Phonics

At Strawberry Fields, we teach phonics using a multi-sensory, linguistic phonics programme called Sounds-Write.

Sounds-Write is a highly structured, incremental and code-orientated, instructional approach to teaching children to read and spell. Its structure and simplicity makes it a programme accessible to all learners and helps them to make excellent progress with their reading and spelling.

The four key concepts children are taught are:

1. Letters are symbols that represent sounds

2. Sounds can be spelling using 1, 2, 3 or 4 letters

3. The same sound can be spelled in different ways

4. The same spelling can represent different sounds

The three key skills children need to master are:

1. Blending

2. Segmenting

3. Phoneme Manipulation

Children in Foundation Stage begin with the Initial Code in the first few weeks of September where they practise all three key skills whilst learning the 1:1 sound-spelling correspondences and securing their understanding of key concept 1 - Blending.

At first, children learn to read and write one syllable words with a CVC structure. Complexity of word structure systematically builds up so that children apply their code knowledge to monosyllabic words with up to 6 sounds.

Initial Code - Sound Pronunciation

It is vital that our children say the sounds correctly. Listen to Alex, pronouncing the sounds in the Initial Code correctly.
Notice that he says 'mm' not 'muh'
Remember 'muh' has two sounds 'mm' and 'uh'

Once the Inital Code has been mastered, children continue to practice all three key skills whilst learning the Extended Code which explores key concepts 2, 3 and 4. The learning of the Extended Code is a lifelong process - we all continue to develop our understanding of this code whenever we encounter new words. This is why we are currently taking Sounds-Write through into Year 3 and 4.

Whilst learning the Extended Code, children read and write monosyllabic and polysyllabic words at an age-appropriate level.

Extended Code in Practice

Children in Foundation Stage and Key Stage One have a 30 minute Sounds-Write session every day at 9am. This is in addition to their English lessons. Children in Year 3/4 have a 20 minute Sounds-Write lesson three times a week focussing on polysyllabic words and etymology.

We encourage all of our parents to access the free Sounds-Write online courses for parents so that they are well-informed about how best to support their children with their reading.

https://www.udemy.com/user/54e5c34e6b89b/

and

https://www.udemy.com/course/help-your-child-to-read-and-write-part-2/