Posted by Sophie on Mon 20th June 2016
As the Phonics Screening Check creeps ever closer, I have seen lots of questions about what to do and what not to do. So here are 6 things to do to and 6 things not to do when administering the screening to your students. The screening check pass mark will be published Monday 27th June 2016! Good luck, I will be doing it along side you with my own little monsters!
To do:
1. Photocopy and laminate the check, this way students can go through one word at a time and are not bombarded by a page of words. They can also scribble and put sound buttons on to help.
2. Talk to them about the check at the start, ask them what kind of words they think ones with aliens next to will be. This will make them feel ready and recognise something familiar about it.
3. Let them work at their own pace, students must recognise when to move on to a new word.
4. Be sure not to have the answer sheet in eye line, most children are quick to notice if you are crossing or ticking depending on what they have said. Having this close can be a distraction and in some cases make them anxious about getting it wrong. As it is best to have two checkers get one to sit a little further and have the answer sheet to avoid distraction.
5. Localised language is taken into consideration, so if you know that your student knows the word and perhaps they way that they say a ‘t’ sounds a little funny, it at your discretion and whether you think it is sounded correctly.
6. Turn the check into something fun, although in the guidelines positive reinforcement after getting a word correct is not allowed, creating a positive environment for the check is. Be sure to tell your student how hard they tried at the end. Think about a reward sticker or house point that they could have after they have finished the check.
Not to do:
1. Do not tell them to read the word again- this has to be their decision.
2. Do not give them a look as if to say try again.
3. Do not tick the word if they haven’t read it correctly.
4. Do not rush them- they need to work through at their own pace.
5. Do not have more than one student taking the check with you at the same time.
6. Do not allow other children to hear the check as it is happening until it is their turn.
Take a look at the website for more guidance and a clip on how to administer the check:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-sampl...