Phonics education is a crucial aspect of a child's English language learning journey. It helps children to develop their reading and writing skills by teaching them the sound-to-letter correspondence, which is essential for decoding words and developing fluency. At Babington Education, we are committed to providing the best possible phonics education for our students, which is why we have carefully selected the RWI program as our preferred method of instruction.
In this blog post, we will compare the RWI program with Jolly Phonics, another popular phonics program, and explain why RWI is the better choice for children at Babington Education. We'll also provide you with information about how RWI works, why it's effective, and why you should choose it for your child's English language learning journey.
What is RWI?
RWI stands for Read Write Inc, a systematic synthetic phonics program developed by Ruth Miskin. It is a structured program that teaches children to read and write with a focus on the sound-to-letter correspondence. RWI's approach to phonics instruction is comprehensive and multi-sensory, incorporating visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning. This approach helps children to learn and retain the sound-to-letter correspondences more effectively.
Why RWI is the preferred program at Babington Education
At Babington Education, we have carefully evaluated several phonics programs and found that RWI is the most effective program for our students. RWI's structured approach provides children with a clear pathway to mastering phonics, and its multi-sensory approach ensures that every child has the opportunity to learn in a way that works best for them. We believe that RWI's comprehensive teacher training and ongoing support are essential for delivering high-quality phonics education to our students.
The pros and cons of RWI
Pros:
Structured approach to phonics instruction
Writing taught in conjunction with phonics
Comprehensive teacher training and ongoing support
Extensive research and proven track record of success
Validated by the Department of Education, UK
Cons:
May not be as flexible as other phonics programs
Reading materials need to be purchased separately
What is Jolly Phonics?
Jolly Phonics is another popular phonics program that uses synthetic phonics to teach children to read and write. It is a flexible program that can be adapted to different learning styles and accommodates a range of abilities. However, at Babington Education, we have found that Jolly Phonics is not as effective as RWI, which is why we do not teach it.
The pros and cons of Jolly Phonics
Pros:
Flexible program that accommodates different learning styles
Can be adapted to a range of abilities
Validated by the Department of Education, UK
Cons:
May not provide enough structure for some children
Slower in getting children to read and write
Reading materials need to be purchased separately
Comparison of RWI and Jolly Phonics
Both RWI and Jolly Phonics use synthetic phonics to teach children to read and write. However, RWI's approach is more structured and comprehensive, providing children with a clear pathway to mastering phonics. Jolly Phonics, on the other hand, is more flexible and adaptable, which may be better suited for children with different learning styles.
Feature | RWI | Jolly Phonics |
Instructional approach | Systematic synthetic phonics | Systematic synthetic phonics |
Phonics instructions | Systematic, comprehensive | Flexible, adaptable |
Sound-to-letter correspondence | Taught in a specific orders | Taught in group |
Structure | Highly structured | Less structured |
Teaching flexibility | Less flexible | More flexible |
Multi-sensory approach | No | Yes |
Handwriting | Taught in conjunction with phonics instruction | Taught separately from phonics |
Reading materials | Need to be purchased separately | Need to be purchased separately |
Teacher training | Comprehensive training and ongoing support provided | Training provided but less comprehensive. |
Effectiveness | Backed by extensive research and proven track record of success | Backed by research, but less widely used and researched |
Validation | Validated by the Department of Education, UK | Validated by the Department of Education, UK |
How RWI Works
The RWI program at Babington Education consists of three main components: phonics, writing, and reading. Children learn to read and write using a variety of materials, including textbooks and storybooks. The program is designed to be interactive and engaging, with a focus on building children's confidence and fluency in reading and writing.
The phonics component of RWI teaches children the sound-to-letter correspondences in a specific order, starting with the easiest sounds and progressing to more complex ones. The program also teaches children to blend sounds together to form words and to segment words into individual sounds. The writing component of the program teaches children to form letters and words correctly and to develop their fine motor skills. The reading component of the program provides children with a wide range of reading materials, including books and online resources, to help them develop their fluency and comprehension.
Why RWI is Effective
The RWI program at Babington Education has been proven to be highly effective in helping children to develop their reading and writing skills. The program is backed by extensive research, and it has a proven track record of success. Our teachers are trained and supported to deliver the program effectively, and they work closely with parents to ensure that every child receives the support they need to succeed. Babington Education works closely with Ruth Miskin Training, the official training company of Ruth Miskin, the author of the RWI programme in ensuring its teachers are properly and effectively trained.
Here's what some of our parents have to say about RWI:
"My daughter was struggling with reading, but after a few months of the RWI program, she is now reading with confidence and enthusiasm. I am so grateful for the program and for the support of the teachers at Babington Education." - Mrs. W
"RWI has been a game-changer for my son. He was struggling with writing, but after just a few weeks of the program, he has made huge progress. I am so impressed with the effectiveness of the program and the quality of the teaching." - Mrs. L
Which program is right for your child?
When choosing a phonics program for your child, there are several factors to consider. You should look for a program that provides a clear and structured approach to phonics instruction, as well as a program that accommodates different learning styles. You should also consider the quality of teacher training and ongoing support, as well as the effectiveness of the program.
At Babington Education, we believe that RWI is the best choice for children who want to develop their reading and writing skills. Our program provides a structured and comprehensive approach to phonics instruction, and it accommodates a range of learning styles. Our teachers are trained and supported to deliver the program effectively, and having taught over 30,000 students how to read and write, we have a proven track record of success.
Sign up for a free trial class today to experience the benefits of RWI for your child's English language learning journey. We are confident that you will see the difference that our program can make in your child's education.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have compared RWI and Jolly Phonics, and explained why RWI is the better choice for children at Babington Education. We have provided you with information about how RWI works, why it's effective, and why you should choose it for your child's English language learning journey. We hope that this information has been helpful, and we look forward to welcoming you and your child to our RWI program at Babington Education.
We invite you to book a free trial class at one of our 38 learning centres to see the programs in action and experience the benefits for yourself.
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About the author
Hi there, my name is Clifford and I am the founder and CEO of Babington...
I apologize if you are reading this article in Chinese, as I used auto-translate to translate it from English! Unfortunately, I can't read or write Chinese despite being in Hong Kong since 2009. I am very much a family man and spend most of my time with my wife, our toddler and our ginormous labrador called Archie! I am originally from the UK and am passionate about education and children. I have a master's degree in education and am, unfortunately, I am a doctorate in education dropout. I hope to one day resume my doctorate!