reception who are learning the letter sounds and are not blending fluently will bring home sound sheets, picture books and a library book for you to read with them.

Once children can blend, they will bring home Ditty sheets or a red Ditty book, phonetically decodable home reader to match their reading level.

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. Their reading book will be available on Oxford Owl for them to access that week. The aim is for them to be able to read this book with increasingly fluency and expression and 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.

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.

Progression Documents

Should you wish to see these documents please contact Mrs Clayton who will happily discuss these with you.