How to use |
Our Golden Rule:
Make the programme fit the child, not the child fit the programme.
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Start here and read these first
Start here and read these first
Here you will find the information you need to navigate the Reading Made Simple website and determine where your child needs to start.
Now Move through the lessons.
Having decided where your child should start, move through the lessons.
For young learners this will be at Level 0.
For older pupils who are having trouble with reading and/or spelling, find out how to assess your child here.
Follow the levels in order and within each level follow the lessons in order.
At the end of each level you will find options as to how to progress with your pupil. These options make Reading Made Simple a truly flexible programme, able to meet the needs of all children.
While it is advised that all children do all levels for spelling (which needs more study than reading), the main reading programme is taught through Levels 1 and 3, although special needs pupils will benefit from doing Levels 2 and 4 for reading as well.
Most levels have supporting resources which are optional.
All of the information from hereon on this page can also be accessed by using the navigation bar at the top of each page.
Having decided where your child should start, move through the lessons.
For young learners this will be at Level 0.
For older pupils who are having trouble with reading and/or spelling, find out how to assess your child here.
Follow the levels in order and within each level follow the lessons in order.
At the end of each level you will find options as to how to progress with your pupil. These options make Reading Made Simple a truly flexible programme, able to meet the needs of all children.
While it is advised that all children do all levels for spelling (which needs more study than reading), the main reading programme is taught through Levels 1 and 3, although special needs pupils will benefit from doing Levels 2 and 4 for reading as well.
Most levels have supporting resources which are optional.
All of the information from hereon on this page can also be accessed by using the navigation bar at the top of each page.
Level 0 - Building a Strong Foundation for reading and spelling
This is the main foundational level for both reading and spelling.
It must be ensured that all pupils are able to do these skills before doing further levels.
At this level we will be working hard to help children to hear sounds in words: first the initial sound, and then moving on to a medial vowel and a final sound and finally to hearing a consonant blend either at the start, or end of a word.
Without these basic skills, children cannot progress securely onto Level 1.
The teaching notes for the Level 0 lessons are provided within each lesson.
It must be ensured that all pupils are able to do these skills before doing further levels.
At this level we will be working hard to help children to hear sounds in words: first the initial sound, and then moving on to a medial vowel and a final sound and finally to hearing a consonant blend either at the start, or end of a word.
Without these basic skills, children cannot progress securely onto Level 1.
The teaching notes for the Level 0 lessons are provided within each lesson.
Please note that at Level 0 time indications are only very approximate. It is important that you are guided by the lesson notes and your child's progress.
Our Golden Rule: Make the programme fit the child, not the child fit the programme.
Our Golden Rule: Make the programme fit the child, not the child fit the programme.
Lessons
- We begin this section by learning the sounds made by the 26 letters of the alphabet.
- We then learn to blend them into words with three sounds with a short vowel sound (a vowel saying its sound not its name - CVC words). We practice these words for reading and spelling.
- We then learn to hear two consonants blended together and we practice reading and spelling CVCC words with a short vowel sound.
- We finish Level 0 with five lessons which prepare the student for Level 1.
Level 0 Lessons
Click on a sound to view the lesson.
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Resources
What next
On completion of Level 0, when your child can easily blend CVC words and has knowledge of the consonant blends, move on to Level 1 below.
Level 1 - Phonics with Ease: Starting to read and spell
- All children need to learn the skills taught in Level 1.
- Level 1 should be completed for both reading and spelling, taught together, one new sound per week, wherever possible*. Trust this speed. It WORKS! We will not expect the child to be perfect in the new sound after one week's study, but by practising the flashcard daily and with plenty of revision and review the child will have plenty of practice using the new sound as the lessons progress.
- Level 1 teaches basic spelling patterns alongside writing simple sentences with full stops and capital letters.
- Level 1 continues to build much needed sound awareness (phonemic awareness).
