Phonics

Oral Blending 

Blending individual sounds to form words is a vital skill for learning to read. Below, you will find a range of activities to help you and your child practice blending. We have included links so you can hear the correct pronunciation of the sounds and a video explaining what blending is. Additionally, there are links to websites with fun, interactive phonics games, alongside practical activities you can easily do at home. 

The sounds of the alphabet are being pronounced correctly, in line with how we teach them in school. This video is particularly helpful if you are unsure of how to say the letter sounds (not names).  Sounds of the English Phonic Code -Synthetic Phonics.wmv 

Here is a video which demonstrates how to blend. 

Phonics Blending Song CVC Words and More

Alphablocks is available on CBeebies, BBC iplayer and Youtube. Whilst the letters are on screen, they do a lot of blending within their stories. You may also find some alphablocks games on the CBeebies app. 

Teach your monster to read app

A fun and interactive app which teaches individual sounds and blending. 

Phonics Play 

On PhonicsPlay choose ‘Pick a Picture’ and Phase 2, then click on ‘New Word.’ If you say the sounds, ask your child what word you are trying to say. Ask them to choose the right picture. This game is accessible as part of the free access.

Game 1 - Pick A Picture 

Phonics Bloom 

Choose any set of sounds. If an adult says the sounds, the child can try and guess the word from the pictures. e.g. say t, i, n.

Game 1 -  Match Cards (Phase 2) - Online Phonics Game

Game 2  - Fishy Phonics (Phase 2) - Online Phonics Game

Practical activities

These are 5 minute quick ideas. 

You could always change this to your own name! Give instructions for your child to follow such as,  Simon says touch your h-ea-d,  Simon says show me your l-i-p,  Simon says s-i-t. Simon says tap your kn-ee.  Simon says be a c-a-t. Other words include h-i-p, f-oo-t, ar-m, h-o-p, j-u-m-p, d-o-g. 

I spy 

Collect some things from around the home, such as a pen, cup, ted, phone, fork, lid. Play I spy, but say the sounds for your child to hear the word. Eg, I spy, with my little eye, something with the sounds p-e-n.

Missing Item 

Collect some things from around the home, such as a pen, cup, ted, phone, fork, lid, coin. Sound talk all the objects eg c-oi-n, d-u-ck. Place a towel over the objects, ask your child to close their eyes or turn away. Pick up an object under the towel and reveal the remaining objects. Can they guess which object is missing? Sound talk the word. This game is great for boosting your child’s memory. You may wish to start with 4 objects and increase them as your child becomes more confident with the game.

Four corners 

We call it four corners, but you can extend this as you wish. Collect your objects as above and place them round the room (even better if you have space in the garden). Give your child an instruction such as touch the l-i-d, jump to the p-e-n etc…

Jump

Draw an object on separate pieces of paper (of chalk outdoors). Say a 

word in soundtalk for your child to jump on it, or to find. Objects you 

could draw, include pan, net, cat, dog, log, jug, web, mop,

Listen and Draw Game

This is a fun game to play with 2 people. The first person says a segmented word and the second person draws it. They can take turns to be the person segmenting or drawing.

Segment Words in a Treasure Hunt

How about setting your child a treasure hunt? You could challenge them to find different objects around the house or garden but segment the words into sounds.