Learning to read Phonics

[Handful]

My daughter has just started first year reception school and will be 5 years in December. She has just started reading Phonics books and is doing well with blending letters to make words and is doing well. However I'm intrigued to find out what level of reading a 5 year old should be able to do. I know she can do better but managing twins about to turn 3 in Jan it is difficult to find the time, as we all know.

It sounds as if she is doing fine.

I bought the whole set of Jelly and Bean readers for my DD and think they are really fab.

Firstly, she will be fine. Read to her. Let her see you reading. Go to the library. Make going to a bookshop to choose a book a 'special treat'. Encourage her to spell out the letters on the food packets using the phonic sounds, not their names (aah not ay). As she develops her skills hear her read every day.

Also, if you want to, you can buy a 'Read at Home' set of Oxford Reading Tree books (Biff and Chip) or the Ladybird 'Read it Yourself' books which come in different levels.

Finally, they are very old fashioned but are still available on Amazon and cheap - 'Peter and Jane' reading books! I helped to teach all mine to read using them (and had some very interesting discussions with DC about how times had changed since they were written and illustrated).