- The spelling lessons will take one week each and MUST follow the weekly teaching routine. Trust the programme and keep moving through unless your child is having obvious difficulties, in which case consult our troubleshooting tips. Revision is built in and perfection is not expected after each lesson. Knowing the flashcards however is vital, so never omit the daily warm up.
- Special needs pupils may need more than one week on each sound.
- Read these articles before starting to teach the lessons.
Level 1 Lessons - 41 Weeks
Click on a sound to view the lesson.
If you are starting Reading Made Simple for the first time at Level 1, or have a child with special needs, please start with the lessons for the five vowels.
If you have completed Level 0 and your child has no obvious special need, you may start with the 'ck' lesson.
If you are starting Reading Made Simple for the first time at Level 1, or have a child with special needs, please start with the lessons for the five vowels.
If you have completed Level 0 and your child has no obvious special need, you may start with the 'ck' lesson.
Resources (Optional use)
We have a selection of resources that you may find helpful in your teaching.
Be guided by your child as they will not be suitable for all and are not necessary for the programme to work.
Be guided by your child as they will not be suitable for all and are not necessary for the programme to work.
- The Level 1 reading books form a levelled reading scheme to help your child develop reading fluency. They should be read in order, the week after the relevant sound has been taught.
- Workbooks
- Word Lists for revision
- Games
- Worksheets
- Flashcards (but you can make your own)
Decide the way ahead
On completion of Level 1, you must decide which path is best for your child.
Most children should continue to Level 2 for spelling and move on to learn the final sounds of Level 3 to complete the programme for reading.
Special needs pupils may need to move through Level 2 for both reading and spelling.
Use the programme to help your child.
Level 2 - Phonics with Confidence
Although mainly for spelling, Level 2 can also be used as the entry level for remedial readers and writers who need a more advanced knowledge of the sounds introduced in Level 1 to enable them to read fluently and improve their writing, or for special needs pupils who need extra consolidation of Level 1 to improve reading fluency.
- Level 2 will consolidate skills learned in Level 1.
- Level 2 adds another layer, teaching more words in each sound family and more odd words, as well as extending the child's knowledge of grammar and his/her ability to write longer paragraphs, including the use of speech marks and question marks.
- The teaching routine is basically the same as for Level 1, though the warm up may be shorter.
Level 2 Lessons - 39 Weeks
Resources
At Level 2 we have wordlists and workbooks which may be helpful to your child, but again, are not essential.
Level 3 - Advanced Phonic Code
At Level 3 we split into two separate strands for reading and spelling.
- Level 3 should be completed by all children for both reading and spelling though not necessarily at the same time.
- Children may come here straight after Level 1, for reading, while going onto Level 2 for spelling.
- OR, they may come here after Level 2 for reading and/or spelling. in which case they should complete Level 3 for reading and spelling, taking one sound a week as per the spelling programme.
Level 3 Reading Programme
- Reading lessons can be taken at the child's pace and will not include the dictations unless doing the level for both reading and spelling, as the child will do this level again for spelling at a later date.
- I advise much revision of word lists as you move through the programme.
Level 3 Reading spelling Programme
Click on a sound to view the lesson.
Term 1 |
ou (u) |
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Term 2 |
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Term 3 |
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Term 4 |
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Term 5 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
CAN I USE THIS PROGRAMME TO TEACH JUST SPELLING?
Yes! Many families do just that.
My child has speech difficulties. Can I still Use this programme?
I have used RMS to teach children with speech difficulties to read and write. I cannot guarantee any particular child's success, as this depends on innate ability and the quality of teaching (as does any programme), but it is systematic enough to enable you to help your child to progress to his/her maximum capacity to learn. Allow for the programme to take longer.
My child has special needs. Can this programme help?
RMS is highly structured. This means that it removes much of the mental strain required by other phonics programmes which cause many to stumble. If your child had failed with other programmes, then try RMS. You will hopefully be surprised to find that your child starts to make real progress.
Find out where to start your child here.
Find out where to start your child here.
I home educate my child. Can I use this programme?
Absolutely! I home educated my children and have designed RMS to suit the home educating family.
