Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

Anyone recommend a good reading scheme for a 6 year old?

27 replies

mousiemousie · 21/07/2006 17:07

I want to get a reading scheme for my 6 year old who has just finished Yr 1 so that we can practice in the holidays!

She is a bit of a reluctant reader and a little below average for her school year. I want to boost her confidence by helping her a bit in the hols! What would you recommend?

OP posts:
slizzler · 21/07/2006 17:09

Do the reading challange at your libary,starts tomorrow xxx

Original poster
mousiemousie · 21/07/2006 18:18

sounds interesting!

OP posts:
roisin · 21/07/2006 18:24

slizzler - beat me to it! I was about to suggest the summer library scheme.

Much better to encourage her gently to choose books she wants to, and give her a break from "reading schemes" ... try and make reading fun again! My boys have done the library summer schemes for the past 4 or 5 years, and still want to do it again this year!

roisin · 21/07/2006 18:25

\link{http://www.readingmission.org.uk/the website is here}

roisin · 21/07/2006 18:25

Bleurgghhh Try again:
the website is here

tamum · 21/07/2006 18:30

It's better this year than previous years too- not just stickers, but mazes you use a coin to reveal and stuff like that. It's been going for 3 weeks here and we are heavily into it at tamum towers...

WriggleJiggle · 31/07/2006 19:08

'Bangers and Mash' or 'Fuzzbuzz'. Both very very structured but easy to follow schemes

FrannyandZooey · 31/07/2006 19:21

If she's a slightly reluctant I would definitely avoid reading schemes and choose some really well-written, interesting and fun books that you could enjoy together. Reading one page each is a good way to move on quickly through the book (or even read for a couple of mins each if reading one page is too daunting for her to enjoy it).

Could you give an example of the type of book she's capable of reading, and I will try to think of some really good reads for her?

marthamoo · 31/07/2006 19:34

Ooh yes, another vote for the reading mission in the library - we even have a competitive aspect chez moo this year as ds2's parachute is further along than ds1's (ds1 whispered to me..."it's not really though is it, Mum - 'cos he can't really read")

roisin · 31/07/2006 19:39

Parachute? We don't have parachutes marthamoo
Are you in England?

Dss not impressed with the Reading Mission actually: stickers, but nowhere to put them? What's that all about then?

clumsymum · 31/07/2006 19:43

This year I bought some books that I remember reading when I was little, and I am amazed that ds (aged 6) has loved reading them with me (he reads a bit, then I read a bit).

These were "My Naughty Little Sister" and "Milly-Molly-Mandy". There are several books in each series, and you can get copies for about £1.50 - £2.00 on ebay (Or order from your library).
The stories are very old-fashioned, about young children in a by-gone age, but they are truly enchanting, and should help to encourage your dd to want to read on.

I agree that reading should be fun. Read out with her at every oppotunity. get her to read the destinations on the bus, road signs, shop names, labels on bottles, the back of the cereal packet, anything. If she mis-reads something, correct her nicely "That's nearly right, look it says xxxxx because there is an L in the middle" type thing.

DS started most of his reading from the cbeebies website, when we read bits off the screen together. In fact, he could read the phrase "Loading, please wait" before he was 4!!

He is now a VERY KEEN and able reader.

marthamoo · 31/07/2006 19:43

We have parachutes, yes

The stickers go on the card don't they?

Ds1 particularly likes the little bookmark-type forms where you review the book and hide it inside for the next reader to find. He wrote loads about 'Blitzed' by Robert Swindells but wouldn't let me read what he had written (just thought...should I be anticipating a phone call from the library telling me he's had his membership revoked ?)

fennel · 31/07/2006 19:49

my 6yo dd1 hasn't really got to grips with the Reading Mission. she's not really up to writing book reviews, or not in that small space the card leaves for it.

but she does enjoy going to the library in the holidays and choosing books to read. ditto my 4yo, who keeps choosing books on The Victorians and then discussing poverty and death.

Miaou · 31/07/2006 19:55

I'm working at a library (Scotland, so we've been running the Reading Mission since 1st July) and I agree about the tiny spaces to write in - not designed for 6-yr olds handwriting, are they?

Your library (should) also have characters hidden round the library for the kids to find - we've had lots of excitable boys running round looking for Agent Brandy today - plus wordsearches and colouring sheets

We have parachutes too [smug]

To the OP - have you come across Colour Crackers by Rose Impey? We've got loads in the library and they have got lots of good illustrations and are exciting stories.

Miaou · 31/07/2006 19:57

Also there are a series of books about people by Alan Ahlberg (sp?) - eg Mr Prat the Postman (not that that's one of them, but YKWIM )

popsycal · 31/07/2006 19:59

the sprinters books are excellent - they should be ok for her - or even for you to read together

recommned the finger eater by dick king smith for starters

popsycal · 31/07/2006 20:00

\link{http://www.walkerbooks.co.uk/Books/By-Category/Young-Fiction-Walker-Sprinter|sprinters}

popsycal · 31/07/2006 20:01

how odd!!!
sprinters

fennel · 01/08/2006 22:46

Thinking a bit more about what my 6yo dd likes to read (she's not the keenest or best reader ever), she's been quite keen on those ladybird famous stories, loads of them in charity shops etc, fairy tales, all graded for early readers.

also she liked the Oxford Reading Tree Magic Key books (someone on Mumsnet recommended them, you can buy them in packs from the Book People website).

there is a series called Puddle Lane which she quite likes at the moment too, again they're specifically for children learning to read. I think you can get those in most bookshops.

jodee · 09/11/2006 09:21

Did a search and found this thread - DS is in Y2 and just below his reading level. The Book People do a set of Sprinter books aged at 6 and over, and also Oxford Reading Tree - TreeTops in ages 6-7, 7-8 and 8-9 (I was thinking of the 6-7 bracket). I was going to get a set of what I hope are 'interesting' reading books for DS for Christmas to encourage him, without pushing him too much, iyswim. So, Sprinter or ORT?

Twiglett · 09/11/2006 09:25

Red Nose Readers from the Book People .. the whole set for £9 .. can't recommend highly enough .. there's 3 levels .. but they're all just funny / silly .. I've done a deal with DS in that if he reads one to me he gets to keep it

he has improved so remarkably in the last few weeks I'm stunned

jodee · 09/11/2006 09:29

Twig, haven't seen the Red Nose Readers, I've got two of BP's recent catalogues, must be on the website then? Well done your DS! How old is he?

singersgirl · 09/11/2006 12:37

Think I would choose the Sprinters over the ORT for interest level, and Twig's recommendation of Red Nose Readers is excellent. Allan Ahlberg's Happy Families series is another nice and amusing read. They've got it at my library but haven't seen it in catalogues.

Twiglett · 09/11/2006 13:02

red nose readers Jodee

DS will be 6 in February

pamina3 · 09/11/2006 13:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.