I have been concerned to read about schools looking for single specific features in a SSP programme. There are lots of things to consider when choosing what approach to use to phonics teaching - be it sticking with your own programme or investing in a validated one. This video identifies 40 things to think about and discuss in school to identify the approach that will be best for you and the children you teach. I hope you find it helpful in your decision making process.
Following the DfE response to some additional queries I raised with them, I have made another video containing additional information.
This video explains everything we currently know about the future of Letters and Sounds. I am awaiting answers from both the DfE and OFSTED to some questions seeking further clarification on a number of issues. I will post another video(s) when I hear back from them. Register for my newsletter (bottom right hand corner of the home page) to receive a notification when the next video is availble to watch.
The Future Of Letters And Sounds: What You Need to Know April 2021
This month's gold treasure chest resource is a a monster poem for children to complete by changing the singular nouns to plural ones using the 4 different spelling rules for making plurals.
This month's gold treasure chest resource is a set of Phase 2 Silly Questions Boards (2 for each of weeks 4 & 5). The children read each question and identify whether the answer is yes or no.
This month's gold treasure chest resource is a set of Phase 5a Instruction Cube Games (1 for each of weeks 2-5 of Phase 5a using my Phase 5 MT plan). The children roll cubes to make silly/sensible instructions/commands-
This month's gold treasure chest resource is a set of Phase 5b Instruction Cube Games (1 for each week of Phase 5b using my Phase 5 MT plan). The children roll cubes to make silly/sensible instructions/commands-
This month's gold treasure chest resource is a set of Phase 3 Tricky Word Dominoes for spelling
Do the children you work with find it difficult to recognise capital letters?
Although not specificially mentioned in LaS, the phonics lesson would be a good time to teach capital letters for both reading and writing. I would suggest starting at Phase 3, but other practitioners may wish to start at Phase 2.
This month's gold treasure chest resource is a set of capital letter grapheme cards which can be used in various ways during the phonics lesson to help children to be able to recognise capital letters, so they can blend words containing them, as well as helping them learn how to use them for spelling.
This month's gold treasure chest resource is a set of screens on which children have to identify the correct spelling of the phase 2 tricky words the and to. It is called Which One?