New phonics reading books for those interested

[mrz]

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

Mrz, as always your wisdom and expertise are a huge asset to MN and cut a swathe through much of the unfounded and ill informed hysteria about phonics.
I know you work with younger children but do you have any recommendations of series/schemes for older children (11 +) who have got their reading sorted out at a later stage and who need to start on the path to reading for pleasure?

This worries me greatly. Will some children fail to gain the stamina they need by reading books with most of the page taken up with pictures and only a tiny bit of text to read.

They are intended for struggling readers and those who display little interest initially. They most definitely aren't intended as a stand alone scheme.

Moondog - Read Write Inc Fresh Start and Read Write Inc Fresh Start Anthologies are very good for older kids.

They're designed for Y5+ and are used by lots of secondary schools as their catch up reading program.

Or you could try the Talisman Series

Thanks for those tips.
Duly noted.

I was going to suggest Talisman
I've also heard good things about the Heinemann Heroes series and Rapid Plus books

Great.
Thanks for those too.
I've had a look at all the links and titles and can see a lot of stuff that would be really relevant to us.

Have tried to order some of these in for our shop but no joy:(

Oh my eyes and my sensibilities! Just had a 'look inside' some of the Fresh Start Anthologies. Very low brow; OUP's Take a Break. They will also date quickly, which is good for the publisher and authors, but not so good for the school budget.

You mean in the same way schools are still using ORT books written decades ago?

Very low brow really?

Which story did you think would date quickly?

First story is about 'the thing from the black planet' visiting Earth.

Fourth story is Six Magic Tricks kids can do.

Fifth story is a diary written from the point of view of a dog.

I think they're all very appropriate for the age range. And I don't see at all how they date.

It's very hard to find easy texts for older kids which aren't patronising. The anthologies are brilliant.

Finding books that are readable, in terms of decodability, vocabulary, syntax , repetition for building up fluency, AND personal interests is quite hard. Throw cost into the mix as well!
The ARI books from Piper Books work well. I've used them up to G5/ 6 although they are better suited to younger children really. It depends what your instructional priority is.
I read on another forum of a teacher who went to some lengths to provide material of personal interest, only to have the child turn round and say 'I'm not interested in that any more!"

Could I get an update on the Bug club books, please?
My 5 y DS is starting Y1 and we are sick of ORT but find it difficult to get reading books appropriate for his level outside the ORt scheme (he reads at level 4 of ORt, so average I think).
I am conisdering getting some Bug Clubs books to try something different, though not usre how to get the right level as the scheme seems quite different from ORT.
Still happy with these books, mrz?

Very happy with them. If you check the Learning area of MN there are some free Bug Club ebooks

Thank you, I will check the learning area and look at the ebooks. I am trying to get paper books for DS so the ebooks will help us see what this scheme is like. He would love some books with his favourite characters and it seems that these may exist in this scheme.

Thanks Mrz, I was looking at these only today.

I was wondering about this too.

I'll have a look at the ebooks. Thanks