Welcome to Autumn term 1

Read Write Inc - Phonics and Spelling

At Kneesall School we use the Read Write Inc. scheme for Phonics and Spelling. It is a very popular and successful literacy programme. Your child will learn to read in a very simple way. He or she will learn to:

1. Read letters by their ‘sounds’

2. Blend these sounds into words

3. Read the words in a story

The sounds are split into 3 sets and children read books that contain sounds that they have already learnt to enable them to build their confidence and therefore read more fluently. Fluency in reading is very important as it allows the children to focus on understanding what they are reading rather than having to focus on decoding to read.  

First, your child will learn to read:

•  Set 1 Speed Sounds: these are sounds written with one letter: m  a  s  d  t  i  n  p  g  o  c  k  u  b  f  e  l  h  r  j  v   y  w  z  x and sounds written with two letters  (your child will call these ‘special friends’): sh  th  ch   qu  ng  nk  ck

• Words containing these sounds, by sound-blending,  e.g. m–a–t  mat, c–a–t  cat, g–o–t  got, f–i–sh  fish,  s–p–o–t  spot, b–e–s–t  best, s–p–l–a–sh  splash

• Red, Green and Purple Storybooks.

Second, he or she will learn to read:

•  Set 2 Speed Sounds: ay  ee  igh  ow  oo  oo  ar  or   air  ir  ou  oy

•  Words containing these sounds

•  Pink, Orange and Yellow Storybooks.

Third, he or she will learn to read:

•  Set 3 Speed Sounds: ea  oi  a-e  i-e  o-e  u-e  aw   are  ur  er  ow  ai  oa  ew  ire  ear  ure

• Words containing these sounds

• Blue and Grey Storybooks.

Children will learn an associated phrase for each of the set 2 and 3 Speed Sounds to help to remember them. (Please see attached document below).

Each daily RWI lesson consists of a Speed Sound lesson, a chance to practise reading words from their current book, an independent read of the current book and a writing activity based on the book.

Once they have completed the learning for a RWI story book in school, they will bring the book home, along with another 'Book bag book' story book to read at home. 

The Oxford Owl website has loads of really useful resources to help you support your child:

https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/reading-schemes-oxford-levels/read-write-inc-phonics-guide/ 

In Year 1 the children take part in a Phonics Screening Check in the Summer term. A parents meeting and information sheet will be provided for Year 1 parents. If you have any questions please speak to Mrs Hudson, Mrs McMahon or Mrs Chase. 

In Year 2, when children have completed the RWI Phonics scheme and are reading more fluently, they move onto the RWI Comprehension scheme to continue to develop and deepen their understanding of texts.