During week 1 of your placement, you should arrange to visit an EYFS or Yr. 1 classroom to observe two phonics sessions. These observations could be in two different classrooms or in the same one – whatever works better for you and your expert colleagues at school. If you are based in KS1, the teaching of phonics will be integral to your experience. However, if you are based in KS2, you will need to organise this with your teacher mentor and colleagues in EYFS/ KS1. These observations will allow you to develop and consolidate what you have learnt in the university taught sessions about pure sounds, blending and segmenting. Join in with what the children are doing, so you get the chance to practise using the sounds and strategies you have been learning about.
Complete the Phonics and Early Reading Observation Template for each observation and bring these documents with you to the next taught session on 09.10.26.
During weeks 2 – 3 of your placement, revisit one of the classrooms where you observed previously in order to support the teaching of phonics during one session. Depending on what is acceptable to the school and your expert colleagues, this might involve:
- Teaching or team teaching an element of a phonics lesson, with guidance and support
- Supporting the children’s learning, as an additional adult, during a phonics lesson
Note: there is no expectation that you will plan and teach a complete phonics lesson, independently, at this stage.