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Original poster

Learning to read.....

15 replies

despondentatwork · 30/11/2019 22:34

Anyone any experience of using Mrs Wordsmith? I'm specifically looking at the 4-6 yo Epic Reader Master Bundle...it's 40% off ATM. My P2 DS is very bright, but his teacher is really lacking & my bright 7yo came through her class & needed extra help with reading for a year afterwards. She's top group in P4 now, so I don't think she had any specific issue. I'm not up for the fight with school. This teacher's defence is that she feels that learning through play is better at this age. Part of me agrees & it is a struggle to get DS to settle to do any homework anyway.. so I'd prefer to supplement at home & would buy this if ppl have had positive experiences.

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SpruceTree · 30/11/2019 23:00

Is this by chance a subtle advertisement for the product?

MiniEggAddiction · 01/12/2019 08:11

I wouldn't bother with this bundle. There are better tried and tested reading schemes out there.

Norestformrz · 01/12/2019 08:22

It certainly won't teach a child to read if the website is accurate

Original poster
despondentatwork · 01/12/2019 08:33

bump......

OP posts:
CherryPavlova · 01/12/2019 08:35

Can’t you just read ordinary books with him? My experience is bright children don’t need much teaching to read other than exposure to sharing books with an adult in a nice relaxed way.

Is it an advert?

Original poster
despondentatwork · 01/12/2019 08:36

Oops, those messages just appeared.
Just don't get why ppl have to be so snarky with replies on here. There really is no need. Miniegg...can I ask what reading schemes & how & could access them?

OP posts:
Norestformrz · 01/12/2019 09:08

Are you in the U.K. despondent?

drspouse · 01/12/2019 09:12

Sounds like Scotland?
Can he decode most words? Or is that still lacking?

MiniEggAddiction · 01/12/2019 12:22

Read, write Inc is good but since he'll be taught phonics at school I'd leave the teaching to them and at home just read books he's able to decode and actually enjoy. Also remember that alot of reading fluency is facilitated by vocabulary and familiarity with subject matter so the the best thing you can do is read loads of books to your child. Make reading fun and read a selection of different types of books (fiction, comedy, adventure) by lots of different authors.

Feenie · 01/12/2019 16:49

My experience is bright children don’t need much teaching to read other than exposure to sharing books with an adult in a nice relaxed way.

If only that were true....

Original poster
despondentatwork · 01/12/2019 21:50

Thx Mini....we do lots of reading & he read a full sentence from the Penguin Classic we finished last night, so think his decoding is good. But lots of the other local Primaries do way more in terms of high frequency word familiarisation & actual reading booked. I'd just like to support him as much as possible. It really shocked & worried me when my DD moved up from this class & was 2 full years behind (based on the Salford reading test). I did as much reading with her as I do with him & hadn't realised there was an issue. She caught up with help in school & extra reading sent home last year; but he's not as diligent or easy to engage as she is & I'd rather he didn't fall behind at all. Hence wanting something more structured than simply doing what I'm already doing....

OP posts:
ScottishMummy12 · 02/12/2019 05:14

The oxford owl website is really good and has free e-books.
I bought books from the book people. I think it was early readers and some of the oxford reading tree books and we worked our way through them.
I also purchased pirate phonics and teach your monster to read on the iPad.
My dd finished p1 way behind on her reading she was still on stage 1books. but now in p3 she is in the top reading group on chapter books and is really enjoying reading.

SquashedFlyBiscuit · 02/12/2019 05:19

I really like the songbirds set of reading books and have used those with my children.

But on the other hand if your eldest cane thriugh and is now in top sets, maybe uou dont need the pressure lower down the school? Play based is fab and all yoir reading stories to them makes so much difference.

Original poster
despondentatwork · 02/12/2019 06:55

Yes Squashed...I do worry about pressurising him now & part of me agrees with his teacher to a certain extent. But he enjoys me reading with him, so I figure there's no harm in adding a little structure to that & incorporating a sneaky bit of practice in. I currently read to him & my 7yo together, but maybe I should have a separate reading time for him with books more suitable for his level...

OP posts:
JustRichmal · 02/12/2019 08:16

OP, I went to a school with the ideals of learning through play. When, at 7, I swapped schools, the teachers there were astounded by my inability to read. I ended up a very slow reader. Your son sounds further ahead than I was though.

If he is reading sentences, he has probably mastered the basic phonics.I would just get him reading with you, so he reads some, you read some.

Also, look at the Letts Enchanted English series for more practice with writing as well. They will probably boost your dd's confidence in English as well.

One of the bonuses of learning through play was that maths was introduced as games, and I still see maths as fun. I was as far ahead in maths as I was in behind in English when I swapped school, so swings and roundabouts really.

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