The Funfair - Reinforces The Phonic Sounds ea and ear (as in seat and dear) - Teacher Notes

The 'Funfair' is an educational resource specifically designed to reinforce the phonic sounds 'ea' and 'ear', as found in words like 'seat' and 'dear'. This particular set of teaching notes highlights the importance of phonics in early reading development, offering a structured approach to introduce children to 44 phonic sounds, which are foundational for reading approximately 80% of words in the English language. The resource is suitable for a wide age range, starting from 4 years old, and is particularly beneficial for older children who may be reluctant readers, those with learning difficulties, and learners of English as an additional language.

The teaching packs are intended for either one-to-one sessions or small group learning, involving a teacher or a parent/guardian alongside the child. As children read through the adventures of the character Sam, they are encouraged to search for hidden sounds within the text, promoting active engagement and aiding memory retention. Additional practice pages with cut-outs for matching words to pictures further help to consolidate the learned phonic sounds. The program is designed to be flexible, with packs available for different sounds that can be used in any order, although a suggested sequence is provided for complete beginners. The ultimate goal of the 'Funfair' is to prepare children for independent reading of more complex texts, such as the works of Roald Dahl.