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How to deliver effective modelled reading with projectable Sound Waves Decodable Readers

Sound Waves Literacy 18/2/25

Before students begin reading independently, it’s important they are explicitly taught phoneme–grapheme relationships and have the opportunity to observe effective modelled reading.

Effective modelled reading shows students how to identify and decode words, navigate formatting conventions and develop reading fluency. These are all necessary skills for students to observe before they dive into independent reading.

The Sound Waves Foundation and Year 1 lessons include targeted reading practice using Decodable Readers. You’ll use the projectable Decodable Readers available in the online teaching resources in conjunction with your class sets of Sound Waves Decodable Readers.

The projectable books have been conveniently embedded into the weekly sequence where you explicitly teach phoneme–grapheme relationships before jumping into modelled reading. In each unit, you’ll find a module called Modelled & Shared Reading. Within the module you’ll use the Core projectable Decodable Reader for whole-class modelled and shared reading.

Note: The Core Decodable Readers are ideal for whole-class teaching. However, you may like to use the Support or Extended books depending on the overall ability of your class.

To see an example of modelled reading, take a look at one of our Education Consultants conducting a modelled read of a Year 1 Sound Waves Decodable Reader with the focus graphemes ir, ur, er.

In addition to using the strategies shared in the video, you can also further enhance your modelled reading sessions by:

• identifying and decoding words with the focus phoneme–grapheme relationship and Special Words
• reading from top to bottom and left to right
• responding to full stops, exclamation marks and question marks
• re-reading and correcting when you make an error
• pausing to think about the meaning of words.

Of course, after you’ve modelled reading effectively, it’s important to provide plenty of opportunities for students to apply their knowledge through independent reading practice. Your class sets of Sound Waves Decodable Readers are ideal for this.

Read our article for more information about using the Sound Waves Decodable Readers with students as part of your weekly literacy lessons.

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