Phonics
At Newington Academy we strive for all of our children to become fluent, confident readers who are passionate about reading. We use Read Write Inc to give our pupils the best possible start.
What is Read Write Inc?
Read Write Inc is a phonics complete literacy programme which helps all children learn to read fluently and at speed so they can focus on developing their skills in comprehension, vocabulary and spelling. The programme is designed for children aged 4-7. However, at Newington Academy we begin the programme in Nursery and will continue teaching RWInc to children beyond the age of 7 if they still need support in their reading.
RWInc was developed by Ruth Miskin and more information on this can be found at https://ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/.
How will Read Write Inc be taught?
All children are assessed regularly by our Read Write Inc assessment team so they work with children at the same level. This allows complete participation in lessons and enables all children to be taught at their own challenge point.
The children:
learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letters/letter groups using simple picture prompts – see below
learn to read words using Fred talk and sound blending
read from a range of storybooks and non-fictions books matched to their phonic knowledge
work well with partners
learn to write and form the letters/letter groups which represent the 44 sounds with the help of fun phrases
learn to write words by using Fred Talk
learn to build sentences by practising sentences out loud before they write
Fred Talk
We use pure sounds (‘m’ not’ muh’,’s’ not ‘suh’, etc.) so that your child will be able to blend the sounds into words more easily.
At school we use a frog called Fred who is an expert on sounding out words! We call it, ‘Fred Talk’. E.g. m-o-p, c-a-t, m-a-n, sh-o-p, b-l-a-ck.
How can you help at home?
Your child will start to bring books home when they are confident readers. Each week they will bring home a Book Bag Book linked directly to the Read Write Inc book they have shared in school. Please share the book, talk about the pictures and encourage your child to read. Please revisit this book so your child becomes really familiar with the words and in doing so their fluency will develop. If they need to sound out a word, that is fine. Please give lots of praise!
We ask the children to read at least three times a week. Books will be changed every Friday so that the children can have the opportunity to practise the skills that they have learnt over the week.
Here are some useful websites to help you to support your child at home with phonics;
A parent's guide to Read Write Inc
Ruth Miskin parent information