Reading Schemes....while on Lockdown!

[Edel2019]

Hi everyone

Firstly, I hope you are all doing ok during this odd time.

So I want to start teaching my five year old boy how to read....we are using the Teach Your Monsters to Read app and he loves it. I want to order some first reading books before things start to shut down any more 🥺

I've searched and there are so many reading schemes out there. Any recommendations?

Get the first level books from a few different ones and see which suit you best (or use all of them). If you're teaching him at home you don't have to limit yourself to one scheme like they do in schools.

I am at a similar point with DD2 who has at last fully understood blending over the last week, after weeks of being on the cusp. She is beginning to read CVC words well and I'd like to make the jump over to trying some simple books. I was given a set of the Biff & Chip books from a family member, but even the level 1a books are too tricky. They have too many graphemes (eg ow and ee) and tricky words she hasn't quite learnt yet. DD1 had Read Write Inc books at this stage which were great, but I'm not willing to shell out for them. She'll have to wait until the schools finally go back for those!
The Oxford Owl site has some free ebooks and I've found a couple on there which I reckon she might manage a bit at a time. I've also made use of the (currently free) Twinkl site to print off some phonics games, which she's really enjoyed (and hasn't noticed it's educational!).

Google reading chest. A great way to facilitate reading.

Songbirds are probably the easiest and cheapest to get hold of.

I’ve been making use of the 28-day free trial of Reading Eggs with my preschooler (due to start in reception in September) and I’ve been so impressed with her engagement and enjoyment of the app - and the progress she appears to be making - that I intend to pay for a subscription once our free trial ends (and I’m the ultimate tightwad!)

You can access digital reading books via the site, plus other options, such as spelling and maths lessons.

I would definitely recommend!

I used Julia Donaldson's Songbirds www.amazon.co.uk/Reading-Songbirds-Collection-36-Books-RRP128-82/dp/019841109X/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2R7LZ2HC4CV3L&keywords=songbirds+phonics+collection&sprefix=songbirds+%2Caps%2C140&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1585759498&sr=8-4 first (but I've noticed that that seller is selling them for £199 - don't pay that).

Then we used the Project X Alien Adventure series 1 and 2 www.amazon.co.uk/Project-Alien-Adventures-Collection-Books/dp/B00NGK6X02/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1IWD0U2ER6004&keywords=project+x+alien+adventures+series+1&sprefix=project+x+alien+adventures%2Caps%2C148&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1585759576&sr=8-1 and www.amazon.co.uk/Adventures-Collection-Operation-Holotanium-Destroyer/dp/9123461039/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2W2FCDK6BOG8U&keywords=project+x+alien+adventures+series+2&sprefix=project+x+alien+adventures+series+2%2Caps%2C142&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1585759609&sr=8-1

Series 2 of the Alien Adventure books goes up to level 14 so by then they can pretty much read most things.

I've just ordered some songbirds after the recommendations here, and having had a quick Google of the page contents. They seem perfect. This is the one I bought:
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0192764861?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image
It has 12 books (6 x level 1, 6 x level 2) and a sticker chart. It was about £12 with p&p new. Downside is it isn't due to arrive for 2 weeks

I saw the £200 for 36 books pack too - ouch!

Try the book people. They usually have an offer on them.

Free ebooks on oxford owls and Collins big cat at the moment.
Might give you an idea of what you want to buy.

Wow.

Thank you all so much for SUCH helpful replies. They all look brilliant.

And I've another suggestion: the Teach Your Monster to Read App! It's by Usborne and it's free.

The Book People are super but are not open right now.

Just looked at Oxford Owl.....it is very good....no need to pay for anything, lots of books available online.....I'm chuffed!

Collins Big Cat look great too.....thank you for recommending it. If you Google "Collins Big Cat free ebooks" it'll bring you to the link with the password for accessing the teacher's portal, and then you can access the ebooks

It's early and kids are still asleep.....so getting to properly go through these posts now 😅

.

Found a good video on how to teach children about blending, as my boy is doing great learning the sounds but finding combining them into a word difficult.

The video is called "How to teach blending to children - Phonics tutoring with Ruth Miskin"

Collins have put all their decodable BigCat Books on line for free.

collins.co.uk/pages/support-learning-at-home

No forget that. They’ve put 300+ books from pink to lime online except the phonics ones.