Supporting structured linguistic literacy at home with games and decodable reading books – by Clair Wilson This article was originally published in the January 2023 issue of Dystinct Magazine. Click here for free access to this issue until December 2024. Reading is one of the most important skills we want our children to learn. We […]
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I recently listened to a webinar by Dr Susan Brady and there some really important points I wanted to summarise for busy teachers. Focus what is supported by evidence to accelerate learning We are now racing against time to reverse the learning loss that took place over COVID. It is so important that we focus […]
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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 combination of letters that represent the 44 sounds of English fluency – ability to read with pace, […]
Read MoreIt is that time of year and although, in this COVID year everything seems subdued, we have the Christmas messages, wishes and advertising everywhere. Children will be busy writing lists for Santa and decorating Christmas cards. You just can’t escape the words ‘Merry Christmas’! This is a good opportunity for some ‘incidental phonics’ teaching. […]
Read MoreHere is our latest tutorial explaining the term ‘grapheme’. This tutorial is aimed at teachers, teaching assistants and parents helping children learn to read with phonics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsWtyKqpHko
Read MoreThe DfE has carefully approved and selected phonics programmes and resources for mainstream classrooms and ‘catch-up’ pupils according to strict synthetic phonics criteria. These are featured in the DfE Phonics Match-Funding catalogue. This follows the Jim Rose report that concludes that Systematic Synthetic Phonics is the best method of teaching children to read. Next we hear that the DfE has […]
Read MoreMany young children learn to sing the ‘A, B, C’ song in nursery or at home. This song teaches them the names and the order of the letters of the alphabet. This is a great way to store the alphabetic order of letters in our long-term memory. I still use the alphabet song when using […]
Read MoreAt last the much awaited Totem Series is out! Check out this new set of decodable books for older struggling readers. The idea here is to fill in the gaps that older pupils may have in their phonic knowledge. It has great illustrations and stories and it starts at CVC and CVCC level. There is also a really […]
Read MorePhonic phones are incredibly simple devices. They are a simple plastic tube that go from the mouth to the ear and allow the reader to hear the sounds they are making.
Read MoreSusan Godsland has posted a useful list of ten reasons why beginner readers should use only decodable books here (I have copied it in full below). What do you think?
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