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New phonics reading books for those interested

92 replies

mrz · 16/06/2012 18:26

I've just ordered some of the new Comics for Phonics reading scheme books
www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/AssetsLibrary/SECTORS/PRIMARYASSETSNEW/Literacy/BugClub/Graphics/ComicsforPhonics/Batmanexamplespreads.pdf
I hope they will be hit especially with some of my boys

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
mrz · 17/06/2012 14:29

I'm trying to work out your motive for posting since it clearly had nothing to do with the subject and certainly seems to be aimed at me Hmm

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learnandsay · 17/06/2012 14:31

It was to reply to your point but in your own thread so accountants could carry on with hers.

peachypips · 17/06/2012 14:34

Any tips? Good books?

MoaningMajestyReignsAgain · 17/06/2012 14:34

The only attack I can see is you launching yourself at mrz with your anti-phonics rant, learnandsay . I think it made you look a bit foolish.

I am not a teacher, but in 6/8 months of school with phonics, my DD has gone from writing her name only to reading well and decoding lots of new words effectively. While I know that an anecdote is not data, there certainly seems to be a paucity of evidence for your hatred of phonics. Do rant away if it pleases you, but don't be surprised if no one cares much.

learnandsay · 17/06/2012 14:42

Before I came to this site I rather liked the idea of sounding out words. Phonics as a theory I hadn't heard much about. But the uncompromising way that it's been presented on this site has rather put me off it. Of course there are other viewpoints and they have as much right to be expressed as any endorsing phonics.

If the bast thing that phonics enthusiasts can do is change their login names and post ranty comments then perhaps that doesn't say much for the way the theory is being presented.

If you have an argument to present then present it. That's what a forum is for.

accountantsrule · 17/06/2012 14:42

www.readingchest.co.uk/15/book-bands this website shows teh book bands and the oxford reading tree levels. Its quite useful as shows examples of books in each level.

accountantsrule · 17/06/2012 14:43

sorry that was for eggrules

Eggrules · 17/06/2012 14:51

Thanks accountantsrule. Consider it pinned (on Pinterest)

"they are from lilac to green book bands" I can't find lilac??

Is pink Stage 1 and green Stage 5?

Would these be any use to DC on Level 7 Turquoise? My DS would still love them.

MoaningMajestyReignsAgain · 17/06/2012 14:57

I just had a look at readingchest - not seen it before although I know it has been mentioned. It works like Lovefilm, but for reading scheme books?

Seems very expensive for books I can get for free through the library and you still have to pay for lost ones?

mrz · 17/06/2012 15:00

The lilac books are aimed at phase 1 of Letters & Sounds in this scheme so seem to be lots of nursery rhymes /songs.

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Feenie · 17/06/2012 15:39

If the bast thing that phonics enthusiasts can do is change their login names and post ranty comments then perhaps that doesn't say much for the way the theory is being presented.

If you have an argument to present then present it. That's what a forum is for.

Confused You've lost me there, learnandsay.

The best (bast? Confused) thing I can do as a phonics enthusiast is make sure all the children in my school learn to read. Not sure what could top that, really.

mrz · 17/06/2012 15:54

MoaningMajestyReignsAgain have you looked at the free e books on MN learning or at OxfordOwl?

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mrz · 17/06/2012 15:58

I would probably look at Rapid Readers or Bug Club if he is reading well at turquoise level OUP code books are also high interest
www.oup.com/oxed/primary/projectx/code/

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accountantsrule · 17/06/2012 16:10

I've never actually used reading chest but just found it useful when swapping from colour book bands to ORT.

MoaningMajestyReignsAgain · 17/06/2012 20:00

I had a look a while ago but she was at a much earlier stage with the reading then, will try letting her have a go with the free ones on here.

I have some RWI, Songbirds and Red Nose Readers at home all from various Book People offersBlush so we have a go with those too - she finds the easiest too easy but gets put off by lots of words on the page of the slightly more challenging ones at the moment.

Eggrules · 17/06/2012 20:14

Thanks for the ideas. Had he had Comics for Phonics, he would have been so much more excited. Batman and Star Wars are huge faves.

Feenie · 17/06/2012 20:28

Let us know what the Comics for Phonics books are like when they come, mrz Smile.

Levantine · 17/06/2012 20:31

Omg my ds would love those

zebedeee · 18/06/2012 00:44

I can see how the book you linked to ticks Gove's 'phonic' boxes - lots of 'pseudo-words', unable to use meaning or sense, and produced by an approved phonic publisher.

Personally I think there are better books to enthuse children about reading, and become readers. This batman book is very contrived (some children like batman, SP phonics 'first, fast and only' is flavour of the day = book). On many levels, it is not a good story. I would be very wary of using it in school just because of the story-line, 'Malefic is a bad wizard. He can get into your head.' I know of a number of parents, from a religious perspective, would not approve of this. The religious aspect aside, as a professional teacher I would not condone it as a suitable story-line for four/five/six year olds. (As a parent, I may decide differently).

Looking at some of the words in it is interesting. Obviously Malefic is not a pseudo-word and should be pronounced Ma lef ic (not male-fic). Wheark is good. Is it Whea (as in wheat) -rk, W-heark (as in hearken) - obviously not phonetically plausible, but it isn't a word, so why not, maybe it doesn't follow the phonic rules, it has started a new rule, Whe (as in when)-ark, or Wh-ear-k. In essence it really is a non-word. I wonder if the over-exposure of children to non-words will desensitise them to 'invalid' letter strings, so incorrect spellings won't stand out, and perhaps impede their memory of the correct spellings of 'real' words? (Although the book is clearly shoe-horning as many hear/tear/tear/bear/where/sphere/mere words in so maybe w-hear-k).

And because there is no context I can't decide whether the batmobile (a.k.a 'batman's car') won't get ripped like a piece of paper, or is impermeable to salty-water drops if cried upon.

mrz · 18/06/2012 07:49

You missed the other 43 books then zebedeee?

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mrz · 19/06/2012 21:19

The books arrived today

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zebedeee · 19/06/2012 22:16

Any good?!

Any 'alien' words better than wheark?

mrz · 20/06/2012 06:43

I'm afraid no alien words just really attractive books the children wanted to read before they even got onto the shelves.

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HalfSpamHalfBrisket · 26/06/2012 23:11

Fab - I've just told my head about these & we can get them with the match funding.
Except "Think Pink" (pink stinks).

Malaleuca · 26/06/2012 23:28

It's always good to see some new resources. How are you finding these comics. I looked at the sample and it seemed to be a lot of pictures accompanied by a very small number of words! Are the others in the set better value in "words per dollar"?

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