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Original poster

Trying to help DD reception RWI phonics !

57 replies

buld · 04/11/2024 19:15

I'm just trying to help my DD and trying to get to grips with the RWI phonics system.

Can someone advise ?

They were assessed before half term and are now in groups.

DD can sound out words and then say them- so

She'll go M A T - MAT. What she can't yet do is do the M A T bit in her head and just say the word in its own. She knows all the sounds they're supposed to know at this stage. In her reading log book, the teachers wrote she was ' reading words ' by the second or third week. Now she needs to learn to sound them out in her head, rather than out loud. How long does that stage take and how can I help her ? Is she on track or behind ?

How can I help her get on track if she's behind ? Thank you.

OP posts:
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WhatALump · 05/11/2024 08:10

There are lots of helpful videos and resources in the parent section of the Ruth Miskin website

www.ruthmiskin.com/parentsandcarers/

Depressedbarbie · 05/11/2024 07:34

Actually that's not come out very well, but if you search for RWI expectations of progress, you should find it.

Depressedbarbie · 05/11/2024 07:33

You can see the general progression expectations below. Usually, children arr assessed every half term to determine whether they are ready to move on.

Trying to help DD reception RWI phonics !
Original poster
buld · 05/11/2024 07:12

Read Write Inc. Phonics: Sound Blending Book Bag Books Mixed Pack of 10 (Read Write Inc. Phonics Book Bag Books) amzn.eu/d/5qytLlq

So at this stage, what I gather from all the amazing advice on here is that these little books contain words that they want them to be able to more or less sight read in the sense that they will have seen them so many times, that they just know them intrinsically. In case they forget one, of course they have the ability to sound out the word anyway ( hopefully in their head ).

And after this lilac book stage, which colour comes next ? How fast will they go through all these little books ?

OP posts:
Wigglywoowho · 04/11/2024 21:49

GoFaster83 · 04/11/2024 21:36

I hope you're past Ken's cap. I fucking hate Ken and his stupid cap.

They are still giving that book in year 1. My daughter had it in the first week. Thankfully, they did a reading assessment on her and she's not getting those books anymore. Now I'll have to read them all again with my youngest 😔

Depressedbarbie · 04/11/2024 21:38

Good luck @buld - if you have further questions, tag me and I'll see if I can help!

GoFaster83 · 04/11/2024 21:36

I hope you're past Ken's cap. I fucking hate Ken and his stupid cap.

GoFaster83 · 04/11/2024 21:35

Yeah, make sure you do the red and green words every time. It really does help.

Depressedbarbie · 04/11/2024 21:35

@buld haha thanks. OK, so then those will be the ones she's learned, so use those.

Original poster
buld · 04/11/2024 21:35

Depressedbarbie · 04/11/2024 21:34

They will be what she's using at school, but don't worry, because it's the same words that come up in the books she's bringing home, so you can use those. If I were you, I would Google 'how to practise fred in your head' because there are quite a few videos of teachers explaining it, and it will be easier to watch it than me trying to explain it here!

Ok cool thank you !!
☺️

OP posts:
Depressedbarbie · 04/11/2024 21:34

They will be what she's using at school, but don't worry, because it's the same words that come up in the books she's bringing home, so you can use those. If I were you, I would Google 'how to practise fred in your head' because there are quite a few videos of teachers explaining it, and it will be easier to watch it than me trying to explain it here!

Original poster
buld · 04/11/2024 21:34

@Depressedbarbie actually I do have the green cards. They've been sending those home all term.

Great username btw

OP posts:
Original poster
buld · 04/11/2024 21:32

@Depressedbarbie no I don't have those 🤯 what are those ??

OP posts:
GoFaster83 · 04/11/2024 21:31

I think the ort ones are called songbirds.

Depressedbarbie · 04/11/2024 21:31

buld · 04/11/2024 21:30

Yes the teacher mentioned Fred in your head today to me and that she needs to learn that.

Show quote history

OK, so, do you have the green word cards?

Original poster
buld · 04/11/2024 21:30

Depressedbarbie · 04/11/2024 21:27

Reception teacher here. If she's sounding out loud, then blending, she's doing well for this stage in reception. Lots won't be yet. Has the teacher asked her to practise reading the words by blending in her head? If she hasn't yet, then leave it. It is explicitly taught in the RWI scheme. If the teacher has asked you too, then she's asking you to practise 'Fred in your head' with her for the words she can read. If she's at that stage, every day in their sessions, they will practise reading new words by sounding out loud and blending, then they will be starting to practise reading words they've come across before using 'Fred in your head' I.e. sounding in your head and blending. They will then start to add in 'speedy words' where they've blended them so many times they start to recognise them. Because it's done so explicitly in RWI, you don't need to worry too much about helping her to do it, because it will be practised at school. If you do want to help her, though, use words that she knows and model saying the sounds in your head and then saying the word, ans then ask her to use Fred in her head.

