Learning to read and write… “It’s not rocket science.” Have you ever heard this expression? Well in recent years, researchers have come out to say that reading IS like rocket science, meaning it is a complex neural process.
Did you know that in the English language, there are around 44 phonemes (sounds), but there are around 250 graphemes (letters or letter groups that correspond to a single sound). This is because every phoneme (sound) corresponds to more than one grapheme (letter or letter groups) across different words. Do you know how many graphemes make a long a sound? The answer is 8!
- ai (as in main)
- ay (as in hay)
- a_e (as in race)
- a (as in apron)
- ei (as in rein)
- ey (as in they)
- ea (as in steak)
- eigh (as in weigh)
Our spelling rules can also be very complicated. Here’s an example.
I before E except when your foreign neighbor Keith receives eight counterfeit beige sleighs from feisty caffeinated weightlifters. WEIRD.
In Year 1, we systematically work through the 44 phonemes using Chitter Chatter Chant cards to help us remember the grapheme choices. We practice everyday, reading and writing words using these graphemes and we are incredibly proud of the learning taking place. Who knows, we might have some future rocket scientists amongst us!
Mrs Limbrey and Miss Cecil
Year 1 Teachers