Mastering the <sh> Sound

Activity: Use magnetic letters to physically build and manipulate words, e.g., changing initial letters to create new words (shop, ship, shock).

• Emphasise the difference in sound and meaning.

3. Reading Practice (20 minutes)

• Provide short sentences containing words, e.g., "The fish swim in the shallow shipyard."
• Student reads aloud, focusing on decoding and blending the sound.

Activity:

• Use flashcards with mixed and non- words; the student sorts them into correct categories based on sound.
• Timed reading to develop fluency with instant corrective feedback.

4. Spelling and Writing (20 minutes)

• Dictate sentences with words for the student to write down.
• Focus on phoneme-grapheme mapping: segmenting the word into sounds and writing the corresponding letters.

Activity:

• Word building from sounds: say a word with , and the student writes it down, then checks with a flashcard.
• Use a personal dictionary: student records new or tricky words with pictures or definitions for revision.

5. Creative Application (15 minutes)

• Encourage the student to create 3 sentences or a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) using at least 5 different words.
• Discuss meaning and pronunciation of self-created sentences.

Optional Extension:

• Use audio recording to record the student reading their sentences, then listen back to self-assess pronunciation and fluency.

6. Review and Assessment (6 minutes)

• Quick quiz of identifying sounds from a list of words read aloud.
• Spelling test on 3-5 words from the session.
• Oral assessment: student pronounces words presented by teacher without written prompts.

Assessment aligned to:

• National Curriculum, English - spelling and phonics knowledge (KS3).
• Informal assessment of phoneme recognition, decoding, and accurate spelling.

Differentiation

• For any phonological processing difficulties, slow down pace, use multi-sensory activities (e.g., air-writing shape).
• Use physical articulation aids (e.g., speech mirror).
• For advanced learners, challenge with less common words (e.g., "shroud", "marsh").

Reflection and Next Steps

• Encourage student to practise reading aloud daily using a mix of words and sentences.
• Plan follow-up sessions to build on other consonant digraphs and blends (e.g., , , ).
• Suggest parental engagement: practice spotting sounds in everyday reading materials.

This session is designed to build fundamental phonics skills crucial for confident reading and spelling in Year 7, respecting the depth and rigour required by the National Curriculum for England. By combining articulation, phonics awareness, reading fluency, spelling, and creative writing, this one-to-one plan tailors to individual learning needs while keeping the student fully engaged.