At St Botolph’s Academy we use the Read Write Inc (RWI) programme to get children off to a flying start with their literacy.  RWI is a method of learning, centred around letter sounds and phonics, and we use it to aid children in their reading and writing.

Reading opens the door to learning. A child who reads a lot will become a good reader.  A good reader will be able to read more challenging material.  A child who reads challenging material is a child who will learn.  The more a child learns, the more he or she will want to find out.

Using RWI, the children learn to read effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into comprehending what they read.  It also allows them to spell effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into composing what they write.

When using RWI to read the children will:

• Learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple picture prompts
• learn to read words using Fred Talk
• read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out
• show that they comprehend the stories by answering questions.

Below is a link to a video clip which shows the programme in action and explains everything, especially ‘Fred talk’!

http://www.oup.com/oxed/primary/rwi/aboutrwi/video/

Below is further information on how you can support at home and most importantly a useful guide on how to pronounce each sound!

http://fdslive.oup.com/www.oup.com/oxed/primary/literacy/rwi/rwi_parent_faqs.pdf?region=uk

Please also look at the Oxford Reading Owl on

http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/