OVERVIEW

• All the card games take a very short amount of time to play and so concentration is maintained
• There is a competitive spirit adding a bit of fun but, with some of the games requiring luck, the games are not taken seriously but reading is achieved
• Match it, Take it and Use it can be played with more than two players
• There are no pictures on the cards to affect peoples reading skills
• The games are ageless, to the extent that teenagers are more than happy to play the card games
• Because there are 4 styles of card games at each stage reinforcement of each reading stage is inevitable
• Can be played and enjoyed over and over again

Detailed Instruction Booklet gives an explanation about the teaching of the specific phonic sounds .  

Clue cards contains a shortened explanation for the pupil to have alongside them to help recall.  

Assessment booklets  monitor  individual progress and ensure that text is read and encouraged.   

Important irregular high frequency words are introduced, but  the card games are free from rogue words, allowing the reading skills of an individual to develop and become successful.  

Reinforcement and consolidation of each phonic reading stage are  internalised by the individual so that the complex decoding of reading becomes a manageable and enjoyable exercise.   

Structured to be used alongside other phonic programmes, giving breadth and extra materials in order to support an individual.   

Uses text only to ensure reading mastery rather than using picture clues and the card games ensure that the reading experience is enjoyable as well as successful

Four phonic games:

Guess it

• The master card ensures that the 'reader' can always see the words This helps mastery since they read the words over and over without realising.
• When a word is not guessed and put to the bottom of the pack the 'reader' learns to read that word in their head since they need to remember it for later.
• The 'helper' can choose to read difficult words so that the 'reader' can then read them later!
• It is the quickest of all the games to play.
• The 'helper' always goes last so the 'reader' will always win the last cards. This boosts their confidence!
• Guess it can be used for single consonants and isolated vowel sounds before whole word reading.

Match it

• Match it can be played with 2 or more players.
• There is skill in deciding which card to play
• The players are unaware how much reading they are achieving as they are so intent on playing the game.
• The delight in getting a 'TRUGS' card to change the colour and confuse the opposition brings in the laughter and takes away reading stress.

Take it

• Take it enables over learning, by re-reading the whole set each time cards are 'taken'.
• The 'reader' will also learn to listen to the 'helper' when they read a complicated word.
• There is a hysterical atmosphere since there is no skill in the game and the cards are constantly being 'taken'!
• A player soon learns to listen to other players reading words, since they know they may well have to read the same words if they ‘take’ them later, thus maintaining interest.

Use it

• Use It begins to develop their skills in sentence construction.
• The 'helper' can encourage good use of language and award a bonus point at their discretion
• the 'reader' can be helped with sentence construction i.e. only use ‘and’ once, and suggesting using linking words like 'because' etc.
• it gives the 'reader' an opportunity to demonstrate their sentence construction skills without the constraints of having to write.