I find the best way to introduce it is very simply to draw the < and > symbols as crocodile jaws. The crocodile always eats (faces) the bigger number. Simple!

You first of all need to work out where your child is ‘up to’. What is it your child needs work on? Short vowels? Blends and digraphs? Long vowels? etc. When you have worked that out, give your child a spelling list with words of that ‘feature’.


For example if your child needs work with long vowels, you may choose to begin with ‘long a’. His/her spelling list might include words like rain, chain, mane, obey, stray, play, etc.

Focus on one ‘feature’ at a time. I find word sorts work really well. Cut each word out and have your child sort it to the correct heading. For example ‘chain’ would go under the heading ‘ai’, whereas ‘mane’ would go under the ‘a_e’ heading.

There are many great free resources online that will help you prepare your child. The biggest thing to prepare a child is exposure to books. Being read to and having the opportunity to discuss books helps enormously.


Going beyond this, basic letter work also gives a child a great leg-up. Again, such worksheets are freely available online. Hope this helps

Scott