Read with an adult. Take your time. You can say, point, draw or write your answer.
1 Let's look together
Some very common words have a part that does not use the sound-spelling pattern we might expect. We call them common exception words.
Read were, was and is with your adult. Say the sounds and point to the letters that behave as expected. Your adult points out the surprising part. Read the whole word again instead of guessing from its shape.
werewasishishasIyouyourthey
Look, point and talk with your adult.
2 Watch how I do it
I look at were. I say it, notice the letters with my adult, cover it, write it and uncover it to check every letter. Then I read it in a short sentence.
3 Your turn
Find and read was on the word cards. Which letters must you remember?
Have a go before opening the answer.
Let's check together
Read the printed word was. The adult identifies its expected and unusual sound-spelling parts for the child's phonics programme.
4 Try it away from the page
Choose two words. Read each in a sentence, look closely, cover it, write it from memory and check. Revisit the same words tomorrow before adding two more.
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Adult notes · prerequisites, safety and coverage
Teach a small group at a time and follow the school's chosen phonics progression. The listed words complete the national-curriculum Year 1 example bank, but schools may teach other exception words. Do not teach whole-word shape guessing.
Read instructions aloud. Word-reading practice must match the child's taught sounds. The phonics pages support, but do not replace, the school's systematic synthetic phonics programme. Shared stories are adult-read unless the child can decode them. Re-read and practise daily.
Read common exception words, noticing unusual spellings.
Spell common exception words and the days of the week.