All phonics programmes should have a ‘scope and sequence’ but what does this actually mean? ‘Scope’ means what you are teaching When teaching reading with systematic phonics, ‘scope’ means teaching the Alphabetic Code. English has 44 sounds and more than 175 spellings for those sounds. So, do we need to teach them all? Which are […]
Read MoreLearning to Read
Do kids need to read decodable books to become fluent readers?
Decodable books build ‘reading muscle’ – another great post from Spelfabet. If you are wondering why kids need to read decodable books in order to become fluent readers – here is the answer! All adults can find listening to beginner readers agonising and at times, it can be hard work for both the child and […]
Read MoreBack to school – where to start with readers having difficulties
Many children will have failed to reach their reading attainment last year due to missed school and the inevitable patchy learning during periods of lockdown. On top of that, we now have the ‘summer slump’ when pupils seem to have forgotten what they learnt, or do they just need a quick revision? As kids return […]
Read MoreWhat’s going on with ‘Letters and Sounds’?
The Department for Education has announced that is it ‘retiring’ the ‘Letters and Sounds’ programme which was published in 2007. In its place, it is asking publishers to submit their phonics programmes for revalidation. Initially, the DfE planned to update ‘Letters and Sounds’ but then decided to allow schools to create programmes, based on their […]
Read MoreWhat is phonemic awareness and why we should teach it
We know that phonological awareness is one of the 6 components of learning to read: phonological awareness – being able to identify sounds in words which includes syllables, rhyme, alliteration and phonemes. phonics – to recognise letters and combinations of letters that represent the 44 sounds of English fluency – ability to read with pace, […]
Read MoreHow to… teach blending
In our ‘how to…’ series we are going to delve into all things phonics instruction and give you our expert advice on developing confident readers. *** In her podcast, Evidence Based Education, Dr Tracy Alloway explains working memory as ‘your ‘active’ memory. The memory you use to work with information.’ She describes working memory as […]
Read MoreHow to teach using our Dragon Eggs series
See our Dragon Eggs series in action! A shining example of teaching with our Dragon Eggs Series… Observe how the reader practises decoding, but also encounters new words that develop vocabulary. Note the exemplary teaching: the teacher makes sure new words are explained and that decoding is accurate. This is a great example of the […]
Read MoreDecodable reading quest books for building fluency
The Dragon Eggs Series is a set of 10 decodable books that combine revision of those tricky vowel digraphs and an exciting, beautifully-illustrated quest with dragons in it! Designed to engage children and secure their Alphabetic Code knowledge and reading skills at the same time, this series is ideal for children who have just returned […]
Read MoreWhy the Phonics Check is not just for Year 1
I recently had a Zoom meeting with a Year 6 teacher who discussed how a number of his pupils were struggling with reading and he said he was using the Year 1 phonics check to assess them. This may seem odd, but is has never occurred to me that the Year 1 Phonics Check is […]
Read MoreWhat is a schwa sound?
What is a schwa sound? And, did you know it is the most common sound in the English language? A schwa sound is a weak vowel sound in an unstressed syllable. Here is an explanation: Most multisyllabic words in English are pronounced with a stress on one syllable. Take the word ‘chicken’ the stress in […]
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