Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Original poster
buld · 04/11/2024 19:27

I usually explain how to do it, and then model it to them by mouthing the sounds individually without making any noise in a very exaggerated way, so that they can ‘see’ me sounding out in my head, if that makes sense?

This is really helpful thank you. I'll try modelling it with her that way. It must be such a change because at the beginning they're told to sound out each letter over and over again and now suddenly they need to do it in their head!

Like when they're learning to blend.. M A T M A T MAT...

OP posts:
SussexLass87 · 04/11/2024 19:26

buld · 04/11/2024 19:22

But to me she is at the sounding out and blending stage ? She just can't do it in her heard yet.

Or am I misunderstanding what the sounding out and blending stage is ? Clearly I must be !

She can look at a word, sound out the sounds and blend them and then ' read ' the entire word correctly. She can't yet just do the sounding out in her head.

Show quote history

I meant that your daughter IS at the sounding out / blending stage and that there will many others in the class who can't yet do that.

I understood what you meant in your OP, I was trying to explain that it sounds like she isn't behind at all.

Original poster
buld · 04/11/2024 19:24

Yes indeed, I've been told about the fred in your head thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
buld · 04/11/2024 19:22

SussexLass87 · 04/11/2024 19:20

Former Reception teacher here. It doesn't sound like she is behind, there will be many who aren't at the sounding out / blending stage yet. Keep on doing what you're doing at home - reading regularly, make it fun, read to her as well as listening to her read. It's all very important.

There are quite a few RWI videos online, so it might be worth looking at those.

If you're ever concerned or just want to check in with the teacher, just grab them for a quick chat at the end of the day or arrnage to have a meeting / call. We're keen to answer any questions and support parents at home!

But to me she is at the sounding out and blending stage ? She just can't do it in her heard yet.

Or am I misunderstanding what the sounding out and blending stage is ? Clearly I must be !

She can look at a word, sound out the sounds and blend them and then ' read ' the entire word correctly. She can't yet just do the sounding out in her head.

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

I’m a reception teacher and have used RWI. Your DD sounds like she’s doing really well, and not behind at all! I have many children in my class who are not yet able to blend and several that don’t recognise more than a handful of sounds.

When teaching children to sound out in their heads (or ‘Fred in their head’ as RWI call it) I usually explain how to do it, and then model it to them by mouthing the sounds individually without making any noise in a very exaggerated way, so that they can ‘see’ me sounding out in my head, if that makes sense? It can take a while for them to be able to do it themselves, but she will get there, don’t worry.

BarbaraVineFan · 04/11/2024 19:21

I think it's fine to sound out everything out loud. In fact, I think it's encouraged. She sounds perfectly on track to me.

SussexLass87 · 04/11/2024 19:20

Former Reception teacher here. It doesn't sound like she is behind, there will be many who aren't at the sounding out / blending stage yet. Keep on doing what you're doing at home - reading regularly, make it fun, read to her as well as listening to her read. It's all very important.

There are quite a few RWI videos online, so it might be worth looking at those.

If you're ever concerned or just want to check in with the teacher, just grab them for a quick chat at the end of the day or arrnage to have a meeting / call. We're keen to answer any questions and support parents at home!