Whole-class phonics lessons are essential for building early reading skills, but they can be challenging for some children who require additional support. As a teaching assistant (TA), your role is crucial in ensuring these focus pupils stay engaged, make progress, and feel confident in their learning. Here are some top tips to help you provide the best support in whole-class phonics sessions.
Before any lesson, take time to understand the specific needs of your focus children. Know the children’s strengths and areas of need. Are they struggling with recognising graphemes, blending to read words or segmenting words to spell? Knowing their strengths and challenges will allow you to provide tailored support.
Tip: Keep a record of their progress and challenges to inform your support strategies.
Collaboration is key. When teachers and TAs work together effectively, we can ensure that every child receives the support they need to develop strong reading and spelling skills. Regular communication with the class teacher is essential to ensure consistency in support strategies. Share observations and discuss adjustments needed for individual children. Schedule regular planning meetings to discuss lesson objectives, activities, and student progress. Share lesson plans in advance and outline the specific roles and responsibilities for each session. This will ensure a clear understanding of learning goals and will ensure all children are supported effectively.
Tip: Provide feedback on what worked well and any additional support required to tailor future lessons.
Some children may benefit from a brief pre-teaching session before the whole-class phonics lesson. Introducing graphemes and spelling rules in a smaller, quieter setting can build their confidence and provide a foundation for the main session.
Tip: Use engaging resources like flashcards and multi-sensory materials to reinforce learning.
Visual aids such as sound mats, flashcards, magnetic letters, phoneme frames and gesture-based cues can be invaluable for focus children. Think about your positioning when sitting next to your focus children. Can they all see the resources clearly?
Tip: Encourage children to refer to visual aids independently during the lesson to build confidence.
Some children may need extra processing time or repetition of instructions to fully grasp concepts. Be prepared to model the task step-by-step and repeat key instructions using simple language.
Tip: Pair verbal instructions with gestures or visual prompts to support understanding.
Praise effort and progress rather than perfection. Encourage pupils with positive reinforcement, such as verbal praise, stickers, or small rewards, to boost their confidence and motivation.
Tip: Focus on specific praise such as “Great effort in blending those sounds together!”
Help your focus children feel included by encouraging them to participate in group activities. Provide them with opportunities to respond to questions or demonstrate their learning with support. Do they still feel included in the whole-class teaching?
Tip: Offer sentence starters or guided prompts to help them feel more comfortable sharing their answers.
During the lesson, observe your focus children closely to identify when they need extra support. Use scaffolding techniques such as breaking down words into smaller parts or using hand gestures to reinforce phoneme-grapheme correspondences. Use blending and spelling techniques and as before, have resources to hand to provide that additional scaffold when needed.
Tip: Encourage self-correction by asking guiding questions like “Does that sound right?” or “Try again with a different sound.”
Pairing focus children with peers can provide additional support and boost their confidence. Peer learning can be beneficial when children explain phonics concepts to each other.
Tip: Choose buddies who are patient and encouraging to create a positive learning environment.
By implementing these strategies, you can create a supportive and inclusive environment that helps your focus children thrive in whole-class phonics lessons. Your encouragement and tailored support play a vital role in their learning journey, fostering both their skills and confidence.
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