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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

Are there any phonics websites for a Reception child?

62 replies

noseynoonoo · 17/12/2012 14:28

My son has started doing phonics this year and loves it. Are there any fun websites, preferably free, he can look at over the school holidays?

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BusyMom78 · 10/01/2015 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

mrz · 03/01/2013 08:45

Of course I wouldn't be pleased my child would learn 2+2=99!! What an odd thing to say? not even if it is FUN?

All I am saying is that first and foremost, learning must be FUN! and all I'm saying is first and foremost what children are learning should be correct. It's no good being fun if it's not accurate!

I've sent you a DM

Nonky · 02/01/2013 23:14

Of course I wouldn't be pleased my child would learn 2+2=99!! What an odd thing to say? I don't recall ever saying its ok for things to be taught incorrectly. From the experience ive had with mr Thorne and reading eggs there are no such mistakes? If I am wrong, please give me an example?!! All I am saying is that first and foremost, learning must be FUN!

SenClayDavis · 02/01/2013 18:21

No, not all children will adapt as long as the love for reading and learning is entrenched. As much as they might engage more with something presented in a fun way, if what they are engaging with is incorrect or inaccurate you can end up doing more harm than good. Unteaching/unlearning something can be bloody hard work.

motherto4 · 02/01/2013 18:19

I wouldn't let my children get away with learning rubbish!

mrz · 02/01/2013 18:19

If a parent or teacher comes across inaccuracies on a website or app then they can stop using it. which is exactly what I've said ... make sure what you use is accurate ...which is why I wouldn't unreservedly recommend the sites.
If that offends I'm sorry but I'm not willing to say this site is brilliant when there are errors!

mrz · 02/01/2013 18:16

So you would be happy for your child to be taught 2+2 =99?

motherto4 · 02/01/2013 17:59

I think being too prescriptive isn't helpful. Children DO engage more when a dry subject like phonics is presented in a fun way. If a parent or teacher comes across inaccuracies on a website or app then they can stop using it. Children are flexible and will adapt as long as the LOVE for reading and learning is entrenched.

mrz · 02/01/2013 17:02

It isn't a case of whether you like it ...it's whether it's accurate.

Verugal · 02/01/2013 16:59

My Ds2 responds much better to Mr thorne telling him how to pronounce "au" than me telling him the same thing. So I like his site. Both dss got lots from starfall.com and ds2 likes reading eggs.

mrz · 02/01/2013 09:30

I've just noticed you are teacher and sincerely hope you are more discerning in class than you seem to be suggesting here

mrz · 02/01/2013 09:12

So Nonky you would encourage your child to visit a nice entertaining website that fully engages your child but teaches them that 2+2 = 99 would you?

Nonky · 02/01/2013 08:36

Oh for goodness sake!!! Surely ANY website/book/other resource that engages a child is worthwhile!!! Children learn when they enjoy what they are doing. Learning should be FUN. If a child is happy then inevitably the learning will follow. I am a teacher by the way.

Feenie · 28/12/2012 11:48

What mrz said.

You both seem to be on here a lot - if you're interested yourselves, would this be a better use of your expertise?

You appear to be attempting trying to dictate how I should spend my time online, PastBy.

mrz · 28/12/2012 08:57

My frustration is that both of you have a tendency to say any resource people suggest 'has to be used with caution' without being particularly specific

OK in order to be specific I would need to review all of Mr Thorne's resources ... I neither have time or inclination to do do so.

Teachers are in the same position ...they are constantly looking for resources to use in the classroom but IMHO there isn't one site that offers the full package so we need to be selective and use with caution. The only way to tell if something is worth using is to look at it carefully.

Is reviewing resources something that teachers should consider pressuring the NUT* or TES to produce

as I'm not a member of the NUT and I wouldn't personally be inclined to blindly follow recommendations made by my own union given some of the views on phonics expressed by the leadership (it's pretty clear they don't have the knowledge to make such recommendations).

TES likewise has some very knowledgeable posters contributing to the online forums but that doesn't mean everything they recommend has been tried and tested by them.

PastSellByDate · 28/12/2012 02:05

mrz & Feenie:

Absolutely take the point that there are tons of resources out there and there's no way teachers have the time to review these things. Fair enough.

I think my issues Feenie/ mrz is that in the absence of good support/ progress with aspects of phonics/ maths/ etc... from our own schools, parents turn to these things (cast about really) to try and find something to help. My frustration is that both of you have a tendency to say any resource people suggest 'has to be used with caution' without being particularly specific (i.e. X is good for calculation skills, but doesn't cover geometry at all).

Is reviewing resources something that teachers should consider pressuring the NUT* or TES to produce - it seems an obvious gap. A Which? style review of educational resources (web pages, apps, etc...) just isn't out there. You both seem to be on here a lot - if you're interested yourselves, would this be a better use of your expertise?

Parents really do need a reliable review of these primary educational resources.

-------
*I suggest the NUT because elsewhere mrz commented that TES really aren't that good/ reliable on educational value of resources, so wonder if this wouldn't be better coming from teachers themselves.

mrz · 24/12/2012 12:22

I think as long as you are aware you can check for accuracy and compatibility lljkk (which is what I mean by "health warning").

I use some things on phonics play but not others, the same with the Kent web site and Alphablocks and the British Council etc.

lljkk · 24/12/2012 10:28

Starfall is great for us, DS only does the most basic games on there, haven't found anything too incompatible yet with what DS is learning using RWI.

maverick · 24/12/2012 09:38

www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kentict/content/games/literacy_menu.html

Several phonics games to play online.

Feenie · 24/12/2012 09:32

PastSellByDate - oh fgs, you did exactly this with MathsWhizz, demanding that it was teachers' duty to review it. How on earth do you think teachers have time to go through someone else's products and sort them out? Have you any idea how many resources like Mr Thorne and MathsWhizz there are out there?

And as for asking MN/Pearson to give an 'official view' - there are no official views, it's just different people's opinions.

Oh, and lay off mrz - it's Christmas.

CheerfulYank · 24/12/2012 07:00

Marking my place for DS. :) Good to know about starfall as we are American, so it might be more helpful.

mrz · 24/12/2012 06:54

PastSellByDate where have I said it's pants? I have said I wouldn't recommend it as it contains a number of errors. You are of course free to ignore an anonymous teacher as is anyone.

I am a teacher PastSellByDate and have never claimed to be a literacy expert.
I have contacted Mr Thorne in the past about an error which he corrected but don't feel it is my role to monitor it, do you?

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PastSellByDate · 24/12/2012 05:27

Dear mrz & Pearson (who monitor this feed)

Can we please have an official verdict from Mumsnet on Mr. Thorne's website/ apps/ etc...

Very confusing that TES is promoting it yet an anonymous teacher (who may or may not be qualified to judge) is saying it's more or less pants.

Can someone out there openly (with names & credentials - so we parents can transparently see they are in a position to judge) let us know yeah or nay on Mr. Thorne Phonics.

Many thanks.

PS mrz I just conveyed a website recommended by TES. I totally take your point that TES is a newspaper and doesn't or won't always get their facts right but they are rolling out 'experts' (called subject advisers) in various areas and promoting them (e.g. Colin Hill on primary maths - list here: pinterest.com/tesResources/tes-subject-advisers/).

As you are a teacher mrz and a self-proclaimed literacy expert could you (and any other teachers posting here who feel the same) please contact TES or Mr Thorne and work through these errors for the benefit of parents and pupils out there.

Feenie · 23/12/2012 17:19

And there he goes.....

lljkk · 23/12/2012 17:02

I only watched one of the Mr. Thorne videos... I thought he was very creepy, tbh.

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