Phonics at home

What is Phonics?
 
Phonics is a way of teaching children to read quickly and skilfully.
Children taught to:
* recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes;
* identify the sounds that different combinations of letters make - such as ‘sh’ or ‘oo’; and blend these sounds together from left to right to make a word.
 
Children can then use this knowledge to ‘de-code’ new words that they hear or see. This is the first important step in learning to read.
 
Phonics involves breaking words into separate phonemes that can be blended together to read a word. It teaches children how to pronounce all 44 phonemes.It teaches children how to segment words into phonemes to spell a word, and blend phonemes together to read a word.
 
Research shows that when phonics is taught in a structured way – starting with the easiest sounds and progressing through to the most complex – it is the most effective way of teaching young children to read.
They can then go on to read any kind of text fluently and confidently, and to read for enjoyment. 
Ideas for helping with phonics at home.
 
 
Talk to your child about the letter and sounds they are learning at school ( see individual class pages for the most recent infomation on these)
 
For help with pronunciation see Kingfisher and Penguin Class pages
 
Encourage you child to learn Nursery Rhymes - rhyming is an important skill for recognising spelling patterns.
 
Play I-Spy: once your child has guessed the word, ask them what the middle or end sounds of the word.
 
Play letter bingo: this is a great way to ensure your child linksthe written form to the sound. 
 
Read to and with your child.
 
Read whilst your child is around so that they know reading is cool.
 
When you are out choose a letter e.g. 'r' and find as many things as you can with your chosen letter - great for in shops too.
 
Check out some websites - some are listed below
 
www.phonicsplay.co.uk
 
www.literacytrust.org.uk
 
www.oxfordowl.co.uk
 
www.educationcity.com ( may be a subscription charge)
 
 http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/