It is easy to use, simple to teach and understand and only takes up to half an hour a day to teach - usually less.
It is easy to use, simple to teach and understand and only takes up to half an hour a day to teach - usually less.
My child has already done phonics but not made progress. Can RMS help?
Yes! As RMS is more highly structured and systematic than other programmes, it reduces the mental load allowing children who have difficulties processing information to succeed. Try it and I hope you find that your child will soon be making progress. Learn where to start your child here.
Will RMS fit in with what my chld is taught in school?
If your child's school teaches phonics, then the answer is YES! However, it will not teach the sounds in the same order. If you teach your child according to this programme at home, your child will start to make progress and s/he may then find it easier to access what is taught in school and if not, s/he will make progress regardless.
Can I use the Scope and Sequence out of Order?
This is not advised. Each lesson builds on the one before, so making learning easy. By jumping around your child will lose out on this structure, become confused and learning may halt.
How was RMS devised?
RMS was devised as a result of our many years teaching reading and Joanne having responsibility for the teaching of reading across the whole school (R to Y6) in an Inner London state school. In our work we drew upon the work of many good folk, such as Mona McNee, Beverly Hornsby, Violet Brand, Dr Joyce Morris an others. We found out those things that work and those that did not. Joanne then home educated her own children, one of whom had a speech delay and special needs. We both then saw the need for our own programme that taught both reading and spelling to a high standard. RMS is a living programme. Joanne still uses it in her work as a private tutor to children aged 5 to 12 with special needs and we are still tweaking it to make sure that it really is the best it can be to help all children progress as easily as possible.
Is RMS available in print?
Sadly no. Longer term I aim to make the programme available in PDF form to download and print at home, but that will be supplied for a small cost, due to the work needed to keep it updated.
Why does Reading Made Simple work when others fail?
- It is more highly structured, systematic and incremental than most other programmes, reducing working memory load, allowing even those with poor auditory processing to make progress.
- Its simple structure/teaching means that children do not even realise they are learning.
- It combines incremental skill development with ample revision through the use of carefully written, sequential dictions, phonic workbooks and reading books (where applicable), making sure that children do not become overwhelmed.
- Because rules are kept to the minimum making it easier for parents and learners.
- It utilises the proven, multisensory tool of the hand in writing to aid not only spelling, but also reading.
Why is Reading Made Simple Free?
RMS is free as I believe that all children should be able to learn to read using the best resources, for FREE, so that none are barred by price. The ability to read is vital for success in life, but more so it allows us to read the Word of God, the Holy Bible, which is the means by which we learn of the way of Salvation from sin through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, shed on Calvary for all those that call upon his name.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Does the fact that RMS is free mean that it is not a good phonic programme?
This is far from the case. It is based on the latest research as to how children learn to read and write, as well as having been formed from our work with many, many children, of differing ages to adulthood, with a combined total of over 40 yrs experience.
I am not a christian. do I have to use the Read the Bible element?
No. The Read the Bible element is there to encourage children to read the Bible as it is the best book to read, showing the way to ETERNAL LIFE through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ for sin. The Authorised Version is actually the simplest version (and the most reliable translation) for a child to read. However it is additional to the programme and not necessary for its success.
Can I use RMS to supplement another programme?
RMS can be used to help a child who is struggling with your existing programme but because the sequence of sound introduction will be different it can not really be used with another programme, but rather instead of. It will teach the same things, but the order of sounds as given by RMS is crucial for the success of the programme as it is planned so carefully that every tiny new concept builds gently builds on the ones before. If you have already used a phonic programme and your child has not made progress, put it to one side and use only RMS, following the simple instructions carefully.
Why are the RMS downloads listed on TPt and Teach Simple?
Teach Simple provides me with a means to earn royalties on my FREE products, however you would need to become a paid member to download 'Paid for' products. Therefore, I sell my PAID products on TPT. This means that I can continue to run RMS for free.
If you have any questions that I have not answered, please contact me.