1. How to play SWAP Phonics
An explanation for IGR Teachers

2. Choose the game your children need
SWAP is the final game in the IGR lesson – make sure it is well-matched to the book just read and to the children’s current learning needs
Use the time spent giving out the cards to check the children’s recall of the story – keep this light-touch
Each player begins with 7 cards (including
one SWAP card – you can organise this)

3. Playing the Game
The aim of the game is to be the first person to get rid of all your cards (in this game, the children can lay their cards out in front of them)
Once cards have been dealt, begin by putting the remaining pile upsidedown in the middle of the table
When everyone is ready, turn over the top card and lay it beside the pile, saying ‘Let’s see what the leader card is going to be’

4. Following Suit
Then it’s a case of taking turns, the rules being: (1) If the first player has a card of the same sound/colour as the leader card, they have to ‘Play it and Say it’, placing it on top of the upturned card (2) The next player also has to follow suit, ‘Playing it and Saying it’, and placing his/her card on top of the last upturned card

5. ‘Play it and Say it’
Every time a card is played, the player has to read out the word
If a player can’t follow suit s/he can either take the top (hidden) card from the pile, or use his/her SWAP card to change the sound/colour
The player can play a card of his/her chosen sound/colour straight away

6. Ending the Game
The game usually ends as soon as one player has got rid of all his/her cards, but you can vary the ending to suit your children