Phonics and Foundation Literacy
At Ardtornish we use the "Read Write Inc" Reading Program (RWI) to teach foundation students to read. (click here to visit the program's site for parents)
Using RWI, the children learn to read effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into comprehending what they read. It also allows them to spell effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into composing what they write.
When using RWI to read the children will:
When using RWI to write the children will:
For further and more detailed explanation of the programme please click here An introduction to Read, Write, Inc
If you have any queries or would like to discuss the programme further, please do not hesitate to contact the Reading Coordinator Alison Addle.
Using RWI, the children learn to read effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into comprehending what they read. It also allows them to spell effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into composing what they write.
When using RWI to read the children will:
- learn that sounds are represented by written letters – to practice the sounds and how to pronounce them accurately.
- learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple picture prompts Complex Sounds Chart Simple Speed Sounds Chart
- learn how to blend sounds and read words using Fred Talk. The following links will provide you with example green words that can be read with ‘Fred Talk’ Green Words List One, Green Words List Two, Green Words List Three, Green Words List Four, Green Words List Five, Green Words List Six, Green Words List Seven, Green Words List Eight.
- Learn that some tricky words with grotty graphemes can’t be read using Fred Talk – these are Red Words
(you can’t Fred a Red) - To see a sample list of red words – please click here Red Words
- read fun and lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out and show that they comprehend the stories by answering questions and discussing the text
When using RWI to write the children will:
- learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent 44 sounds. Hand writing phrases
- learn to spell words by saying the sounds in Fred Talk
- write simple sentences
For further and more detailed explanation of the programme please click here An introduction to Read, Write, Inc
If you have any queries or would like to discuss the programme further, please do not hesitate to contact the Reading Coordinator Alison Addle.
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RWI is a synthetic phonics approach to teaching reading which ensures students first develop a correct understanding of the reading process, before they begin to read simple phonic based texts.
Students bring home their first RWI 'reader' after about 8 or 10 weeks of phonics instruction. Download the booklet "When will my child bring home a reader?" for a full explanation of the thinking behind this process and what you can do to support your child, prior to them beginning to read their first RWI books. 
To understand more about the systematic and lively 'READ WRITE INC' programme we use to enable your child to become a confident and fluent reader at their first attempt, and how you can support them at home, download the 'Home Support booklet'.
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How to rapidly teach letter sounds at home.
Even before your child begins at school you might like to teach them the sounds of the alphabet by playing some simple card games. Here are the downloadable instructions for doing this. Your child will use different alphabet cards when they start school but these cards are based on the same principle and we can give them to you 'copyright' free.
The alphabet game cards you'll need to play the games come in two printing styles.
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- Style 2 - Cards for printing on a duplex printer
(These cards are designed to use if your print can do automatic 2 sided printing.)
| Alphabet_game_cards_for _ 2 _ sided _printing.pdf |
The alphabet posters can also be downloaded here.
| alphabet_-_posters_.pdf |
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Here are the phrases we use, as we introduce letters sounds, to assist students to more easily remember how to write them.
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Alphabet / phonogram hints and actions sheet and posters.
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How to 'Mark up Texts"Once students learn multiple sounds for letters or phonograms this booklet describes how to 'Mark Up' words to analyse their spelling patterns.
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An example of the decodable R.W.I. books your child will use when they first begin to read.
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| Green books 10 - 'Stitch the Witch'.pdf |
Download a booklet to learn more about how the 'Read Write Inc' program operates.
| How 'Read Write Inc' operates. 11 MB |
Helping your child to read at home
This video explains synthetic phonics and gives parents suggestions for supporting their child's reading development.
