Literacy Workbook Suggestion

[barefootcook]

I am looking for a suitable literacy work book to support DS6 work in class. I would say he is average in ability but his teacher says he lacks confidence. He is diligent and I am hoping with a little extra help from me his class work will improve. He has worked through a Gold Stars English ( 5-6 ) book and enjoyed it. Can anyone suggest a slightly more challenging one? Ideally it would have one task per page ( about 5-10 minutes work ) in colour.

What year group?

Year 2

Is there a particular area or literacy in general?

Thanks for replying MrsZ. DS teacher said is achieving well in all areas but his lack of confidence is holding him back a bit. She didn't really elaborate and I have heard other teachers say it too. I guess I am looking for a work book that covers all the basic literacy skills needed for a 6 year old and is presented in an interesting way. I am hoping with some revision he will feel feel more confident in class and will be able to push himself forward in discussion or group work.

The CGP books are popular and seem pretty good to me. Not sure about colour though. Their customer service is good and the books arrive quickly.

Cpg books are good but maybe a bit dry for a young child.Very good as a reference starting point for you though.They have them for each year group.

I've just discovered the Letts Wildabout books.The maths ones are fab.They have photographs and facts of animals on each page tied up with maths that really cover the new curriculum.My dd loves them and has hated other work books in the past.They have just produced Eng ones too.Think 7-9 might be the first.

Carol Vorderman maths have now brought out Eng versions.I always found the maths quite thorough.

If it's story writing Usborne have a good book called How to Write a Story,there is a new comic version too. With my dc getting punctuation,handwriting and spelling up to speed has always helped with confidence.There are loads of handwriting workbooks out there( you'll need to follow the school hand writing style though) and the spelling lists for the new curriculum are on line.

I would ask to speak to his teacher again and find out the best way to support him. I would also ask your son what worries him with a English rather than buying workbooks unless of course he really enjoys working his way through these.

If you go on the DK website you can see inside the Caol Vorderman Eng books,they seem quite accessible,illustrated( but not colour)and have gold star stickers as rewards.

If you've heard from several teachers that your DS lacks confidence then why not think about an activity to boost his confidence, rather than working on English skills which you've been told he's achieving well at. How about Stagecoach or some kind of drama club? Or learning an instrument? Or a martial art? Or some kind of dancing? Or Beavers? What is he interested in?

I use CGP/letts/bond at the right age with my 7 yo DD. They have the age reference on the cover. I used them with my Ds (year 9 now) before he sat his 11+ exams also.

I find CGP the most structure ones and I use the others only picking and choosing topics where I believe she needs a bit more support.

DD is summer born and I felt she needed a bit of support to catch up and also build confidence in her knowledge. She went from being behind in YR to on track yr1, above in yr 2. Not sure where she will finish this year considering the curriculum change but I feel she would have been behind if no support would have been offered at home.

Thanks everyone. Lots of good ideas there. He likes sport and plays rugby and was thinking of adding something else too- perhaps the piano. Yesterday he flew down to stay with his grandparents by himself and loved it. I guess that sort of thing would help.

A boy who has the confidence to fly off by himself doesn't sound as if he has a problem ... Well done him!

If he's achieving well then I don't see the CGP /Letts books as being useful (not sure they are particularly useful for any young child)