has anyone any experience of using the book toe by toe?

[billiejeanbob]

im thinking of buying it to use with dd. she is 8 and level P8/1C in reading and its really effecting her confidence

has anyone used it before? could you possibly give me a few examples of the things it includes?
I dont want to buy it and it be too advanced/ not suitable for dd.
thanks in advance.

Yes - we used it extensively for a year when I was home ed'ing my son. He started it when he was about 8½.

To start with it was very hard for him to use and also hard for him to become motivated to use it. You have to be very committed to it and do a session every day. Once you get into the routine, it should only take 5 to 10 minutes each day.

It starts very simply and then builds up. I thought it was very good and I would recommend it very much. However, my son hated it - but then he hated everything and was anxious about absolutely everything by the time I was home schooling.

thanks towie.
do you think it would be confusing for dd, to use it alongside ms schooling?
I am thinking of buying it now and intend to start at the beginning of the summer holidays and then continue it in the evenings when dd goes into yr 4 in September (if it suits dd).

No - it's not confusing alongside school - especially if you start it during the school hols. Maybe in September you could show it to the school - many schools do use it?

I found it very useful for me because it helped me "monitor" my DS's literacy problems and also highlighted his poor working memory. We would do pages of the book all around the same "rule" but he would have forgotten that rule from one day to the next.

brilliant thank you
Dd also has very poor working memory, so I imagine she will be similar.
Gòod idea about asking school. I could keep a record of her progress through the summer holidays (presuming it works for dd) and ask her TA to implement some during the day at school. This would also be better modulation wise aswell, as dd is more likely to be more alert during the day than evening.

Yes, I used it for a few weeks with DS1 when he was struggling to break the phonics/blending barrier. Then again with DD for the same reason. (DS2 and DS3 didn't have any difficulties so didn't need it). Not the most exciting of methods, but very effective.

I would say that little and often is the key. We did about five minutes each day.

I've actually been to a training session by the son of one of the authors. If your DC finds the beginning very very easy - then you can skip ahead to where they are just starting to struggle (can help a bit with the boredom of doing things three time correctly before moving on).
Putting an elastic band around the pages you have finished helps you and your DC see the progress they make.

If you want something similar for spelling I would recommend Word Wasp by Harry Cowling (I found it better than Kelda's Stareway to spelling).

Its a bit boring, but works from a very low level, I think they use it in Prison, as you don't have to be very qualified to help someone with it.

sounds like it will suit dd then - little and often is just what she needs. Im thinking 10 mins physio on the trampoline to 'wake her up', then 5 -10 mins of toe by toe, then 15 mins iPad time as a reward.

I have never done Toe by Toe with Dd3 billie but that type of working schedule would definitely work with Dd3.

Our OT's have recommended raw carrots or chewing gum to help with concentration too.

Good luck

I have been using toe by toe since january with dd (9y asd and dyslexia) it is good for her it has helped her work on multi syllable words. We do 5 to 10 mins each morning and I think it is helping. one useful thing we use with it is a piece of card with a square cut out of the corner to keep dd on her place.

With my ds 7yrs we have just started dancing bears as its a bit of a slower start and im impressed there is far more time spent on initial phonic sounds which is what my ds needs. It also has a more varied approach with flashcards and writing but is still 5 to 10 mins.

Bearing Away would be much better for a child who is a P8/1C than toe by toe. Toe by Toe will be too hard.

www.soundfoundationsbooks.co.uk

I have never done Toe by Toe with Dd3 billie but that type of working schedule would definitely work with Dd3.

Our OT's have recommended raw carrots or chewing gum to help with concentration too.

Good luck

Oopps sorry, stupid tablet has a mind of its own

My stepmum was a learning support teacher and though toe by toe was fab.

We used it with dyslexic dd1 and it was much better than the school support in encouraging her writing/spelling