Term 5

This term in phonics, the children will be focusing on the following Phases -

EYFS

Phase 3 - digraphs (2 letters that make 1 sound e.g. ai, ee, or) and trigraphs (3 letters that make 1 sound e.g. igh, air) and tricky words. 

Phase 4 - Phase 3 sounds will now be developed into longer words (CCVC / CVCC e.g. frog / tent).

Year 1 

Phase 5 - alternative graphemes (e.g. ai, ay, a-e) and alternative pronunciations (e.g. ea in tea, break) and tricky words.

Information about each phonics phase and the sounds / words it contains can be downloaded below. 

You can also download the 'Letters and Sounds' document which has links to access videos for practicing phonics with your child. 

Games to practise your phonics:

EYFS - Foam phonemes

Choose the sounds and word build

https://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/foamPhonemes/index.html

EYFS - What's missing?

Choose the sounds and blend to read.

https://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/whatsMissing/index.html 

Year 1 - Phoneme patterns

Read words containing the phonemes we are learning.

https://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/phonemePatterns/index.html 

Year 1 - Tell a T Rex

Answer some silly questions!

https://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/tellATRex/index.html

EYFS and Year 1 - Word bingo

Practise your tricky words

https://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/hfwBingo/index.html

Some useful websites to support learning:

http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/

https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/

Some useful websites and games to support learning:

EYFS

https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/early-years/ 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b08bzfnh/numberblocks

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/topics/numeracy

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/3-5-years/counting 

https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/maths/primary-maths-age-4-5-reception/

Year 1

https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/year-1/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/topics/numeracy

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting 

https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/maths/primary-maths-age-5-6-year-1/

Reading at home:

• Establish a regular time and place for daily reading, such as before bed or first thing in a morning.

• Keep a variety of reading materials available (picture books, fiction, non-fiction, atlases, dictionaries, magazines, newspapers, join the library and visit regularly).

• Share your own experiences of books (eg. talking about favourite book) and read yourself – children will want to follow your example!

• Lots of talk! Ask questions encouraging children to think and make predictions about what they are reading.

• Involve children in reading for specific uses as well as pleasure (eg. shopping list).

Home reading books:

• Look at the front cover, back cover and pictures to engage children.

• Encourage children to point to the words as they read.

• Give children time and encouragement to have a go at reading independently.

• If they are stuck on a word support them with blending, rather than telling them.

• Make the experience interactive by asking questions about the story, the pictures and what they think of the characters – focus on understanding as well as word decoding.

• Encourage children to spot any spellings they are learning (esp. tricky words which they cannot sound out e.g. the, you, was).

Useful questions to support your child’s reading:

• What kind of book is it? (fiction/ non-fiction/ poetry etc)

• Can you tell anything about the book before you start reading? How do you know?

• What has happened so far?

• What do you think might happen next? Why?

• How would you like the story to end?

• Where is the story set?

• Who are the characters? Who do you like? Dislike? Why?

• What is your favourite part of the story?

• Can you retell this part of the story?

• Can you think of words that start with the same sound / rhyme?

Go read:

This year we will be using an online app called 'Go Read' to record your child's reading at home and at school. Log in details have been sent home. Please comment on 'Go Read' when you hear your child read their school book. Comments from parents are a good way to let us know how your child is getting on with reading at home. Here are some suggestions of what you could comment on:

Did they enjoy the book?

Can they remember the story?

Are they reading the text or using pictures for clues?

Do they understand the meaning of the text?

Are they confident to attempt new words?

Do they recognise their mistakes and self-correct?

Do they recognise any tricky words?

Are they reading with expression?

Are they using their phonics to help them decode unfamiliar words?

Something new to read...

Want some new books to read with your child? Follow this link to the Book Trust website and explore...

www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/bookfinder/

Some other things to keep you busy...

30 day Lego challenge – google it to find ideas!

Outside fun https://www.naturallylearning.co.uk/50-outdoor-activities-toddlers

Fun fine motor skills https://theimaginationtree.com/40-fine-motor-skills-activities-for-kids

See below for 'being active' ideas.