Languages and literacy
Book recommendation poster
Create a book recommendation that gives identifying details, a personal response and a reason a friend might enjoy the book.
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Year 1 teacher and early reading lead
Katie Marchbank
I want reading materials to match what a child is currently learning in phonics, so pupils can practise new knowledge without being asked to decode patterns they have not met yet.
Explore the collectionA little about me
I teach Year 1 and lead English and early reading. I want reading materials to match what a child is currently learning in phonics, so pupils can practise new knowledge without being asked to decode patterns they have not met yet.
Retrieval practice can help children keep familiar skills active, but it should still feel connected to reading. I look for short, purposeful opportunities to revisit sounds, words and text, while making sure books remain something pupils want to return to rather than a set of drills.
I also support access to books and shared reading. A useful resource should be clear about the sounds or words it includes and let a teacher check whether it fits the pupil’s next step. I value careful matching, lively reading and routines that help children build confidence without rushing them through a scheme.
How I approach a lesson
Match decodable text to taught phonics knowledge.
Use retrieval practice without losing the pleasure of reading.
Check a book’s features before recommending it for practice.
Templates I'd use with my class
Explore these templates and decide what fits your own setting.
Languages and literacy
Gail the Snail: ai and ee reading
Read words containing ai and ee, follow a short illustrated story and answer questions by referring back to the text.
Languages and literacy
Phonics and language-pattern sorting
Hear and sort familiar words by their initial sound or rhyming ending, then give an example that fits a chosen sound pattern.
Languages and literacy
Phonics sound cards
Say the initial sound for each pictured item and connect that sound with the supplied example words, using clear oral practice with familiar names.
Languages and literacy
Phonics word-building practice
Practise a taught /s/ sound, form s and blend familiar sounds, checking the activity against the class’s phonics sequence.