English // Phonics & Word Reading
Decoding unfamiliar words
Read Y3-4 exception words with unusual spelling-sound correspondences, applying growing knowledge of morphology and etymology to decode unfamiliar exception words
Quick check
Can the learner read trickier exception words — like 'ordinary', 'promise', 'recent', or 'island' — without being thrown off by the parts that don't follow the usual spelling rules?
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Topic // Mastery
What mastery looks like
- Read exception words from the Y3-4 statutory word list accurately (e.g. 'business', 'caught', 'knowledge', 'different')
- Identify unusual letter-sound correspondences in exception words and explain why the word does not follow common GPC rules
- Use growing knowledge of morphology and etymology to attempt unfamiliar exception words (e.g. recognise the root 'know' in 'knowledge')
Topic // Map
Where this fits
- RequiredMust come first
- HelpfulHelps, but not essential
Before this
1 topicPhonics & Word Reading // Ages 5 to 8
Y3-4 exception words build on recognition of Y1-2 common exception words
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Decoding unfamiliar words
Ages 7 to 9 // Method
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Topic // Standards
Curriculum standards
- Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
- RF.2.3.fRF.3.3.d
- The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document
- Eng_LKS2_Read_Word_2
English // Phonics & Word Reading
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