Helping your child with phonics
This week the children will begin to blend (read) and segment (spell) words orally. We call this ‘sound talk’.
For example, c-a-t = cat. The separate sounds (phonemes) are spoken aloud, in order, all through the word, and are then merged together into the whole word. The merging together is called blending – it is a vital skill for reading.
Children will also learn to do this the other way around: cat = c-a-t. The whole word is spoken aloud, and then broken up into its sounds (phonemes) in order, all through the word. This is called segmenting – a vital skill for spelling.
An important point to remember is to avoid saying the ‘uh’ sound that you might remember from school. Think of ‘b’, ‘c’ without the ‘uh’ – make the sound as short and ‘pure’ as possible for these sounds. For others, like ‘f’ and ‘l’, the sound should also not have an ‘uh’ sound, but these letters can be more continuous.
At the moment, blending and segmenting is all oral (spoken). Your child will not be expected to match the letter to the sound at this stage. The emphasis is on helping children to hear the separate sounds in words and to create spoken sounds.
Try this at home:
Find real objects around your home which have three phonemes (sounds) and practise ‘sound talk’ – first just let them listen, then see if they will join in, eg:
- ‘I spy a p-e-g – peg’
- ‘I spy a c-u-p – cup’
- ‘Where’s your other s-o-ck – sock?’
- ‘Simon says – put your hands on your h-ea-d’
- ‘Simon says – touch your ch-i-n’
- ‘Simon says – pick up your b-a-g’
Play other phonic games at home, too!
Staying Safe Week
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOKVqOtUVdA”>Safety Week
Subtracting using a number line
Using a number line to find the difference between two numbers (to subtract) is a mental maths strategy that many of us do without realising. To help children get used to the mental strategy, we teach them to draw the line to visualise the difference, and then make jumps (the fewer, the better).
If you’re not convinced, think about how you might calculate 2003 – 1995 or 180 – 95… Very few people would be able to use a traditional column method to get the answer quickly and accurately. We do teach the column method as a written maths strategy, too – but that’s better for bigger and more complicated numbers!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHEng-jRWlQ’ >Subtracting using a number line
We are happy learning in Reception!
Learning to rhyme
In Reception this week, we’re listening to rhymes and poems and identifying rhyming words. Hearing and saying rhymes is great for learning to read. Sharing rhymes with young children helps them listen to the patterns of language. Children first begin to notice that certain words have the same sounds at the end (rhyme). Later, they notice that many words share a pattern in the way they are spelt. Understanding these links makes learning to read much easier. You can help by making sure that children hear a lot of rhymes. The rhythm found in poetry is also helpful as there is a rhythm to reading.
You can help your child to “tune in” to rhyme by:
- Sharing nursery rhymes, making them fun by adding actions and body movements
- Reading rhyming stories
- Play games such as ‘I spy with my little eye something that rhymes with …’
Class Assembly
A quick reminder to let you know that your child will be performing in their class assembly on Thursday 13 October at 2.40pm.
Hope to see you there!
Year 4 Assembly
Hello everyone,
Just a quick word to let you know that your child will be performing in their class assembly tomorrow at 2.40pm. It would be great to see you all there. We will try to put a video on the website.
Hope to see you there!
Firemen at Moortown
Year 3 and 4 have been treated to a lesson in fire safety by two professional firemen. Unfortunately, they were unavailable (for some unknown reason) during school hours but they decided to do a video instead to remind the children about what to do in case of a fire.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBEOdHlQnDQ
The children then wrote down some instructions detailing what to do if there is a fire.
We know how to stay safe in Year 1!
What a week we had last week! It was amazing how much we learnt in such a short time. We now know how to stay safe in many situations:
- around dogs
- dancing and keeping fit
- in case of fire
- when crossing the road
- when someone is hurt
Reading is fun!
Your child will be bringing a reading book home very soon. At this stage, you can help with their reading by enjoying books together. Talk about what they think might happen next in a story and ask them to retell the story themselves using the pictures. Can they think about what they would feel if they were in the story?
Your enthusiasm for a book will help children to understand that books are exciting.
Focus on the sounds of spoken language by playing games which point out similar sounds in different words. For example, how many things can you find around the house that begin with the sound ‘f’? Share favourite rhymes letting children supply the rhyming word or encouraging them to choose their own silly rhyme. Help children to understand that the marks on the page mean something. Explain that they represent the words and sentences we speak. Point to the words as you read. Show them examples of print around you: the sign on a bus stop, labels at the supermarket, traffic signs, and so on. Read alphabet books together to make the link between the sounds used in words and the letters used to write those sounds. Label your child’s bedroom door to help them to recognise their name.
Share the following books:
- rhyming books
- alphabet books
- a wide range of exciting stories
- non-fiction books about favourite subjects
Remember:
- Make sure your child sees you reading.
- Read to your child. Show you like the book. Bring stories to life by using loud/soft/scary voices – let yourself go!
- Spread books around your house for your child to dip into.
- Let your child choose what they would like to read – books, comics, catalogues.
- Read favourite books over and over again.
Enjoy!
If you have any questions about reading and how we teach this in Reception, please ask.