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Ruth Miskin 'Read Write Inc' - anyone using it in school?

34 replies

SpangledPandemonium · 15/06/2011 20:59

Would you recommend it? I'd be really grateful for any comments at all.

OP posts:
gordongrumblebum · 16/06/2011 21:18

It has been very useful in our school which has a transient population, as it have provided a benchmark for phonics, and we have been able to place children in groups immediately on entry.

The upper years are also using Freshstart, which also provides a structured scheme for new children.

Fimbo · 16/06/2011 21:21

I presume that all of you who like it are teachers? My ds has it in his school and was bored beyond belief with it. Struggled with learning to read. He can now read fluently and accurately after changing to the ORT which my dd also had.

SpangledPandemonium · 16/06/2011 21:35

I suppose every scheme has disadvantages.

I have good things about the progress, particularly in reading. I have seen how the lessons can be delivered in a motivating way and I have heard that children enjoy it.

I have also heard of children that don't like it, that lessons can be flat and that writing progress is not as impressive as the reading.

But I have only been able to ask a very small number of people involved in implementing it, so hardly representative.

Your replies are helping me to form a clearer picture as to whether or not it is right for our school. I very much appreciate your comments.

ANOTHER THOUGHT - how effective is it with pupils with EAL?

OP posts:
gordongrumblebum · 16/06/2011 21:43

Each of the books (which are of course progressive) has a 'vocabulary check', which focusses on word definition. We have a child who had a CLL score of 2 in EYFS profile, who is now reading purple books (he has progressed from blue to purple this year.)
We also run extra oral vocab session for EAL, particularly as topics start.

I'm Smile with the writing this year as we have exceeded an unheard of 20% L3.

Have you been to see it work in a school? You should visit one before you make your mind up - there is a list on the web-site. We visited one before starting. All schools should have a RWI manager who would be willing to answer any questions.

camptownraces · 16/06/2011 22:30

With regard to the question "how effective is it for EAL children" (paraphrased) - check out this reference
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/specials/ofsted_annual_98/274948.stm

Quite impressive!

Peachy · 17/06/2011 07:32

Fimbo, no though I do school placements. The school brought it in though after a teaacher used to great success with her child, and I assume she took his views into account.

Jowever my lot are obviously atypical as they all are Base level kids (range of ability but various needs). I am enthised how well it works for them however.

SE13Mummy · 20/06/2011 21:14

We've used it in my school for the first time this year. Reception run it differently, as do Y5 & Y6 (TAs run Fresh Start with those who need it) but Y1-Y4 all have 20 minutes daily phonics.

Finding sufficient teaching spaces, getting all the children assessed 1:1, spending a fortune on frogs etc. have been the main headaches but it has been a great success in terms of helping children to catch up. At the start of the year only 16 children from Y1-Y4 were assessed as being ready for a spellings group, at this point in the year we have 7 spellings groups. All children are assessed half-termly in addition to those who are struggling receiving 1:1 for 10 minutes a day (usually in the afternoon).

The composition of the groups changes each half-term with the exception of the spelling group children as there is no assessment process for that part of the scheme (we have just produced our own though as we found that some capable readers are struggling to keep up with the spelling activities).

It requires a highly organised person to be in charge of the running, assessment and fielding the complaints from people who've been given too many hard to manage children in a single group. I've enjoyed teaching Y2-Y4 in one group and know that the children have too. We have tried to be sensitive to the feelings of Y4 children who are in groups with Y1 but have found that the spellers and higher phonics groups don't mind about the composition, it's Y4 children who are on level E with Y1 who object. Where possible we've provided 1:1 for these pupils but, in some cases it has been used as a motivational tool (where the lack of progress is down to lack of participation rather than because they are trying but it just isn't working for them).

For my own class the RML scheme has been what they needed however, as a KS2 teacher, I would be reluctant to deliver it in place of regular literacy lessons.

allchildrenreading · 04/07/2011 06:57

Thank you very much NotJustKangaskhan for your kind words about BRI-ARI www.Piper Books (I can't place you, which is annoying!). The books are tremendous value and fun, especially for struggling readers - for children with very low IQs, those with profound cognitive difficulties as well as those children who just need a bit more structured practice to help them on their way.

Pollynight7 · 02/09/2018 09:18

Kids at our school hate it. Loads of staff hate it. It’s dull

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