See and Learn First Written Words

See and Learn First Written Words is the second step in the See and Learn Language and Reading programme.

About this step

See and Learn First Written Words uses reading as a support to language development. It will help your child learn to read 16 familiar written words and also to develop his/her understanding and use of 34 phrases containing two 'key' words.

Please note: This pack is designed to be completed at the same time as See and Learn More Word Pictures which will help increase your child's vocabulary.

When to start this step

See and Learn First Written Words is designed for use with children who have completed See and Learn First Word Pictures, i.e. children who understand more than 50 single words and who are able to match pictures. 

How do children learn to read written words?

See and Learn First Written Words is based on what we know about how children learn to read written words.

Learning to read written words opens a gateway for learning about the world and can provide a great source of pleasure for all children. Children will be better prepared for learning to read if they have had enjoyable experiences with books. Sharing books with an adult is important for developing children's attention skills and for their language development.

Children usually learn to read written words in a typical pattern:

• First they begin to recognise a small number of familiar words, often beginning with their name. They recognise the word as a whole, rather like a picture or shape - this is generally called 'sight' reading. The activities in See and Learn First Written Words encourage your child to develop 'sight' reading of 16 words.
• Later on they develop an awareness of the individual letters and groups of letters in words, and how they represent different sounds. This skill can be used to read new words.

It is also important that children understand the meaning of the words and sentences that they are able to read. This is called 'reading for meaning'.

Find out more about language development...

Activities

See and Learn First Written Words consists of four activities:

• Activity 1 - Matching First Written Words
• Activity 2 - Selecting First Written Words
• Activity 3 - Naming First Written Words
• Activity 4 - Match First Written Phrases to Pictures

Find out more about these activities...

Vocabulary

See and Learn First Written Words helps children learn to read 16 familiar words through a series of activities based on 34 phrases/short sentences containing two 'key' words.

Getting started with this step

Before starting any of the activities in this step, you need to:

• read this guidance about progressing through the activities in See and Learn First Written Words
• prepare the resources needed for the activity