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Reading fluency - online programmes

8 replies

bochead · 29/05/2012 11:25

DS now needs an incentive to practice his reading & blending fluency as opposed to learning the phonics sounds iykwim. He's still a very early reader. We do the standard 10-15 mins reading practice per day but he needs more iykwim.

He's up at 6 am & I'm a lazy mare, (can't concentrate on hearing him read till after my 2nd cup of coffee and at least 7.30!). So I was wondering if anyone has come across any good online reading programmes for this stage. I'm thinking that if he could do 30 mins online every morning while I rouse myself it would be really helpful.

We are nearing the end of clicknread phonics which is good because of the consistency, and has enabled him to pass the school flashcard tests so they'd give him a reading book at last, it hasn't done anything much for his fluency. He enjoys whiling away the hour before Mum can hold a conversation this way. For others looking for early phonics stuff it was £25 well spent I think.

I've looked at Headsprout and while I really like the 2nd stage, he isn't ready for it yet and the 1st stage does seem very expensive. I will invest in Headsprout stage 2 when he's ready but want something to bridge the gap.

He's rising 8 now so I'm keen to tackle this reading malarkey head on and get it sorted for once and for all over the next 6 months. It's my next major goal for him now he's happy & settled at school.

OP posts:
DancesWithWoolsEnPointe · 29/05/2012 11:47

Not sure if this will be any good, but might be worth a try. My daughter really liked this site - we matched the books to her level, and she got quite competitive about reading as many of them as she could. She specially liked the games at the end of each book. It does require a certain level of computer litracy i.e. mouse control etc.

yawningmonster · 29/05/2012 11:49

is he past starfall?
reading eggs (it has the two levels so he maybe ready for the second level?)
raz kids www.raz-kids.com/
Not sure if any of these are helpful but as you have helped me (have ordered the writing support) I though I would try

bochead · 29/05/2012 12:49

I've had a look at that free site Danceswithwolves & worked out he's on roughly stage 4/5 Oxford reading tree if that helps.

Ruth Miskin should be shot imho as our LA is wedded to it and all her scheme has ever done is confuse DS. I want to try and get beyond her reach before the start of year 4 as he's utterly uninspired by flashcards and the like & now has the self-motivation to try real books iykwim. I'm of the firm belief motivation is often 50% of the battle when it comes to spectrum kids and learning.

He loves being allowed to go on the lap top in the mornings so I thought it was a sensible use of time as school wears him out too much for intensive apres school sessions.

I just feel he's at that delicate cusp of being able to attempt to pick up a book and utilise those emerging reading skills for himself but needs a little summat to give him that boost to independence iykwim.

He has major confidence issues with reading to other people, which hasn't helped him at school, as they won't give him new material until he can "prove" he's mastered the last book to their satisfaction - meant we got stuck with the same book for 5 weeks at one point this year. After 5 weeks he'd gone from shy to outright refusal to attempt to read the damn thing in class.

OP posts:
IndigoBell · 29/05/2012 13:05

You want Reading Plus

But it might be a bit expensive.....

sabelhp · 29/05/2012 16:15

have you looked at reading eggs? My ds is using the lower levels but I know a few people who'v used reading eggspress with 8yo+ & had good success ... they have a free trial I think.

bochead · 29/05/2012 17:33

Does the parent version of reading plus include full reporting capabilities Indigo?

The cost would be justified if it does as it would save paying for an indy EP to come into school and point out the bleeding obvious at some point over the next year Wink. The data would hopefully give me a tool to say to school "these are the areas you need to concentrate on right now" iykwim.

Will look at reading eggs (and the free trial - thanks!) once DS is in bed.

OP posts:
IndigoBell · 29/05/2012 19:13

I don't know. I don't think it would replace an EP report.

But they do have someone in the UK who will try to sell it to you answer your questions.

j1579x · 22/05/2014 08:57

I'm searching about Reading Plus. Would you like to tell me Pros and Cons?

My children is not native English speaker.

Thanks

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