The power of labels - learning to sound out and write words
In Year One, one of the first steps in helping the children to become confident readers and writers is teaching them how to sound out words and label objects. This foundational skill not only boosts their literacy but also empowers them to see the world around them in a new way.
Sounding Out Words: Building Confidence
In Year One, the children build on what they were taught in Reception involving sounding out and decoding words. This means breaking words into individual sounds and blending them together to form the whole word. For example, when children encounter the word "tree," they learn to break it down into "t... r... ee," and then blend the sounds together to say the word correctly. This method helps them understand the relationship between sounds and letters, which is key for both reading and writing.
Writing Labels: Connecting Words to the World
Once children become familiar with sounding out words, the next step is to use those words to label objects around them. Labelling is a fun and meaningful way to help children practice writing. During the lesson, the children were given some post it notes and had the opportunity to use their decoding skills to label everyday items like "book," "window," and "pencil." By associating words with objects they see and use every day, children start to understand how writing is not just an academic exercise, but a way to communicate and describe the world around them.
Labelling also helps children develop their fine motor skills, as they practice writing letters and forming words. As children progress, and their confidence builds they will be able to apply their skills to write short sentences.
