Ruth Miskin Phonics?

[Cortina]

One of my primary DCs, in year one, is being taught Ruth Miskin's (sp)? phonics?

The teacher said some of the children were not picking up on the traditional phonics (Jolly Phonics)? So she had introduced this system.

Thoughts? Thanks I've never heard of it.

[lljkk]

Many Previous threads, search for Read Write Inc.
I'm a convert, is better than the 'old' phonics (whatever they were called).

[BuckRogers]

Both Jolly Phonics and Ruth Miskin's Read Write Inc are schemes which are based around the 42 sounds so synthetic phonics. So I'm guessing that by traditional phonics you mean just the sounds of the 26 letters. If that's the case it would not be JP they were using.

The DFE publication called letters and sounds is a systematic synthetic phonic approach. You can download it from their website if you want to do stuff at home. Lots of ideas for games and stuff and you can order extra games from Amazon too!

[benandoli]

it is a really good system. The only thing is that they don't believe in teaching writing until a child can read, the theory being that they pick it up better then so they make heaps of progress with reading but take longer to learn to write. In the long run though they do well at both.

[Avendesora]

DD is doing it at school and seems to be progressing well, so OK for us (but we have nothing to compare it too).

[maverick]

Jolly Phonics and RML are both systematic, synthetic phonics programmes but RML is scripted so it might be easier for a 'new to synthetic phonics' teacher to use correctly.

''The only thing is that they don't believe in teaching writing until a child can read''. Sorry benandoli, but this is incorrect. Children start blending for reading and segmenting for spelling (writing) on about day 3! When the children are very young then they might use plastic letters for spelling practice with handwriting of the letters going on at a different time.

A complete and accurate guide to synthetic phonics here:

www.aowm73.dsl.pipex.com/dyslexics/main_method_3.htm

[TheDevilEatsBabies]

they're published by Oxford, if that helps.
go to www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk

[Cortina]

Thanks v much

[Kelloggs36]

Be warned though - it doesn't work for everybody - just like everything else. I hope that they are using other strategies too and not relying on this solely.

[Soups]

My son did the books in Year 3. He could read well but seemed to rely on reading words by sight iyswim? They really helped him and he enjoyed them.

[Soups]

Sorry, he did them in Year 2.

[jelliebelly]

Look up Read Write Inc - it is used at ds school and have heard loads of positive comments. Having said that, it needs to be implemented properly and I would worry if one teacher has unilaterally decided to change the way they teach - children will get v.confused if they have switched systems part way through I would think. It also needs to be continued throughout the school so that the whole reading and writing approach is covered consistently.

[Mamonaku]

My son's school teach Ruth Miskin (RML) in KS1.

It was useful for my son up to a point in reception. However he progressed quickly and was frustrated by the repetition of sounds over and over and over (Fred talk?). The writing was also very contrived as the books focus on particular sounds so you'd get sentences like 'The dog said hello to the frog in the fog' (I made that up but you get the gist!). My son found the text very dull and preferred stories about Chip, Kipper and Floppy (can't remember name of the series).

When he could sight read and was able to read Easy Reader chapter books in year 1 (Roald Dahl - The Twits, Flat Stanley etc) the RML system seemed to hold him back.

He told me the writing was too big in his RML books and so he couldn't see the whole word in one go.

In year 2 we were looking forward to saying goodbye to RML but then then introduced the RML comprehension books into the school.

To summarise I think that RML is useful when a child is starting to learn to read. When they have become a confident reader RML can be boring, repetitive and hinder sight reading.

[janeite]

It is v good and highly effective at helping struggling or beginning readers become competent decoders. My experience is that it doesn't do anywhere near as much as it claims to do to aid their comprehension, though.

[LIZS]

The Book People have a set here if anyone is looking for some for home.

[marwell]

For teaching Synthetic Phonics there are some beautifully crafted wooden cubes, very tactile! Recommended by teacher friend. www.candocubes.com

[marwell]

sorry new to mumsnet forgot to "link" correctly
www.candocubes.com

[purplepeony]

it's a very good system. I speak as a literacy specialist.

[IndigoBell]

Read, Write, Inc is supposed to be the best system and according to the stats on their website works for about 97% of kids.

It has totally failed to teach my daughter at all. All the professionals are saying that is because of bad teaching rather than a bad system. Either way it hasn't helped my DD

However, of course, 97% is a very good success rate. So odds are that it will teach your child.

My son learnt to read very quickly with it - but his comprehension seriously lacks behind his reading ability which I find very odd. He doesn't enjoy reading at all. (Which I guess you wouldn't if you don't really understand what you're reading...) So I can't say I'm overly impressed with it even though he is reading very fluently....

Basically, as always, I think the quality of teaching is more important than the quality of the scheme.....