Helping your child to learn to read is important now and forever! Here is some extra guidance on using phonics at home. 

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

This link adds even more detail and provides the opportunity to translate reources into different languages! 

Sounds

In the Read Write Inc scheme, the children will work through a 3 sets of sounds. Set 1 which is initial sounds and the beginning of Special Friend Diagraphs (two letters one sound), Set 2 where Special Friends continue and Set 3 with Diagraphs, Trigraphs and Split Diagraphs. 

Set 1 

Set 1 sounds are the single letter sounds as well as five set 1 special friend sounds (two letters that make one sound – digraphs). They are taught in the following order;

m, a, s, d, t, i, n, p, g, o, c, k, u, b, f, e, l, h, sh, r, j, v, y, w, th, z, ch, qu, x, ng, nk

Set 2

There are 12 Set 2 ‘speed sounds’ that are made up of two or three letters which represent just one sound, e.g.  ay as in play, ee as in tree and igh as in high. When children are taught Set 2 sounds they will learn:

• a simple picture prompt linked to the sound
• a short phrase to say e.g. may I play
• the letters that represent a sound (special friends) e.g. ay

Each sound has a list of green words linked to it, so that the children have the opportunity to sound out and blend words containing the new sound they have been taught, for example, s-p-r-ay = spray.  Green words are decodable words that children can use their ‘Fred Talk’ to sound out and blend. They feature the sound that the children have been learning that day.  In a phonics lesson, children cover up to 5 or 6 new green words to support their reading of a new sound. 

 

Set 3

When learning Set 3 speed sounds the children will be taught alternative sounds/graphemes, e.g. ee as in tree and ea as in tea. 

 

Pronouncing the sounds carefully

Ensuring that you pronounce the phonics sounds clearly will enable your child to blend sounds and read words more quickly. We use pure sounds (‘m’ not’ muh’,’s’ not ‘suh’, etc.)

At school we use a puppet called Fred who is an expert on sounding out words! We call it, ‘Fred Talk’. E.g. m-o-p, c-a-t, m-a-n, sh-o-p, b-l-a-ck. 

 

Speaking like Fred helps children to understand that words are made up of sounds. Use Fred Talk throughout the day to help children practise blending sounds together. This step is vital preparation for children being able to hear and blend sounds when it comes to reading words.

Here is a link to help with all things RWI when looking at sounds and reading. There is more specific links in the following section also https://www.youtube.com/@RuthMiskinTrainingEdu

Reading 

In the Read Write Inc phonics scheme, reading is a journey, where children take on sounds and special friends to build their knowledge to be fluent readers. 

When reading at any stage we read the book more than once as re-reading the text helps the children to become more confident in their sounds and their reading. The books match sounds that they have done in class and the aim is for them to know they can read, for them to want to read and to enjoy to read!

 

Blending Books 

The journey begins at Blending Books. These books will have a word a page. When reading with your child encourage them remind them they can use their 'Fred Talk.' This is where the say the sounds individually 'm-a-t' and then say the word blended together 'mat.' 

To move onto the next stage your child needs to confidently know all Set 1 sounds (m,a,s,d,t,i,p,n,g,o,c,k,u,b,f,e,l,h,r,j,v,w,y,z,x) and read simple words containing these sounds using Fred Talk.

 

Ditty Sheets 

Children will read sounds and words along with a 'ditty' story at this stage. They once again will read this more than once. At this stage, they will be introduced to special friends. Special friends are where two or more letters join to make a sound. When reading with your child, if they are finding it tricky, remind them to spot the 'Special Friend' and use their 'Fred Talk' this time! 

Also, this will be when your child will begin to be introduced to 'Red Words'. These are words that do not match the phonetic rules they are using. These words can not be sounded out using 'Fred Talk' but can be remembered! The children are introduced to a new set of 'Red Words' at each stage. The ditty ones are below!

Here is a video to help with this section: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ3pGvw-HLE

The red words your child will learn at this stage are- I, the, my, no, put, me, of, go- https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/lqImVsX6/5lOHv1VT

 

Red Books 

To be on Red Books your child successfully knows how to spot and blend Set 1 Special Friends sh, th, qu, ch, ng & nk. They will now look at Red Books and read these at home. Repeating the text to continue to build confidence. 

Here is a video to help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDbZ0bn52-U

The red words your child will need to know to read red books are the previous red words and he and no. 

