How we teach your child to read

We believe that learning to read is the key to unlocking knowledge for children, and because of this we have been working hard to ensure children have a range of opportunities for reading.  Learning to read is a journey and many skills need to be developed along the way.  We start this journey as soon as the children start at St Joseph's.

Phonics

At St Joseph's, we use the Read Write Inc (RWI) Phonics Programme to get children in EYFS and Key Stage 1, off to a flying start with their language, reading and writing skills. RWI Phonics is a method of learning centred around letter sounds and phonics, and we use it to aid children in their reading and writing.

Reading opens the door to learning. A child who reads a lot will become a good reader. A good reader will be able to read more challenging material. A child who reads challenging material is a child who will learn. The more a child learns, the more he or she will want to find out.

How does RWI Phonics help children write?

• Learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent 44 sounds.

• Learn to write words by saying the sounds in Fred Talk

• Write simple sentences

Reading at Home

One of the greatest gifts that you can give to your child is a love of reading. Research has shown that one of the biggest indicators of success in a child's life is whether or not they have books in the home. As a parent, try to focus on making reading fun and enjoyable rather than getting bogged down in trying to teach nitty gritty skills.

Please make home reading a part of your daily routine. Your child has a Reading Diary and we encourage you to write a comment about the book you shared together.