Tricky Red Words
Tricky Red words are irregular or hard words to decode, e.g. ‘the’, ‘was,
These irregular words cannot be sounded out.
Here are some ideas of how to help your child learn these words;
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Cut up the words and use them as flash cards – if your child does not
recognise a word, tell them the word and ask them to repeat it – over
time they should be able to recognise it independently.
Spread the words face down and take turns to turn the words over – if
they can read the word then they can keep the word – how many can
they get?
Play bingo or snap with the cards.
Put the words up (where your child can see them) around the
house! Can they read the words as they pass them?
The tricky red words are introduced in sets – these are found below.
The children are taught to both read and spell them.
PHASE 2 7 Tricky High Frequency Words
read
spell
read
spell
read
the
no
of
to
go
into
I
spell
PHASE 3
13 Tricky High Frequency Words
read
spell
read
spell
read
he
you
was
she
they
put
we
all
her
me
are
be
my
PHASE 4 14 Tricky High Frequency Words
read
spell
said
were
have
there
like
little
so
one
do
when
out
some
come
what
read
spell
read
spell
PHASE 5 9 Tricky High Frequency Words
read
spell
oh
looked
their
called
people
asked
Mr
could
Mrs
spell
PHASE 6 Tricky Words only
List A -15
read
spell
read
spell
read
water
school
can’t
wanted
use
through
two
know
first
want
baby
work
over
find
animals
List B-15
read
spell
read
spell
read
going
more
these
where
I’ll
shouted
everyone
round
after
who
bear
other
would
magic
our
List C-15
read
spell
read
spell
spell
spell
read
something
because
only
live
even
many
narrator
before
laughed
small
key
mother
couldn’t
another
any
spell
List D-15
read
spell
read
spell
read
head
clothes
great
I’ve
fast
why
every
different
place
last
girl
eyes
suddenly
which
friends
List E-8
read
spell
read
spell
better
lived
once
pulled
white
he’s
across
coming
List F-9
read
spell
read
spell
thought
liked
we’re
stopped
giant
please
really
along
gone
spell
read
spell
read
spell