ENGLISH
Our aim is that our children will be confident and competent readers and writers, by the time they leave St Mark's. We believe that speaking and listening skills are key to the development of children's literacy skills, and we strive to create a language rich environment, to support the progress of all pupils.
In addition, we would like children to be keen and enthusiastic literacy learners who see reading and writing as pleasurable as well as useful.
We use the literacy framework to support the development, planning and teaching of literacy at St Mark's. You can find the statutory literacy programme of study at the Department for Education website. Here is the link:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/primary/b00198874/english
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD WITH THEIR READING
Research shows that the best way to help your child with their Reading, is to ensure they read for 10 minutes every day. Your child has a reading record that should be completed daily. They will then be entered in to the raffle in Friday's Celebration Worship, in which they can win a book!
Click here for a guide on helping your child with their reading.
Don't forget to visit our friendly librarians at the local library!
HOW WE TEACH PHONICS
At St Mark's, we strive to establish consistent practice, progression and continuity in the teaching and learning of phonics and spelling throughout the school. We differentiate phonics and spelling work according to the needs of pupils, so that pupils are given sufficient challenge at a level at which they can experience success.
We use Read Write Inc to teach phonics. Please click here for a helpful link.
This video will help you with how we say the sounds: How to say the sounds in RWI. It is really important to say the sounds clearly to help your child learn them. We say ‘mmmm’ not ‘muh’ and ‘lllll’ not ‘luh’ when teaching the sounds. This really helps children when they learn to blend sounds together to read words.
What is Fred Talk?
We will introduce your child to a toy frog called Fred once he or she is ready to start reading words.
Fred can only say the sounds in a word and needs your child to help him read the word. Fred will say the sounds and children will work out the word. For example, Fred will say the sounds c–a–t, and children will say the word cat. This is Fred Talk: sounding out the word.
Our English and Phonics policies can be accessed via the Policies section of the website.
HOW WE TEACH SPELLING
Your child will have weekly spellings to learn. We follow the No Nonsense Spelling Scheme, which teaches the children lots of fun ways to learn their spellings.
Can your child read and write the most common words in this list?
Here is a guide to show you the different strategies we use with the children to help them learn their spellings.
RECEPTION 100 HIGH FREQUENCY WORDS
RECEPTION LETTERS AND SOUNDS
SPELLING LIST YEARS ONE AND TWO
| Name | |
|---|---|
| year-1-and-2-spelling-list.pdf | Download |
SPELLING LIST YEARS THREE AND FOUR
| Name | |
|---|---|
| year-3-4-spellings.pdf | Download |
SPELLING LIST YEARS FIVE AND SIX
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Word-list-5-and-6.pdf | Download |