Phase 3

By the time they reach Phase 3, children will already be able to blend and segment words containing the 19 letters taught in Phase 2.

Over the twelve weeks which Phase 3 is expected to last, twenty-five new graphemes are introduced (one at a time).

Set 6: j, v, w, x

Set 7: y, z, zz, qu

Consonant digraphs: ch, sh, th, ng

Vowel digraphs: ai, ee, igh, oa, oo, ar, or, ur, ow, oi, ear, air, ure, er

During Phase 3, children will also learn the letter names using an alphabet song, although they will continue to use the sounds when decoding words.

During phase 3 the following tricky words are taught.  Tricky words cannot be sounded out as a whole.  Some parts of the word are tricky.  The tricky bits are underlined and in bold. It is useful to teach the children that there is a part that is trying to trick them. 

• he
• she
• we
• me
• be
• was
• you
• they
• all
• are
• my
• her