Read, Write, Inc

What is Read Write Inc?

Read Write Inc (RWI) is a phonics based 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.

RWI 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?

Children will be taught to:

• Decode effortlessly

• Spell and handwrite with ease

• Read with fluency and expression

• Comprehend what they read

• Write confidently using oral rehearsal

• Work effectively with a partner to articulate their learning at every step.

Reading

The children:

• learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letters/letter groups using simple picture prompts

• 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

• develop comprehension skills in stories by answering 'Find It' and 'Prove It' discussion questions 

Writing

The children:

• 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  

Talking

The children work in pairs so that they: 

• answer every question 

• practise every activity with their partner 

• take turns in talking and reading to each other 

• develop ambitious vocabulary

Five key principles underpin the teaching in all Read Write Inc. sessions:  

Purpose – know the purpose of every activity and share it with the children, so they know the one thing they should be thinking about

Participation – ensure every child participates throughout the lesson. Partnership work is fundamental to learning

Praise – ensure children are praised for effort and learning, not ability

Pace – teach at an effective pace and devote every moment to teaching and learning

Passion – be passionate about teaching so children can be engaged emotionally.

Spelling with Fred Fingers

Your child will learn to spell using their ‘Fred Fingers’. They will be encouraged to ‘push’ the sounds onto their fingers to help them hear the sounds in the word for spelling.

Each finger represents one sound:

c-l-ay – 3 sounds for spelling

f-r-igh-t – 4 sounds for spelling

Alien words

Alien words are ‘nonsense words’ that the children must carefully FRED talk and blend to read the word. This is to show that they can apply their phonic skills to unfamiliar words. ‘Nonsense words’ are an important part of the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check taken at the end of Year 1.

For example: froyg (f-r-oy-g) zewpy (z-ew-p-y)

Red Words:

Red words are sometimes known as ‘common exception words’ or ‘tricky’ words. These are words that children will need to learn on sight because they contain parts that are not decodable. For example the word 'the' could be decoded as 'theh', but children must learn the correct pronunciation and spelling. Some of the red words are only tricky until a specific sound is learnt or because people pronounce them differently in different parts of the country.