Phonics and Reading
Reading
At Saint Mary's we encourage reading as much as possible. We want our pupils to be fluent and confident readers and to instil in them a love of reading for pleasure. We use a range of fully decodable Oxford Reading Scheme for home readers in Key Stage 1 and in Key Stage 2 children read from Project X and Collins Big Cats reading schemes during guided reading sessions, which occur daily.
All children bring a reading book home and home reading is encouraged daily. In KS1 the reading books match the Letters and Sounds phase that pupils are working on. In lower KS2 reading books match the colour bands being read in guided reading sessions. Pupils also have a 'reading for pleasure' book.
We strive to encourage reading for pleasure with our children. We have a number of initiatives in school such as book recommendations, birthday books, STAR reading sessions (Sit Together And Read) and DEAR sessions (Drop Everything And Read), as well as Reading Champions, pupils who promote reading throughout the school.
USEFUL WEBITES:
Recommended Books
Below are the 50 recommended books for each year group, as recommended by the website booksfortopics.com
Reading At Home
Reading regularly at home is so important for children's development across the whole school curriculum. As well as reading their reading book with an adult daily, we also encourage children to be read to by adults. At St. Mary's each class has a class book or novel and the class teacher reads regularly, from Reception to Year 6. Reading to your child can be for just ten minutes each day, an the impact of this for the child will be invaluable.
Use the links below to access information to help and support you when reading with your child.
Virtual Library
Here are some stories for you to listen to and watch! Click the links below:
Phonics
At Saint Mary's we use the Lancashire Red Rose scheme, which is based on Letters and Sounds, to support our teaching and learning of phonics. Phonics is the preferred way of teaching children to read and spell from the government. Phonics is taught daily across Key Stage 1. In Year 1 the children will all sit a phonics screening test in June - this is made up of real and nonsense words. Children will be well prepared for this test. If a child does not meet the standard of the test they repeat it in Year 2.
In Year 2 many of our children are taught from the No Nonsense Spelling scheme. This incorporates the phonics they've learnt along side grammar and spelling patterns.
If a child still requires phonics in Key Stage 2 we use a Lancashire programme called Bounce Back Phonics to support this.
Phonics Phases
Every child in school works through the phonics phases 1-6 during Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. The video below shows what sounds are taught in each phase and some methods that are used. Please speak to your child's class teacher to find out what phase your child is working on.
Phase 2 Phonics Support
Use the document below to help your child with Phase 2 at home: