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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Would it step on the teacher’s toes to teach the split digraph?

15 replies

Amummyatlast · 19/10/2018 20:09

DD is getting a lot of books with split digraphs, and I don’t think she has been taught it in school yet (Y1). Her phonics is good, but she’s not sure how to sound out unfamiliar words with split digraphs. I think teaching her would help, but I don’t want to cause problems later.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

spanieleyes · 19/10/2018 20:11

No, it shouldn't be a problem, just say its another way of writing "ay" or "ee" or whichever that she hasn't been taught yet but will soon!

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 19/10/2018 20:34

I’m surprised it hasn’t been taught in year one but I did with my son as class weren’t there yet.

sirfredfredgeorge · 19/10/2018 20:47

As I understand it, she shouldn't be getting books with words she hasn't learnt the phonics for (her books should be decodable with her phonics knowledge) and like chicken I'd be surprised if she's not been taught.

Either way, just explain anything you need to!

Original poster

Amummyatlast · 19/10/2018 20:53

Thanks! I’ll go ahead.

Nearly all of the books she’s had throughout the bands have had words in that are not decodeable (for the stage she is at). My understanding is that it is fairly common, given that most schools don’t have the funding to replace all their books

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Anythingforacatslife · 19/10/2018 20:56

If she’s y1 then it’s likely she has come across split digraphs. It won’t be any problem to point them out when reading.

UniversalTruth · 20/10/2018 09:12

I'd be surprised they hadn't learnt split digraphs in year 1. My DS never remembers them though, I have to say "it's a split digraph" then he guesses says it correctly. Maybe write in the comment book to say your dd needed help with the split digraphs so school know.

Original poster

Amummyatlast · 20/10/2018 10:15

Thanks. She’s only at the beginning of Year 1, so I wasn’t sure at what point they did them. I’ll practice with her and put a note in her book record as suggested.

OP posts:

hopeful31yrs · 20/10/2018 14:18

I taught my daughter and she's in reception. She was picking up her phonics so quickly she was getting frustrated she couldn't work out "the other words" so we started teaching her level specific exception words and then magic e.

If your child is asking to do it - teach it. You're their teacher as well

Norestformrz · 20/10/2018 15:45

If your child's school are sending home books your child can't decode (they shouldn't be. There was funding to buy decodable books but many schools wasted it on fluff) yet teach them how to decode those words (provide the missing knowledge they need to be able to decode the word).

cariadlet · 20/10/2018 16:38

As I understand it, she shouldn't be getting books with words she hasn't learnt the phonics for

That works for most children. But it would mean holding back the more able readers by only letting them read books containing phonic patterns that have been taught in whole class phonics lessons.

If a child can read those books fluently then they need to be moved on to a higher level in which case they'll meet words which they'll need support in decoding and will need a little impromptu phonics lesson from whichever adult is reading with them.

Love51 · 20/10/2018 16:42

If someone in your family had a split digraph in their name, you'd have to teach it before they get to it at school. Teachers go through things in order to ensure no gaps in knowledge, parents teach our kids what they want to know at the time. Teachers are used to it!

sirfredfredgeorge · 20/10/2018 16:55

But it would mean holding back the more able readers by only letting them read books containing phonic patterns that have been taught in whole class phonics lessons.

No it wouldn't, as they have the phonic knowledge to read the books, so therefore those books are appropriate, if they couldn't read the books they wouldn't have the phonic knowledge.

The idea is not that "kids get given books that the whole class has had instruction on", it's they get books that match their phonic knowledge, wherever it may have come from.

Norestformrz · 20/10/2018 17:10

"That works for most children. But it would mean holding back the more able readers by only letting them read books containing phonic patterns that have been taught in whole class phonics lessons." Books are meant to match the individual child's knowledge and ability ...no holding back far from it.

TheSteakBakeOfAwesome · 20/10/2018 19:51

I had to cover alternative spellings of phonemes they'd not got to in phonics a few times with both of mine as their reading took off ahead of the phonics sessions somewhat.

fudgeandtortillas · 20/10/2018 20:11

I agree with many PP that it is absolutely fine for you to talk about split diagraphs with your DD. My fairly average DS read books with them in from about half way through reception, so it is unlikely that you are introducing a totally new idea.

Your DD might just need a little reminder when she comes across words that she has to remember extra information in order to decode. 5 year olds are trying to remember and deal with so much information that it is not surprising that they can't keep everything in their heads all at once.

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