What is Read Write Inc?
RWI is a phonics programme which teaches children to read accurately and fluently with good comprehension. They learn to form each letter, spell correctly, and compose their ideas step-by-step.
Introduction to Read Write Inc
Reading
The children:
- learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letters/letter groups using simple picture prompts
- learn to read words using Fred talk and sound blending
- learn to isolate different sounds in a word. We use a dot under letters where one letter makes one sound and a line under digraphs or trigraphs.
- read from a range of storybooks and non-fictions books matched to their phonic knowledge
- work well with partners
- develop comprehension skills in stories by answering ‘Find It’ and ‘Prove It’ discussion questions.
Writing
The children:
- learn to write and form the letters/letter groups which represent the 44 sounds with the help of fun phrases
- learn to write words by using Fred Talk
- learn to build sentences by practising sentences out loud before they write
Talking
The children work in pairs so they:
- answer every question
- practise every activity with their partner
- take turns in talking and reading to each other
- develop ambitious vocabulary
Key terms and phrases
- Phoneme – a single unit of sound
- Grapheme – How a sound is written using letters (e.g. ‘u’ in ‘book’ is written using ‘oo’)
- Digraph – two letters make one sound (e.g. sh, ch, ai, ea, ou, ow)
- Trigraph – three letters make one sound (e.g. igh, ear, air, ure)
- Split digraph – two letters make one sound but the letters have been split apart by another letter
- Segment – to break down the word into its individual sounds to spell (e.g cat can be split into the sounds c-a-t.)
- Blend – to put or merge the sounds together to make a word (e.g. the sounds d-o-g are blended to the word ‘dog’)
- Fred Talk – Teachers will introduce your child to a toy frog called Fred once he or she is ready to start reading words.