Week 4, lesson 5 Tricky Words (could, should, would) - Phonics Phase 5, unit 1 - Lesson plan

In the fourth week of Phonics Phase 5, lesson 5, the focus is on the challenging task of reading the tricky words 'could', 'should', and 'would'. The objective is clear: students are set to learn how to confidently read these words, which often do not follow standard phonetic rules. The lesson begins with a 'Word Breaker' activity where a word is spoken aloud and the class breaks it down into its individual phonemes before saying it together again. This warm-up exercise helps students revisit the process of phonemic segmentation and blending, which is a key skill in phonics.

During the 'Teach' phase, the new tricky words are introduced with examples of their use in sentences, providing context to aid memory. The children then participate in calling out each word, reinforcing their recognition and pronunciation. To put this into practice, the 'Tricky Word Race' game involves flashcards of 10-15 tricky words, including the ones learned that day. Children read each word aloud, first individually and then competitively in teams, adding an element of fun and urgency to the learning process. Finally, the 'Apply' stage of the lesson uses mini whiteboards for writing practice, where students write the tricky words and phrases dictated by the teacher, such as "I would if I could!" and "I should go home now." This multi-sensory approach, combining visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities, is designed to help students internalise these tricky words effectively.