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Primary education

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Original poster

Reading schemes advice please!

31 replies

flowerpowergirl · 22/05/2014 15:25

Does anyone have experience of reading schemes for 'twice exceptional' kids? My DS (9) is gifted but has dyslexia. He is on Oxford reading tree level 9 which according to the website is for ages 5-7. I have been asking school for different books more appropriate for his interest level but they say he must plough thru Oxford tree. He is so bored it is now becoming counterproductive. Any suggestions? Thanks

OP posts:
JockTamsonsBairns · 22/05/2014 15:30

sorry, I don't know what "twice exceptional" is? My Dd is 4, in Reception and on Level 8 of ORT. She's obviously taken to reading, but there's been no talk of being 'gifted'. I've kept her interest levels up by buying books for her to read at home which have challenged her more than ORT. Is there any way you could do that? Seems a simple solution, rather than watch him get bored with reading.

Original poster
flowerpowergirl · 22/05/2014 15:36

Thx for the reply. He is gifted on the one hand so very high IQ but on the other hand low reading age. This (apparently) is called twice exceptional. So if he has books for his reading age they are aimed at very young children and so very boring but those for his intellectual age are too difficult to read. I would be interested in any special reading schemes for these circumstances.

OP posts:
katcatkat · 22/05/2014 16:37

Have a look at project x code books from oxford reading tree they are designed for chilren who are primary age but low reading level. there are a few on the oxford owls website to try but my daughters school has the full set.

TheEnchantedForest · 22/05/2014 17:44

www.phonicbooks.co.uk/talisman-series/tl3-talisman-2-series-4-0-ref-36/. these might be the kind of thing you're after.

nonicknameseemsavailable · 22/05/2014 19:20

I do remember someone on here linking once to some books specifically for older children with a younger reading age but I am not sure what the make was. The project x ones aren't too bad although I never realised until I read katcatkat's post that they were designed like that too. mrz will know.

has he read the Lighthouse keeper books? they are about level 9/10ish I think and they are available in chapter book sized books so would be less obviously young if that makes sense. might be worth a try? The Usborne beginners ones are all non fiction books at level 8 so he might like those, they don't seem to use easy language so will seem less babyish and they are interesting with great pictures. To be honest if he is at level 9ish then he can really tackle pretty much anything now. Oxford Reading Tree are boring to most children by level 9 IMO as they just have overload of them. I am not great on boys books unfortunately as I have girls so can't help much more.

Mothergothel1111 · 22/05/2014 20:02

Do have some great books, non fiction set beginner reader and star wars sets. Might be worth a look. Personally I would try to just read normal books if he's bored with scheme books.

Mothergothel1111 · 22/05/2014 20:05

Dk that should have said...auto correct!

katcatkat · 22/05/2014 22:36

Not the standard project x ones the project x code is a different set ( its confusing)

Mashabell · 23/05/2014 07:07

I agree with Mothergothell.

For pupils who are fed up with reading schemes, simply reading books which interest them is far more likely to help.

My now grown-up dyslexic son learned to read mainly with Dr Who books because he was hooked on the series.

nonicknameseemsavailable · 23/05/2014 09:17

ah ok katcatkat - helpful for ORT to give them virtually identical names isn't it!

Original poster
flowerpowergirl · 23/05/2014 15:47

Thank you all ! Some good ideas. I will do some research on these over the weekend. I am cross with the school about this. They are literally making him sit and read every single book in the ORT series even though he's so bored he is practically snoring (or is that just me?) I have asked about other books/schemes and they say try the library but he still has to go thru the scheme. Grrrrr! Thx.

OP posts:
mrz · 23/05/2014 16:59

nonicknameseemsavailable even words they have Project X Project X phonics and Project X Code. They were produced with reluctant boy readers in mind.

nonicknameseemsavailable · 23/05/2014 17:52

I didn't realise they had so many mrz - one of mine (both girls) hated them online but the other one has just read a couple of level 7 ones today and really liked them. The school doesn't have any of them as far as I know.

flowerpowergirl - I really think they ought to have more than one scheme in the school. Do they not have any of the fireflies non fiction or glowworms poems? still ORT if they are obsessed with ORT books but at least would give him some variety. DD2 has brought home a different lot of non fiction ORT ones in the last couple of weeks which she has loved because they weren't biff, chip and kipper or wilma and wilf or william and hamid. poor lad, I do feel for him.

Badvoc · 23/05/2014 18:01

As the mother of an average dyslexic child :) I would agree with others.
The "hook" seems to be finding something they are really interested in - for ds1 (10) that was the astrosaurs books (good as there are thousands of them :)) and then the how to train your dragon books.
Good luck

LizzyRose · 23/05/2014 18:16

Barrington Stoke publishes lots of 'high interest / low reading level books'. Also it might be worth a look at Reading Chest. They have lots of different reading schemes - so you wouldn't have to stick to Oxford Reading Tree. They aren't specifically high interst / low reading level books, but my DS loved the non-fiction at Reading Chest.

Original poster
flowerpowergirl · 26/05/2014 01:37

Thanks all. nonickname - he is on fireflies at the mo. Trouble is they are designed for 7 year olds and he is a gifted 9 year old - his kind of non fiction is molecular structure and high brow physics that I don't even understand (I do not exaggerate - it's a problem in itself!!) Lots of great ideas though thanks everyone

OP posts:
Dayshiftdoris · 26/05/2014 01:54

I would be asking an educational psychologist if this the most appropriate scheme for him and what they suggest to a) keep his interest and b) support his dyslexia

mrz · 26/05/2014 07:53

IMHE Ed Psychs aren't always aware of new schemes/programmes/methods as those who work with children day to day.

Badvoc · 26/05/2014 08:02

Non fiction probably the way to go which is also how my ds1 started - maybe a bio of the great physicists like Newton, faraday etc?

Dayshiftdoris · 26/05/2014 10:21

They might not be able to name one but their input may well be what the school needs before they will change what they are doing...

If a child is turned off reading it's a long way back from that

mrz · 26/05/2014 10:59

Sorry Dayshiftdoris I wasn't talking about naming - I was talking about awareness of current practice

UKsounding · 26/05/2014 14:28

Mrz Well this school's current dogma practice seems to be causing problems without being very successful for this particular student.

mrz · 26/05/2014 14:39

Does the OPs child have an EP ?- if they do the school is likely to be following the EPs recommendations already.

Petrasmumma · 26/05/2014 14:53

Lots of good ideas on here. We had reading problem with DD and ended up working with the local univ's education dept for appropriate reading material. They were brilliant, I'd ask if they could help?