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Reception English · ReceptionChapter 7 · Segmenting and writing words
Reception English and phonics · Segmenting and writing words · Lesson 7.1

Reception English and phonics: Splitting short words into sounds

Part of the Reception English and phonics segmenting and writing words chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

7.1

Splitting short words into sounds

Reception
Split a short word into its sounds, Write one box for each sound

Kit has a picture of a cat. Kit says the word slowly: /k/ /a/ /t/. Each sound gets one box.

We call this segmenting. It means splitting a word into its sounds.

Write one letter in each box, in the same order as the sounds.

cat
Cat has three sounds, so it has three boxes.

Key ideas

  • Segmenting means splitting a word into its sounds.
  • Write one box for each sound.
  • Write the letters in the same order as the sounds.
Worked example 7.1.1
Look at the picture. Write the letters for its name, one box at a time, in order.

cat

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

  1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
    cat
  2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
    c - a - t
  3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
    c-a-t

Check. Read the letters back: c-a-t. They spell cat. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Worked example 7.1.2
Look at the picture. Write the letters for its name, one box at a time, in order.

dog

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

  1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
    dog
  2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
    d - o - g
  3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
    d-o-g

Check. Read the letters back: d-o-g. They spell dog. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Worked example 7.1.3
Look at the picture. Write the letters for its name, one box at a time, in order.

bed

Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.

  1. Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.
    bed
  2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
    b - e - d
  3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
    b-e-d

Check. Read the letters back: b-e-d. They spell bed. ✓

Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.

Watch out

Watch out: write the letters in the order you say the sounds. Do not put them in a different order.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say the word slowly. Ask the child to tap one finger for each sound, then write one box for each tap.

Exercise 7A  Splitting short words

1
FLook at the picture. Write the letters for its name, one box at a time, in order.

cat
2
FLook at the picture. Write the letters for its name, one box at a time, in order.

dog
3
FLook at the picture. Write the letters for its name, one box at a time, in order.

pig
4
FLook at the picture. Write the letters for its name, one box at a time, in order.

hat
5
FLook at the picture. Write the letters for its name, one box at a time, in order.

bed
6
FLook at the picture. Write the letters for its name, one box at a time, in order.

sun
7
FLook at the picture. Write the letters for its name, one box at a time, in order.

bus
8
FHow many boxes do you need for the word pen? Write the number.

pen
9
FHow many boxes do you need for the word duck? Remember that ck is one sound.

duck
10
RBen writes the word cat in four boxes. Is he right? Explain.

cat
11
PSWrite the letters of the word mud, one box at a time, in order.
12
PSWrite the letters of the word pin, one box at a time, in order.
13
PSWrite the letters of the word map, one box at a time, in order.
14
PSLook at the picture of a sock. Write the letters of its name, one box for each sound.

sock
15
PSLook at the picture of a rug. Write the letters of its name, one box for each sound.

rug
16
PSLook at the picture of a net. Write the letters of its name, one box for each sound.
17
RSam writes the sounds of pig as p - g - i. Is he right? Explain.

pig

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