 

Green Books 

To be on Green Books your child should know Set 1 Special Friends (sh, th, qu, ch, ng, nk) when spotting them in words and blending. 

You child will bring home a Green Reading book to match the sounds they have been doing. As before read along with them, encourage them to spot their Special Friends and to use their 'Fred Talk' if needed.

Here is a video to help: https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/JfftpcTX/Vehiq7H2

The red words your child will need to know are the previous red words and- your, said, you, are. 

 

Purple Books 

At this point the children are travelling in their journey to a point of confidence and enjoyment where blending words to read sentences is a pleasure to them! Your child will be looking at Set 2 sounds for the first time! 

The  Purple Books will have sounds that they have done previously to consolidate what they have done. This once again aims to support the children's confidence. 

The red words your child will need to know are the previous red words and- baby

 

Pink Books 

To be at this stage  your child needs to recognise and speedily read (using Fred in Head) and write words with the first 6 Set 2 sounds (ay, ee, igh, ow, oo, oo).  They should confidently read and write words using all Set 1 sounds including Special Friends. 

Here is a video to help with these sounds if needed: https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/Kz6r8PST/TerbqYC6

The books will cover the sounds that your child has previously done whilst they learn the next 6 set 2 sounds. 

At this point the children will be using Red Words regularly and a long with the previous words they will now need to know and learn- all, I've, like, want, call, we, her, there, be, she, some, washing, so. 

 

Orange Books

Orange is here at at this stage in RWI your child is able to read, write and recognise all of the set 2 sounds! This means they will begin to look at Set 3 sounds in their lessons. However the books will still focus on Set 2 sounds to secure what they know. 

The red words at this point are those previously and- what, they, do , old, was

 

Yellow Books 

At this stage fluency becomes even more important! This is why it is important to continue to read the book more than once. Encourage to your child to use 'Fred Talk' where needed but we hope they are using 'Fred in the Head' meaning they do not blend outloud but read the story like a story teller!

The red words at this point are those previously and- saw, watch, school, their, brother, where, who, tall, one, any, wall. 

During the yellow book stage we find that the children can find the books look different to orange with smaller text or even more to the page- speak to your child's teacher if you feel your child needs support with this jump. 

Here is a video to help with Set 3 sounds if needed- https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/aJJ6JlOO/Hr9U9Evl

 

Blue Books

Throughout these stage to get this point not only will your child hopefully have enjoyed a range of texts but you all will be enjoying the popcorn popping when you child is excited to read because they can! 

To be at this point and to progress to Blue your child needs to read Set 3 sounds speedily.  They should use these sounds to read real and nonsense/alien words.  They should have a reading speed of 60-70 words per minute and attempt intonation to show comprehension.  

Remember to keep reading the text more than once and use this stage ans ipportunity to also ask questions that you find in the book and have your child show the comprehension! 

The red words at this point are as previous and- does, other, two, would humans, son, whole, ball, over, anyone, why, through.

 

Grey Books 

To be here reading Grey Books at home your child needs to read all Set 3 sounds speedily and use these sounds to read real and nonsense words.  They should be able to read a passage at 70-80 words per minute, attempting intonation to show comprehension. 

Your child will still read the book in school and more than once at home. They will be reading it fluently with Fred in Their Head. However they can still use the skills they have built if they do not recognise a word. 

 

RWI Comprehension 

Children move seamlessly from RWI Phonics to Comprehension to develop their fluency and understanding.

It builds children’s confidence in reading and writing more widely through lots of practice and talk. And, as always, we give you step by step support throughout.  

Your child will take books home to match their free reader ability and these may not be RWI books. However it is important for children to continue to use all the skills they have developed as well as look deeper at the text and answer questions. 

Questions to consider- 

Vocabulary- What did that word mean? 

Inference- Why did that happen? How did they feel? 

Prediction- What might happen next? 

Explain- Why do you think that? 

Retrieve- Can you find when this happened? 

Sumamrise- What happened overall? 

 

Resources 

Below are resources that you can use a long side the reading books your child brings home. The aim is for them to help you and your child when working on phonics and sounds!

 

Remember 

• Listen to your child read the text more than once 
• Use the sounds to help you and your child know the Special Friends 
• Fred Talk is there to help until they don't need the help 
• Reading is a life long skill for children to be their own story tellers to their own story 
• Enjoy it!