Reception English and phonics: Tricky words: the, to, I, no, go

Method. A tricky word does not follow the sounds, so learn how it looks.

1. Look at the whole word. Learn the shape of the word.
   the
2. Say the word. Say it the same way each time.
   the
3. Find it again. Compare each word in the list with the word you are looking for.
   the is the word.

Check. Read the word again. It is the. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words cannot be sounded out in the usual way, so look at the whole word.

Method. A tricky word does not follow the sounds, so learn how it looks.

1. Look at the whole word. Learn the shape of the word.
   to
2. Say the word. Say it the same way each time.
   to
3. Find it again. Compare each word in the list with the word you are looking for.
   to is the word.

Check. Read the word again. It is to. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words cannot be sounded out in the usual way, so look at the whole word.

Method. A tricky word does not follow the sounds, so learn how it looks.

1. Look at the whole word. Learn the shape of the word.
   no
2. Say the word. Say it the same way each time.
   no
3. Find it again. Compare each word in the list with the word you are looking for.
   no is the word.

Check. Read the word again. It is no. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words cannot be sounded out in the usual way, so look at the whole word.

Method. A tricky word does not follow the sounds, so learn how it looks.

1. Look at the whole word. Learn the shape of the word.
   go
2. Say the word. Say it the same way each time.
   go
3. Find it again. Compare each word in the list with the word you are looking for.
   go is the word.

Check. Read the word again. It is go. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words cannot be sounded out in the usual way, so look at the whole word.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
   I can see ___ dog.
2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
   the
3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
   I can see the dog.

Check. Read the sentence again: I can see the dog.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
   We walk ___ the park.
2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
   to
3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
   We walk to the park.

Check. Read the sentence again: We walk to the park.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
   ___ can see the sun.
2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
   I
3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
   I can see the sun.

Check. Read the sentence again: I can see the sun.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
   Mia said ___, thank you.
2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
   no
3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
   Mia said no, thank you.

Check. Read the sentence again: Mia said no, thank you.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

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.
   to
2. Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.
   t - o
3. Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.
   t-o

Check. Read the letters back: t-o. They spell to. ✓

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

Method. Look at the whole word, then count the letters.

1. Look at the word. Read the whole word.
   the
2. Count the letters. Count each letter once.
   t, h, e
3. Write the answer.
   3 letters.

Check. Count again: t, h, e. There are 3. ✓

Watch out. Count letters, not sounds, for this count.

Method. Think about the answer that means not yes.

1. Think about the meaning. The answer that means not yes is a short tricky word.
   not yes
2. Look for the word. It has two letters.
   n, o
3. Write the answer.
   no

Check. no means not yes. ✓

Watch out. Read the word on sight.

Method. Look at the sounds of the word.

1. Say the letters. The e does not say /e/ here.
   t - h - e
2. Think about the sounds. Some words do not follow the usual sounds.
   learn by sight
3. Give your answer. Say what to do with tricky words.
   Accept any answer that says no: th and e do not give the usual sounds, so the is learned by sight.

Check. The is a tricky word, so learn its look. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look.

Method. Find the word go in the list.

1. Look at the list. Read each word on sight.
   go, so, on
2. Find go. go is the tricky word in the list.
   go
3. Write the answer.
   go

Check. go is in the list. ✓

Watch out. Compare the look of each word, not its sound.