Stage 1

Foundation Phonics

This stage of the reading program is suitable for children who are able to formulate a sentence verbally, but has no knowledge of the alphabet or letter sounds. Children as young as 3 years old can start this stage of the reading program.

We start with verbal activities, then we introduce letter sounds and blending. Once children grasp the concept of blending we introduce them to a few high frequency words and basic sentences.

Below are the skills that will be explored during this stage.

Phonological Awareness

Phonological Awareness is the ability to hear the smallest unit of sounds in words.

This means that children are able to clap syllables, recognise first sounds in words, listen to rhyming pairs.

Phonological Awareness is a pre-reading skill.

Activities

Syllable Claps

This activity requires children to break words into chunks.

There are 4 categories that children need to sort images into.

The activity is quick and easy and does not require any alphabet knowledge.

Activity

Same Sound

This activity requires children to listen for the same sounds at the beginning of words.

They then categorise it as YES or NO. This activity is suitable for children who do not have any alphabet knowledge.

Activities

Rhyming Pairs

This activity requires children to find and match the pairs that rhyme.

The activity is quick and easy and does not require any alphabet knowledge.

Activity

Letter Sounds

We introduce children to the letters of the alphabet using a scope and sequence that allows children to start the reading process before knowing ALL the letter sounds.

The activities are interactive and promotes independent practice.

This is suitable for children as young as 3 years old, without any prior alphabet knowledge.

Alphabet Books

Blending

We use the scope and sequence to introduce children to the basics of blending. This allows children to use the letter sounds that they know, and blend them into words.

This is where comprehension flourishes. Children now understand how letters form words.

Activity

Sentence Reading

Once children are able to blend 3-4 letters to form words, we introduce them to a few high frequency words.

We start with the word THE, and use it to introduce them to basic decodable sentences. This is where comprehension is tested.

Activities