PGCE LectureMiddlesex University

Systematic Synthetic Phonics

The Rose Report:The Rose Report: independent review of independent review of the teaching of early the teaching of early

readingreading20062006

CONTEXT

Recommendations

•High quality phonic work as the

first approach to reading.

•To foster speaking and listening skills.

•To blend in order left to right through

•the word.

•HFW – discuss the ‘tricky bit’

There are statutory amendments to the National Curriculumin En2 reading and the EYFS

What is synthetic phonics?

It refers to an approach to the teaching of reading in which the phonemes (sounds) associated with particular graphemes (letters) are pronounced in isolation and blended together (synthesised).

What is systematic phonics instruction?

‘Phonics instruction is systematic when all the major grapheme-phoneme correspondences are taught and they are covered in a clearly defined sequence.’

Review into the Teaching of Early Reading

(2006: 17)

Rose report : key recommendations

The teaching of early reading should be contextualised within a broad and rich

multi-sensory language curriculum, i.e:– Varied opportunities to listen and talk– Quality reading experiences, i.e. being read to,

sharing or independently reading from a range of reading materials, e.g. poetry, narrative, non-fiction.

– A holistic view of learning that makes sensible links between subject areas.

– Appropriate use of ICT.

Background

• Rose Review in the Teaching of Early Reading 2006• Changes in the statutory requirements of National Curriculum and

Early Years Foundation Stage to reflect new focus on phonics• Letters and Sounds resources sent to all schools 2007• Emphasis on systematic phonics teaching ( synthetic regarded as

best approach)• Increasing attention on systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) as main

teaching approach in early reading 2010• Government’s decision on a phonics screening check for 6 year

olds 2010 ( pilot 2011 and rolled out 2012)• Change in criteria for phonics programmes 2010 now includes

‘decodable books’• New standards for Teachers (2012) includes ability to demonstrate

a clear understanding of SSP.

The English language has 44 phonemes

and 26 letters• A phoneme can be represented by one or

more letters. E.g. t kn igh• The same phoneme can be represented

(spelt) in more than one way. E.g. rain may lake

• The same grapheme may represent more than one phoneme .E.g mean deaf field tried

Alphabetic codePhonemes are represented

by graphemes

The skill of Blending

(synthesising)READING

The skill of Segmenting

SPELLING

C a t = cat Cat = c a t

Blending and segmenting are reversible processes

The four principles of SSP

Learn grapheme/phoneme (letter/ sound) correspondences (the alphabetic code) in a clearly defined, incremental sequence (GPC);

Apply the highly important skill of blending (synthesising) phonemes, in order, all through a word to read it;

Apply the skills of segmenting words into their constituent phonemes to spell;

Blending and segmenting are reversible processes.

11

A segmenting activityA segmenting activity

Segment these words into their constituent Segment these words into their constituent phonemes:phonemes:

shelfshelf

dressdress

thingthing

boatboat

eighteightAnswers on next slide

SegmentingSegmenting

WORDWORD PHONEMESPHONEMES

shelfshelf shsh ee ll ff

dressdress dd rr ee ssss

thingthing thth ii ngng

boatboat bb oaoa tt

eighteight eigheigh tt

Phonic TerminologyThese terms can be used with children

• Phoneme

• Grapheme

• Digraph• Split digraph

• Trigraph

• Blending

• Segmenting

Support Resources

• UniHub University resources ( Rose Review, planning templates and examples, Letters and Sounds Handbook, observation prompts)

• Websites ( National Archives, )

• Software ( Multimedia, Splash)

A phonics quiz

• What is a phoneme?• What is oral blending?• What is a digraph/ Give an example.

• How many ways to spell the /ie/ sound?• What is a grapheme?• What is a tricky word

• What do the letters GPC mean?

Phonic Resource

Any programme that meets the criteria for high quality phonic work:

Jolly Phonics

Read Write Inc

Phase 1 in Letters and SoundsSummary

• Distinguishing between different sounds e.g. environment, instruments, body percussion, speech.

• Awareness and experimenting with speech sounds and words e.g. alliteration and rhymes.

• Beginning to orally blend and segment phonemes.

Phase 2 in Letters and SoundsSummary

• The start of systematic phonic work.• Introduction of the GPCs (grapheme-phoneme

correspondences)• 19 letters in 5 sets over 6 weeks• 1st set is s a t p• Teaching a letter – hear it , say it and write it.• Blending and segmenting VC and CVC words.• Read high frequency words HFW• Also introduce two syllable words and captions

Phonological awareness

units of soundsin words

Syllables

carpark

onset and rimec arsp in intr ee

Phonemesc a t

s p i n