Songbirds within ORT

[wigglesmum]

Hi there

My ds (4.2)is currently reading and enjoying the Songbirds series at pre-school. He is on the last book in Stage 4.

I was hoping to expand into the Kipper, Biff stories that I have seen about and I was wondering are the levels like for like? I looked on the ORT reading level link on their website but Songbirds wasn't mentioned.

Any advice on books my DS could read in tandem with the Songbirds that would be at the same level?

Thanks!!

[maizieD]

Songbirds is a decodable series, ORT is 'look & say'. Not at all good for early reading. It's time it was banished really! How about looking at OUP's 'Floppy's Phonics', noy

[maizieD]

Don't know where that 'noy'at the end came from

[montysorry]

-Floppy phonics
-Read, Write inc

Both good, both synthetic phonics so in line with Songbirds.

If your DS is on the last book on stage 4 Songbirds at just turned 4 then he's a very accomplished reader for his age so I wouldn't worry too much. Have a look at the Read, Write Inc non-fiction range as this will help to stretch him and broaden his reading experience.

[wigglesmum]

Thanks :)

Both Read, Write Inc and Floppy look good.

Since they are also from OUP can I assume their stages cover the same sounds as Songbirds and if I buy Stage 4 or Stage 5 it would be at ok for my DS to tackle?

[sarahfreck]

Songbird Phonics and Floppy's Phonics have the same levels according to this www.oup.com/oxed/primary/oxfordreadingtree/chart_2010/

The two above are both in blue book band at level 4(not the same as ORT blue level!) which seems to be about the same as Read Write Inc Set 3! It is roughly equivalent to a reading age of about 5 to 5 1/2

If he has just finished the Songbirds Level 4, think about Floppy's Phonics Level 4/Read Write Inc Set 3 if you think he needs more practice at this level.

If he has been reading the Level 4 Songbirds really well you could think about Level 5 Floppy's Phonics or Set 4 of Read Write inc but be aware it may contain sounds that he hasn't been taught/come across yet.

To give you an idea Read Write Inc set 4 includes sounds like ee ay igh ow(as in snow) and oo ( as in too) in the first books but then goes on to oo (look) ar, or, oor, ore, air, ir, ou, oy and oi by the end of set 4.

You can often buy the books for less than the RRP on ebay or Amazon.

[wigglesmum]

Thanks

I think I'm going to get a couple of each Floppy and Read Write in Non-Fiction.

However, I am very confused regarding the whole ORT thing. Is DS going to have to start at the lowest level ORT book when he starts school (Sept '11) because he's solely been reading phonics based books at pre-school (although he does have a small grasp of sight words due to Peter and Jane !!! )?

[sethstarkaddersmum]

depends on the school.
some schools will start him on the easiest and let him race through them, others will jump him ahead to where they judge is the right place, others will refuse to notice he can already read and make him go at the same pace as everybody else.
you will most likely have a meeting with his teacher some time in the term before he starts and you can suss out what their approach is likely to be.

[mrz]

Do you know that the school uses ORT wigglesmum? Lots of schools don't.

[wigglesmum]

mrz- we are only just applying to schools but I have noticed ORT books in all the schools we have visited!

My DS's pre-school teacher told me that I am going to have to be a 'pushy parent' regarding his reading in reception and I was - It all seems very complicated!

I vaguely remember the Ginn reading scheme when I was at school and the children who found reading harder had Mr Red Hat or something like that and Bangers and Mash and I was really envious!

[qualitystreetrosescelebrations]

If you want reading scheme books I would recommend
reading chest as has a lot of the reading books, and is a fantastic service.

[wigglesmum]

Wow! :) Thanks Quality street- that looks fantastic and will save me buying books which will just be cluttering up the house waiting 3 years until DS2 can maybe use them!