We are absolutely bursting with pride at how well our Reception (FS2) children have settled into their Little Wandle Letters and Sounds journey! Starting phonics is one of the most exciting milestones in school, and the progress we’ve seen over the last few weeks has been nothing short of amazing.
The children have shown incredible focus during our daily lessons.
Our Big Wins So Far
We have been busy learning our Phase 2 sounds, and the children are already becoming experts at:
- Recognising Graphemes: Linking a letter shape to its sound with lightning speed.
- Oral Blending: Hearing sounds like c-a-t and shouting out “cat!” before we even show them the word.
No Learning Opportunity Missed
In F2, we make sure phonics is woven into the very fabric of our day so that no learning opportunity is missed. We don’t just “do” phonics on the carpet; we live it!
- Door Passwords: To move from the classroom to the outdoor area, children “tap in” by saying the Phonics Password of the day taped to the door frame.
- Graphemes on Sleeves: You may see children wearing a sound on their sleeve. This encourages the children to spot and say the sound as they walk past, turning a simple trip to the cloakroom. or linking up into a chance to practice!
- Phonics in Play: Whether they are digging in the sand or painting, we hide sounds and words everywhere for children to discover during their “choosing time.”
Supporting Your Reader at Home
The most important thing you can do at home is to keep phonics fun and stress-free!
- Read Together: Your child will bring home a Sharing Book. This is for you to read to Talk about the pictures, use funny voices, and enjoy the story together.
- Say the Sound: When you see letters at home (on cereal boxes or street signs), use the “Pure Sound.” Avoid saying “muh” for m or “suh” for s—keep it short and crisp!
- Play “I Spy”: “I spy with my little eye, something beginning with d…” (Remember to use the sound d, not the letter name!).
For further help with phonics go to the Little Wandle parents help page, you can find the link below!