Edited

Yes the teacher mentioned Fred in your head today to me and that she needs to learn that.

OP posts:
GoFaster83 · 04/11/2024 21:29

She can sound out and it's not even Christmas yet! If I was her teacher I'd be so happy that she knows the sounds and blends even out loud. If you're really keen on pushing her on I'd maybe get some of the ort Phonics books because rwi makes me want to pull out my eyeballs and i cant imagine it inspires anyone to actually read.

WhatMe123 · 04/11/2024 21:28

Isn't that what most are doing in reception and is encouraged . With dd1 there wasn't an emphasis to do it in your head and just say the word until year 1

Depressedbarbie · 04/11/2024 21:27

Reception teacher here. If she's sounding out loud, then blending, she's doing well for this stage in reception. Lots won't be yet. Has the teacher asked her to practise reading the words by blending in her head? If she hasn't yet, then leave it. It is explicitly taught in the RWI scheme. If the teacher has asked you too, then she's asking you to practise 'Fred in your head' with her for the words she can read. If she's at that stage, every day in their sessions, they will practise reading new words by sounding out loud and blending, then they will be starting to practise reading words they've come across before using 'Fred in your head' I.e. sounding in your head and blending. They will then start to add in 'speedy words' where they've blended them so many times they start to recognise them. Because it's done so explicitly in RWI, you don't need to worry too much about helping her to do it, because it will be practised at school. If you do want to help her, though, use words that she knows and model saying the sounds in your head and then saying the word, ans then ask her to use Fred in her head.

Original poster
buld · 04/11/2024 21:24

DinosaurMunch · 04/11/2024 21:17

I would just leave it to the school to teach her this. Read her stories at home for enjoyment and do whatever the school ask in the way of reading books sent home but really you sound far too overinvested and competitive. It won't make any difference in the long run if your 5 year old is slightly ahead of other 5 year olds. They all learn to read in the end. Spend your time and energy doing things school doesn't do much of - outdoor activities, baking, swimming, music, craft rather than doing even more of the one thing they do daily.

I have the stuff here, because I'm also trying to make sense of it. I'm not using the stuff they haven't done yet, if that makes sense. I just have some stuff and will use it when I see they're actually using it.

Yes I am quite invested because I want to support her. I don't do a lot with her, just at weekends - if she wants to. Otherwise I leave it.

I didn't do anything over half term. She got her stuff out a few times and wanted to play phonics teacher. She likes to do that, but that was it.

We do a lot of other stuff too of course. I guess I just want to understand the system and I want to make sure she's on track.

OP posts:
BamboleoQueen · 04/11/2024 21:19

My kid is now in Y1 but did set 1 in the first half term, set 2 in the second half term, then started bringing home "ditties" in January. He finished red by end of year. We did some tutoring over summer and when the Y1 teacher assessed him they skipped green. He is halfway through purple currently.

He's always been a bit behind the curve for reading (was a daily reader for most of YR) but as long as there's steady progress I'm happy.

DinosaurMunch · 04/11/2024 21:17

I would just leave it to the school to teach her this. Read her stories at home for enjoyment and do whatever the school ask in the way of reading books sent home but really you sound far too overinvested and competitive. It won't make any difference in the long run if your 5 year old is slightly ahead of other 5 year olds. They all learn to read in the end. Spend your time and energy doing things school doesn't do much of - outdoor activities, baking, swimming, music, craft rather than doing even more of the one thing they do daily.

Giraffe888 · 04/11/2024 21:16

I think you’re trying to do too much with her and probably rushing ahead on what’s been done in class!

FcukTheDay · 04/11/2024 21:13

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 are the set 1 sounds. Make sure she is confident on the sounds before you move to another one.

RWI tends to start with a speed sound lesson. So that's all the set 1 sounds that she knows and then you add one new one in when she is secure on the previous ones.

Red words you can introduce slowly then alien words.

So securing the sound, then blending, Fred in your head. Rinse and repeat with new sound.

Sentences I would introduce slowly.