Reception children will soon be starting the Read Write Inc phonics programme.

Read Write Inc. Phonics teaches children to read accurately and fluently with good comprehension. They learn to form each letter, spell correctly, and compose their ideas step-by-step.

As the children learn each sound they will also be taught a rhyme to help them with the correct formation of each sound.

Once the children have learnt the first few sounds they will begin to learn how to blend the sounds together to read simple words. The children will begin by learning to read and write CVC (consonant/vowel/consonant) words e.g. dog, cat, mat, sip.

Sounds that can be blended together to form words are known as green words and sounds that cannot be blended together are known as red words, for example said, my, me, no.

Fred the frog helps us to blend the sounds together to read words, this is known as Fred talk. Fred always reminds us about the red words by saying

“You can’t Fred a red”

 

The children will typically learn between 3-4 sounds each week and will take home a piece of homework relating to each sound. Please return homework to school in the child’s blue book bag once completed.

 

Children will soon begin to take home reading books. These books are ‘Read Write Inc’ books and will directly relate to the sounds the children are learning.

All children will begin by taking home a book which contains just pictures and no words. This is to teach the children several techniques when reading:

• The correct way to hold a book
• Turning one page at a time
• Using the pictures to tell the story and to understand what the story is about
• Knowing that we read a book from left to right
• A story flows from front to back

 

Along with the reading book your child will have a reading record. This is a small blue book used to record what book each child has read and how often. Each time you read with your child please note it down in the record and write a comment describing how they read the book, this can be as simple as a smiley face. If you have any questions for the class teacher please write these in the comment section of the record.

An information sheet showing how to complete the reading record will be attached to this information sheet.

Blue book bags will be sent home every Monday and must be returned to school on Fridays. If your child does not have a blue book bag these can be purchased from school at a cost of £3.50.

Your child’s book bag will also contain a library book which has been chosen by your child in school to take home. This is a story to share at home together e.g. as a bedtime story. It is not a reading book to be read by your child. The library books will also need to be returned to school on Fridays so another book can be chosen and sent home on Monday.

Also, inside the book bag will be a Read and Rhyme book. This will contain a rhyme, poem or song relating to the activities we have been learning in school that week. This is an activity to share with your child.

 

Reception Team