When children realise that letters are a code they can crack, reading becomes exciting instead of scary. In our Phonics Power‑Up Level 2 class, P.1 learners practise vowel teams, consonant blends, and multi‑syllable chunking so that challenging words—“boycott,” “employ,” “convoy,” “avoid,” even “paranoid”—become readable step by step.
Who Level 2 is for
- Primary 1 students who know basic short vowels and most single‑letter sounds
- Children who mix up vowel teams (oy/oi, ai/ay, oa/ow) or lose confidence with longer words
- Readers who need faster blending for classroom fluency
The routines we use
- Pattern Preview (1–2 mins)
- Highlight the target spelling (oy/oi). We ask: “What sound does oy make at the end of words?”
- Say–Tap–Blend (3–5 mins)
- Students tap each grapheme, then blend: em‑ploy → employ.
- Chunking Long Words (5 mins)
- Break by syllables or meaningful parts: boy‑cott, par‑a‑noid. Underline the vowel teams first.
- Mix & Review (3 mins)
- Randomise earlier patterns to build automaticity and reduce guessing.
- Read in Context (3–5 mins)
- Short sentences or a mini‑passage so decoding transfers to comprehension.
Why it works
- Cumulative practice strengthens working memory.
- Visual marking of vowel teams stops “letter‑by‑letter” guessing.
- Chunking reduces cognitive load on longer words.
- Immediate feedback builds accurate sound‑to‑print mapping.
Example word set from this lesson
- oy/oi: boy, enjoy, convoy, employ, boycott
- tricky endings: moist
- prefixes/roots: a‑void, ex‑ploit, par‑a‑noid
Home practice (5 minutes)
- Circle & Read: Write 6 oy/oi words. Child circles the vowel team, taps, blends, reads.
- Speed Stack: Flash 10 cards, aim to improve time across the week.
- Build & Switch: Use magnets to build employ → employee → employer (talk about meaning changes).
- Read to Someone: One short passage daily. Focus on smoothness, not speed.
Signs your child is ready for Level 2
- Knows most letter sounds and basic CVC words
- Can hear and say blended sounds without long pauses
- Enjoys short decoding challenges and wants “bigger” words
Results you can expect
- Faster, more accurate decoding of vowel teams
- Improved confidence reading school texts
- Better spelling through pattern recognition
If your P.1 child is guessing words or stuck on vowel teams, we can help. Join a Phonics Power‑Up
