When asked how they teach reading, many teachers pride themselves that they are teaching ‘balanced literacy’ in their classroom. This idea seems to imply that they are covering all the approaches their pupils may need to learn to read. But what is ‘balanced literacy?’ Can it be defined or measured? Read this article by Professor […]
Read MoreSynthetic Phonics
Should ‘alien words’ be part of the Year 1 Phonics Check?
It is that time of year again and the Year 1 Phonics Check is looming. It will take place this year during the week commencing June 12th. There had been a lot of criticism about the check in general but specifically about the nonsense, ‘alien words’ in the check that children are asked to decode. […]
Read MoreQuestions about the efficacy of phonics
If you are not convinced that phonics works for everyone or feel that you have tried it and still some of your pupils struggle – here are answers to often held views about teaching to read with synthetic phonics. Professor Pamela Snow addresses each argument. http://pamelasnow.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/the-story-of-ugly-duckling-aka-phonics.html
Read MoreIt’s time all teachers had a good grasp of synthetic phonics
Five years after the introduction of synthetic phonics into classrooms, it is time that teachers made it their business to have a good understanding of synthetic phonics and what science tells us about effective ways to teach reading. Read this short article on the Phonics Blog by Mike Lloyd-Jones. http://www.phonicsblog.co.uk/
Read MoreShould we teach tricky words as ‘sight words’?
The new year has started and children are sent home to learn to read and spell tricky words by sight, that is by the shape of the word. Does this make sense if they are learning to read with Synthetic Phonics? Read this thoughtful post on the Phonics Blog. http://www.phonicsblog.co.uk/#/blog/4565770755/Common-Exception-Words-and-the-Muddle-over-Tricky-Words/7631625
Read MoreReading strategies – what not to do
Here is a list of strategies that do not help children become fluent, independent readers and spellers. http://www.dyslexics.org.uk/what_not_to_do.htm Thanks Susan Godsland of www.dyslecix.org.uk for this post.
Read MoreWhy we need to teach letter sounds first
Many children come to their first year of school knowing their letters names. This is because nursery schools and parents teach the ABC song. They enter Reception and the teacher introduces the letter sounds alongside the letter names. For many this is very confusing. When teaching reading we are try to get our pupils to recognised […]
Read MoreMulti-tasking makes you stupid
Here is an interesting post from Spelfabet that explain how looking for lots of reading cues distracts from decoding. http://www.spelfabet.com.au/2015/06/attention-during-learning/
Read MoreEverything you need to know about the Phonics Check
If you have questions about the validity of the Y1 Phonics check and its purpose – look no further. Click here: http://www.dyslexics.org.uk/assessments.htm
Read MorePhonics – is there much evidence?
For those who have questions about the evidence that phonics works.
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