When we think about teaching our pupils to write, we need to be aware that there are several layers to it, each needing focused work.

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Pupils need to learn:

• how to form the letter shapes (write individual letters), and at the same time understand the relationship between these and the speech sounds (phonemes),

• how to spell and write single words using their phonic knowledge and skills,

• how to put words together to create and write a meaningful sentence, in which words are in the right order,

• how to put sentences together to create and write meaningful text such as a narrative, instructions or a letter.

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Rainbow Writers is divided into 7 packs that match to Sets 1-7 of the Phonics for Pupils with Special Educational Needs programme. The packs are compatible with many other phonics programmes that use the same Sets 1-7 teaching sequence of sounds.

 

Rainbow Writers work on all the layers of writing with pupils, matched to the phonics they are working on in class. Activities include:

• Letter formation - letter formation practise cards

• Matching lower and upper case letters - movable alphabet

• Building words - single word spelling and writing

• Spelling practise

• Building sentences - colour coding related to syntax and semantics 

• Writing a story - scaffolded story about Tat, the magic cat

• Creating a book - from storyboard to book