Project X reading books

[DreamTeamGirl]

That it really, anyone got any experience of Project X reading books? Published by ORT and aimed at boys, they have a pack of 10 in the book club at work, so wondered what people thought. they work out at £1 each so good value if they are any good.

(and yes I know there is a library but I work full time and it isnt easy to get there, so I prefer to buy books- I still have the ones that were due back 9 weeks ago, that I hope to get taken back this week)

You might like to read this review of the ORT Project X books -scroll down:
www.amazon.co.uk/Project-Green-Making-Noise-Cluster/dp/0198470878/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236846020&sr=1-6

I don't know what level you are looking at but my dd has had some orange level and some turquoise level ones from the reading chest. She thinks they are fine but doesn't love them. The stories probably are more geared for boys. The ones she has had have been about a boy who can twist his watch to shrink and has various adventures. I think there may have been some non-fiction ones too.

The books are popular with boys but I would only use them with confident readers.

I have just read that review - seems a bit harsh. I'm sure the reviewer is scientifically correct, however I am of the school of thought that variety and interest makes a good reader. My daughter has been taught using phonics and had no problem with level appropriate books from this range.

I think it is a very fair review in view of the fact the the books were widely trumpeted as being for 'reluctant readers', which is really education shorthand for 'struggling readers' (because we can't admit that we don't teach some children to read very well, can we? ).

The books are unsuitable for struggling readers but are fine for children who can read, if they like that sort of thing.

I completely agree that variety and interest keep a child reading, and so help them to improve their reading skills and extend their knowledge and vocabulary. BUT, for this to apply, the child has to have mastered the basic skills. An essential part of mastering those skills is practising them by reading books which are carefully tailored to fit each step in the acquisition of phonic knowledge. This is just what the Project X books don't do.

Thanks all, I have a boy, which is why I was looking at them

He is 5 and seems to be about in the middle for reading. He enjoys all sorts of reading, especially the ORT Read at Home, but these seemed a bit more 'exciting' than standard chip & Biff ones

I think I will leave them for now. He isnt reluctant and the book shelves are heaving as it is. Got a new Dinosaur Cove today, so thats us sorted for next 2-3 nights anyway!!

Personally wouldn't use them with a 5 year old

I didn't realise they were supposed to be aimed at "reluctant readers" - I take your point maizieD, and mrz, that they would suit children who are already pretty proficient.

Dreamteamgirl, he may well enjoy the stories as they do seem to me to be more "boyish", but equally I'm sure there are plenty of outher suitable books out there.

Can I ask why not mrz? Because of the content or difficulty, or not following the phonics strictly? I only ask as dd is 5 too....

ORT market them as "Truly boy-friendly in its content, design, structure, and teaching and learning approach - turns boys into readers and writers."

and claim they are "Fully supporting the simple view of reading." which they don't like most ORT books
I would ignore early levels and only use later levels when children have the skills and understanding to read independently.

Would you count orange and turquoise as early or later levels? DD can read them fluently but I'm not sure she understands the concepts completely without me adding a bit of explanation for her.

I agree they seem to be marketing them incorrectly.

Orange and Turquoise are good levels for a child to be reading at the end of reception but not levels I would consider to be "strong" "able" "independent" readers.
I would use lower level books in this range to encourage "able" but "reluctant" boys who are capable of reading higher levels

Thanks mrz - that makes sense.

My boys had them in rec and loved them,they have different levels. They were particularly useful for one of them who although a very good reader was reluctant,he had several of these prior to his free reading books. The other more keen ds didn't need the incentive so only read 1 or 2 before free reading.

I'd say they were easier than Dinosaur Cove which he went onto next. They had another friend(boy) also a very good reader in rec who loved them too. They used to get very frustrated when some were missing as the stories continue.The non fiction were good too.

If you've got money to burn they would definitely be useful and I'd imagine he'd be on them before Xmas.

Encouraging able young male readers is very difficult due to the sheer lack of material.Most reading schemes in schools are a real turn off for boys(girls too probably). Although not perfect I did think they were on the right track and at one point were all dtwin 1 would read,he put his foot down re the rest of ORT,had had enough. It was nice to have him reading books without protest and they were a good stepping stone.

We then went onto Magic Treehouse,Horrid Henry Early Readers,the Daisy paper backs and easier Roald Dahl.

My dd is at a similar stage now and is loving the Usbourne range (stage 4 on their chart but similar to the colours you mention)particularly the fairy stories. Might be too girly for your ds but they do some nice non fiction in the same scheme.

Enjoy.I love this stage just before they fly.

My son (5, summer born) enjoys them. He isn't a reluctant reader but we thought he might enjoy something a little more boy-oriented. He's breezing through green and itching to start orange -- probably because that section is titled "Invasion!".

If you can get them for a pound I would say go ahead. More books can't hurt!

mrz -- I'm a little confused by your comments. You mention the readers you would or wouldn't have read this scheme, but I really don't understand who you think is the most suitable demographic for project x.

Hi Mrz

You seem to have some knowledge about these books so would appreciate your opinion.

I was looking at these books for my ds(5) as well. He is a reluctant reader but only because the ORT and GINN books are so boring - he has told me this over and over again. He is on ORT 5 and going into Year 1. He is very interested in the world around him and spends hours looking through the big encyclopedia so I thought this range of books may be a good option. There appear to be a lot of non-fiction titles.

I am not concerned about his phonics or his abiility to understand the text as neither of these are an issue - he is a bright boy. It's more about finding something he wants to read and finds interesting.

At what stage would you want a child to be at to read these books?

Thanks

littlefishexpat I wouldn't use the lower levels for any group (would use my budget for other things) for those children further up the school who aren't reading regularly (seem uninterested) but are capable of reading at an age appropriate level I would let them choose from this scheme.

The scheme is aimed at "reluctant" boys which I personally see as cynical marketing

I use these with my year 5 and 6 boys who are either reluctant or struggling. If you use the appropriate level for the child then they are very good for struggling readers (in the same way that if you pick the right level then they would be very good for confident readers).

The reason we keep these books for struggling and reluctant readers is that we wanted a special set of books which don't belong in the main, colour coded, school stock. This way juniors who struggle don't feel that they are being given 'infant' books. The books are also far more interesting than Biff, Chip and Kipper.

I've found that they are very good but I plan my use of them carefully.

AfricanExport I wouldn't expect to see many children use these books but I imagine some schools are using them from the very earliest stages for all children.

I have used them when tutoring an 8 year old boy whom I suspect is both severely dyslexic, dyspraxic and on the autistic spectrum. the reason. He loves them ( I think it is the computer generated cartoony pictures as much as anything)and will read them enthusiastically where other books are met with groans, growls, throwing of books and other general behaviour that "tells" me he isn't very happy about being asked to read!!
They are not phonic books but have worked well with this child who has quite an advanced knowledge of different graphemes but struggles to synthesize them into words!

mrz - thanks

mrz -- thanks from me too!

You might like to know that OUP are publishing Project X Phonics in September (described as a 'unique and exciting phonics resource') so should be interesting.

My grandson is a reluctant [struggling]reader.

He loves the BeastQest books, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and the Dirty Bertie series.

I bought a pack from a book club in September I think they were 12 for £10. 3 of stage 1,2,3 and 4.

DS really enjoyed reading them. He is an able reader but started school unable to read and these books gave him extra practice (we also have some ORT read at home ones) he liked having other books he could read catered to his level other than his guided reading book which he initially had memorised on the 2nd reading so not that helpful and the school only did 1 guided book per week.