Reading and Phonics in Reception Classes

Guided Reading 

The children read their guided reading books with an adult three times a week. They do this in a small group and with a different focus each time.

 Initially we walk through the book. We look at the title, the characters, the blurb on the back and talk about the pictures. Then we will see what the children can recall and will talk in more detail about the story, read the words (looking for words / sounds that we know). All they children have opportunities to contribute, offer ideas and predictions and answer questions. On our final session we will complete a worksheet related to the book.

Home Readers 

We will change home readers three times a week. Occasionally they may bring home a book that they have had before (it can boost their confidence to feel secure with a book).

Please spend time with your child each day looking at the book. Ask them questions to prompt them to look at the details. Sometimes you could tell the story for them to model the kind of language we are trying to encourage them to use.

As they start coming home with books with words, encourage them to use their phonics knowledge to sound out the letters and blend them to make a word. They will use the pictures to help them work out what the words say – this is fine.

Please sign to show that you have read the book and put it in the book bag.

• 50 Recommended Reads for Reception

Guidelines for reading with your child

• reading-guidelines-for-web.pdf

High Frequency Words

There are over 50 high frequency words (words which the children will come across regularly in their reading and writing) that we would like the children to know by sight before they leave Reception. Some of these words are phonetic (which means the children can sound them out) other are “tricky” and will just have to be learnt.

We will send home tricky words as part of phonics homework. A sticky label on a page will indicate the tricky words we are learning that week during phonics. You may find it useful to write them out on individual pieces of card. It would be good for the children to practise writing these words too as it will help them to remember them when they want to use them in their writing. 

We are aware that all children learn at a different pace but would encourage you to spend time working with these words every day to ensure that your child does not fall too far behind.