An introduction to our new Zappers system.

*Zappers and Phonics

*Why have we changed the

system?

To help enable us to meet the high levels of phonic knowledge expected of the children by the end of Year One.

Old Zappers*Based on learning to

read ‘tricky’ words then to spell ‘tricky’ words.

* It covered about 200 plus key words listed in the old Literacy strategy for years FS,1&2. (Y4&5 as extension)

*School followed the THRASS phonics scheme.

* Individualised.

New Zappers* Based on learning to

recognise and use letters and their sounds to read and spell words.

* It is based on the Government Letters and Sounds scheme which is still in place. It includes a small number of ‘tricky’ words.

* School now follows the Letters and Sounds phonics scheme.

*Group

*What has changed?

*The Homework Part…

(This should take 10 minutes a day at most)

There are two strands – 1. Letter sounds to learn and use 2. A few tricky words to recognise

*Play games recognising the sounds and letters they are represented by.

*Pick out one sound from the suggested list each day and sound out the relevant words, putting the sounds together to read or write. (eg…)

*Look and say the tricky words.

*The Quick Quiz Part…

Don’t Panic! It’s not like a formal test. For the children it will feel like just another one of those letter games we play.

*The children are asked to write a small number of words related to the previous week’s homework.

*You will be told the score and given an indication of the errors e.g. prak – park yell – yet

*EYFS – quiz is a reading quiz – pick the word I have said from the selection on the page.

*Things to help at home

* Pronunciation is important. Try and avoid adding an ‘uh’ sound at the end of the word. See school website for video or go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqhXUW_v-1s&list=PLb-oAd3OfeVOub3F83Ef0yOCy32VFoOBr&index=2

* Education City – linked to from the school website on the VLE. The letters and sounds games and links are superb.

*Card with sounds and actions to help remember the sounds. (3 ways of learning) please keep this at home.

* That your child wants to learn themselves is key. Praise effort, thinking, working something out and perseverance. Model accuracy. Stick to the time. Only go over if your child leads you. Make it fun and a game.

*Overview of Phonics

Progression

*Phase 1 – Distinguishing sounds

*Phase 2 – Common individual sound/letter linkage & 3 letter word building e.g. sat

*Phase 3 – Less common individual sound/letter linkage & 2 letters making one sound e.g. z,y, ch

*Phase 4 – Extended word building using letters known e.g. drink

*Phase 5 – Different ways of making the same sound e.g. ee, ea, e-e, y

*Phase 6 – Learning spelling rules

*‘Tricky’ words are taught throughout every phase.

*Phase 2Key things to

know

*Initial letter sounds taught in an order that allows word building straight away – s,a,t,p

*4 Sounds taught per week

*Formation and reading of letters is taught

*Online games at…

Education City – Year 1 – Letters and Sounds – Phase 2

www.phonicsplay.co.uk

*Phase 3 Things to Know

*Series of individual letters is completed.

*Introduces two letters making one sound eg. ch, sh, th, ea

*One way of making every phonetic sound is taught in this phase.

*Online games at…

Education City – Year 1 – Letters and Sounds – Phase 2

www.phonicsplay.co.uk

*Phase 4 Things to Know

*There is no zappers homework based on Phase 4. The children will be working on Phase 4 alongside phases 3 and 5.

*Online games at…

Education City – Year 1 – Letters and Sounds – Phase 4 & 5

www.phonicsplay.co.uk

*Phase 5 Things to Know

*Phase 5 has three sections:

• Introduction of more two letter sounds e.g. ue, aw, oe

• Letters which can have different pronunciations e.g. chart, school, chef

• Different letter choices for the same sound; for example: a, ai, a-e, ay

*Online games at…

Education City – Year 1 – Letters and Sounds – Phase 4 & 5

www.phonicsplay.co.uk

*Phase 6 Things to Know

*Revises phonics taught previously.

*Introduces spelling rules such as :

- Prefixes and suffixes e.g. adding ing, ed, est

- Use of apostrophes

*Some of the zappers’ words are bespoke to the children and are those that they spell wrong in their writing.

*Limited online games at…

www.phonicsplay.co.uk