Phonics

Please email    zebras@straits.dudley.sch.uk   if you have any questions.

The link below will take you to our school phonics page which contains videos and information on how you can support your child with their phonics learning.

My child cannot read the book. What can I do?

Any books that are not yet decodable for the children will be a sharing book. These books are there for you to read with your child, helping us to instil a love of reading. These could be read together, with your child reading the words they are able to decode or could be read to your child.

We need to read the book 4 times a week. How should I do this?

It is a key part of learning to read that children re-read words and sentences that they can decode (sound out) until they are fluent (read with ease and precision). By reading texts several times children have the greatest opportunity to achieve this fluency.

The following steps are a suggestion of how you could make the four reads slightly different and more interesting to your child: 

First read

Focus on understanding and enjoying the book. 

Second read

Encourage fluent sounding out and blending. 

Third read

Word Sparks: Look in more detail at the focus words (underlined words)

Hero Academy: Look at Developing vocabulary section on the inside of the front cover 

Alien Adventure: Look at Challenge words section on the inside of the front cover

Fourth read

Read the book with increasing fluency.

My child is a confident reader and can read the book fluently. What else can I do?

1. Investigate the book looking for words with the focus sound in. For example in the book The Red Tent packs rocks bucket stuck all contain the focus sound ck 
2. Look at the information printed on the inside of the front and back cover of the book for comprehension questions and activity ideas.
3. Create a picture or craft in relation to the book.
4. Link it to real life if you can or act it out together.
5. Visit the library.