Author: Joanne

Dear Parents,
We all know that reading opens the door to all learning.
A child who reads a lot will become a good reader.
A good reader will be able to read challenging material.
A child who reads challenging material is a child who will learn.
The more a child learns the more a child wants to find out.
(Ruth Miskin, Read Write Inc)
At Cwmfelin Primary School, we are passionate about the teaching of Reading. Our dedicated team are committed to ensuring that your child finds learning to read and write a successful and rewarding experience. We hope that the
information in this booklet will provide you with clear information about our reading strategies and enable you to support your child at home.
What is Read Write Inc?
Read Write Inc (RWI) is a programme for primary school children learning to read. It enables every child to become a confident and fluent reader through a systematic and lively programme using stimulating reading material.
How and what do the children learn?
READING
The children:
Learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letters/letter groups using simple picture prompts
Learn to read words using sound blending
Read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out
Show that they comprehend the stories by answering ‘Find it’ and
‘Prove It’ discussions

Hello.
My name is Fred

WRITING
The children:
Learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent the 44 sounds
Learn to write words by saying the sounds and graphemes
Write simple sentences
Compose stories based on picture strips
Compose a range of texts using discussion prompts
TALKING
Children are assessed so they work with children at the same level. This allows them to take a full part in all lessons. They work in pairs so that they:
Answer every question
Practise every activity with their partner
Take turns in talking to each other
How can I support my child at home?
With RWI, we are using pure sounds so that your child will be able to blend the sounds into words more easily. So, we say ‘m’ not ‘muh’, ‘s’ not ‘suh’ etc
These first sounds should all be stretched slightly. Try to avoid saying uh after each one.
m - mmmmmmmountain (keep lips pressed together hard)
s - ssssssssnake (keep teeth together and hiss)
n - nnnnnnnnet (keep tongue behind teeth)
f - fffffffflower (keep teeth on bottom lip and force air out sharply)
l - llllllleg (keep pointed curled tongue behind teeth)
r - rrrrrrrobot (say rrr as if you are growling)
v - vvvvvvvulture ( keep teeth on bottom lip and force air out gently)
z - zzzzzzig zzzzzzzag (keep teeth together and make a buzzing sound)
sh - shhhh (Make a shhh noise as if you are telling someone to be quiet)
th - thhhhank you ( stick out tongue and breathe out sharply)
ng - thinnngg on a strinngg ( curl your tongue at the back of your throat)
nk - I think I stink (make a piggy noise without the oi! nk nk )
Please avoid using the letter names at this early stage

These next sounds cannot be stretched. Make the sound as short as possible avoiding uh at the end of the sound:
t - tick tongue behind the teeth
p - make distinctive p with lips (avoid puh)
k - make sharp click at back of throat
c - as the letter k
h - say h as you breathe sharply out
ch - make a short sneezing sound
x - say a sharp c and add s
You will find it harder to avoid saying uh at the end of these sounds:
d - tap tongue behind the teeth
g - make a soft sound in throat
b - make a short, strong b with lips
j - push lips forward
y - keep edges of tongue against teeth
w - keep lips tightly pursed
qu - keep lips pursed as you say cw
The short vowels should be kept short and sharp:
a - a-a-a (open mouth wide as if taking a bite of an apple)
e - e-e-e (release mouth slightly from ‘a’ position )
i - i-i-i (make a sharp sound at the back of the throat - smile)
o - o-o-o (push out lips, make the mouth into a shape)
u - u-u-u (make the sound in the throat)
All our teachers and teaching assistants have been trained in the RWI
Programme and they can show you how to pronounce these sounds. We hope that you will not hesitate to ask for any help.
THE PROGRAMME
T he children are taught the sounds in 3 sets.
Set 1 Sounds are taught in the following order:
m a s d t , i n p g o , c k u b , f e l h sh , r j v y w , th z ch qu x ng nk

The children are then taught Set 2 Sounds - the long vowels. When they are very confident with all of set 1 and 2 sounds they are taught Set 3 Sounds.
Children learn the 44 sounds using simple picture prompts.
They learn to read words using sound blending (Fred talk).
They then read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out.

Long Vowel Sound	Set 2 Sounds	Set 3 Sounds
ay	ay: may I play	a-e: make a cake	ai: snail in the rain
ee	ee: what can you see	ea: cup of tea	e: he me we she be
igh	igh: fly high	i-e: nice smile
ow	ow: blow the snow	o-e: phone home	oa: goat in a boat
oo	oo: poo at the zoo	u-e: huge brute	ew: chew the stew
oo	oo: look at a book
ar	ar: start the car
or	or: shut the door	aw: yawn at dawn
air	air: that’s not fair	are: care and share
ir	ir: whirl and twirl	ur: nurse with a purse	er: a better letter
ou	ou: shout it out	ow: brown cow
oy	oy: toy for a boy	oi: spoil the boy
ire		ire: fire fire!
ear		ear: hear with your ear
ure		ure: sure it’s pure?

How can I help my child learn to read?

Read as many stories to your child as you can - traditional tales, stories from other cultures, poetry, their favourite story. Talk about the
stories with them.

Explain the meaning of new words. Try to use those words as often as you can throughout the day.

There is more to being a good reader than just being able to read the words accurately. Just as important is being able to understand what has been read. Always talk to your child about the book; about the pictures, the characters, how they think the story will end, their favourite part. You will then be able to see how well they have understood and you will help them to develop good comprehension skills.

Encourage your child to use the
public library regularly.

www.oup.com/oxed/primary/rwi/forparents
www.oxfordowl.co.uk
*type Ruth Miskin and/or RWI into a search engine and there will be any number of websites where information can be found on the
Programme.
** youtube has a wealth of video clips showing RWI in action in classrooms around the country.
*** we hope to develop a RWI section on our school Moodle
website soon with video clips and information for parents about the RWI programme.

Remember children need to
experience a variety of reading materials eg. picture books, hard backs, comics,
magazines, poems, and information books.

If your child says something nearly right to start with that is fine. Don't say 'No. That's wrong,' but 'Let's read it together' and point to the words as you say them. Boost your child's confidence with constant praise for even the smallest achievement.

Useful Websites

Home resources that can be ordered via the website
www.oup.com/oxed/primary/rwi/forparents

Speed sound cards Set 1
32 Picture-letter sound cards

Speed sound cards Set 2+3
32 Sound-phrase picture cards

Read Write Inc Phonics :
Parent handbook