[SENco-forum] High Frequency Words Reading Schemes

I separate High Frequency words into phonic first (for those who can do this
easily) and then the more unusual spelling rules (was) or irregular words-
here.

The children I work with do not pick up on the hidden rules unless they are
explained and even then they are often not very helpful  - w/a makes either
'o' or 'or' sound depending on whether it is wash or wall and they often
cannot decide which so they are no better off.

 Instead I would use word families starting with something they do know (
their choice) and this is usually 'ball'  - fall   wall   etc.,   Horses for
course.

'yacht' is best taught only when the student first needs to use it. I must
have written it at least ....5 times in 45 years!   The High frequency list
is designed to get readers reading and spelling comes after once the words
have a chance of being more familiar.

Sharon

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk]On Behalf Of Philip
MacMillan
Sent: 17 January 2008 12:15
To: jenni bailey; senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: Re: [senco-forum] High Frequency Words Reading Schemes

Be careful about filling a child's head with so called 'sight' words as this
is teaching English orthography as if the script was a pictographic script
and not alphabetic.   There are very few truly sight words in English.   For
example in 'yacht' the /y/ and the /t/ are as you would expect, in 'want was
wash wall' etc. the w is changing the sound of the /a/ to /o/, in 'one' the
/n/ is as you would expect in 'once' only the o does not fit the rule.  A
book on the most common spelling rules might help.  Avoid the Doltch list as
most of the words there DO follow the rules and if they are taught as
'sight' words you may well confuse the learner as to how the writing system
all works.

Philip EP

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