Which Reading Scheme Does Your School Use?

Rachie_B

I agree with leaving him be TBH

let reading be fun and allow him to pick whatever books he likes from the library or even comics etc

dont bombard him with "proper" school books or he will def turn off from reading which you dont want

Savvy_Sue

absolutebounder wrote: »

We also have to teach them how to use our language and this is where various reading schemes have failed badly over the years. Most childrens books are an insult to their intelligence.

NOTHING I saw in children's reading schemes when my three were growing up was as big an insult to their intelligence as the Janet and John books were to mine!

"See, Janet, see. See the dog run." "Look, John, look, I can see the dog run."

Maybe I learned to read well in self-defence, anything to get away from those books!

However, I'd now say I have an above average vocabulary and command of the English language. As do my 3 boys, all taught with ORT, which we all enjoyed immensely. Surely reading schemes are only part of learning to read.

absolutebounder

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

NOTHING I saw in children's reading schemes when my three were growing up was as big an insult to their intelligence as the Janet and John books were to mine!

"See, Janet, see. See the dog run." "Look, John, look, I can see the dog run."

Maybe I learned to read well in self-defence, anything to get away from those books!

However, I'd now say I have an above average vocabulary and command of the English language. As do my 3 boys, all taught with ORT, which we all enjoyed immensely. Surely reading schemes are only part of learning to read.

Totally agree. I taught my daughter to read from the age of 3 because she was interested in books. At the age of 5 when I had my first parents evening. Imagine my shock when I was told she was not doing well. I asked to see the books. Roger f!!@@## red hat. no wonder she was bored stiff. She could read a novel at that age.

Savvy_Sue

That reminds me, DS2 taught himself to read before starting school from the cereal packets on the breakfast table ...

Which were hardly great literature! :rotfl:

After that, there was no stopping him: anything his big brother could read, he could read too. Narnia at 7, Tolkien at 9, then branching out on his own with HG Wells at 11, How to Lie with Statistics at 13, Eats, Shoots and Leaves at 15 ...

but for the OP, head to the library and see if there are books your son WANTS to read / look at.

bylromarha

funky-footprints wrote: »

My son likes reading at the moment, and we worry that with the biff, flipper, kipp ones a lot of what is written down is on the picture.

It's a good thing, using the pictures though.:D

When we all decode words we don't know the meaning of, we use every available strategy we have to understand that word like reading words around the strange word for meaning, putting vowel combinations together differently to see if it produces a different sound, think of words that sound similar to see if any of those would make sense in that context etc. These are all very sophisticated skills that the pictures in ORT provide for a child who hasn't yet learnt those other skills.

It's good you're reinforcing with flashcards, but reading for meaning in the picture is one of many vital tools children need to use whilst they learn to read as it provides the context for the words they don't know yet and is a firm base for all those reading skills we all use everyday without a second thought.

little_princess

Hi,

Thanks to all for the comments and advice given, what I would like to add is that DS loves reading and it does seem to be a misconception (not only here, but also amongst some members of my family) that I am pushing him to read so much. He reads signs in the street, notices on walls (which was once embarrassing in a ladies toilet!!!) adverts in shops, you name it, he loves it. Although I do help him occasionally and obviously encourage him, I definitely do not push him, and am consciously worried that he will be bored when he starts reading in reception.

My original request was made, as he quickly gets bored with the books that he can read easily, but then he also gets bored with very wordy books. I am therefore trying to find a happy medium for him, hence my request for books which are similar to the level 4 or 5 ORT books which appear to be at the right level for him at the moment.

I would also love to hear experiences from other parents whose DS or DD, could read above their expected reading age level.

Thanks again, to everyone.
little_princess

bunty109

If he's doing well but is a bit "afraid" of books with more words, I'd recommend looking at phonics with him before getting him to progress. My son is in year 1 and it's taken him a while to learn sounds such as ai (as in wait) and oa (as in boat). At the level he's reading if he understands the different blends then it will help him with harder words.

Also, I'd recommend the library. I work in Hertforshire and our learning to read section has a range of books that can be used by parents. The Bananas series is really good: there's different colours for different levels and you can choose one to suit. They are independent stories with different characters in them all aimed at different confidence levels. I've used them with my children and they've been good.

jiblets1

My school reads Oxford Reading Tree in school, and sends Ginn home to be read for the parents. I would ensure, as already suggested that there are loads of books and comics around the house but as a teacher it is a bugbear of mine if the children have already been given material I'm going to read with them. Some parents (I'm not suggesting the OP is one) will train a child to learn things by rote, and are upset when I tell them the fact that their child can repeat a story read to them doesn't mean they can read those words! So in summary. Yes give your child access to whatever books you can, and your best guide to how hard to make them is in the age guide on the book themselves. If your child gets ahead of their age, then let your guide be a book 18months above their age!

To the OP. Well done for being so supportive of your child's education, I wish all the parents of my pupils were as diligent!

looby75

ds's school used to use ORT but they started a new reading program just before Christmas and they now use Collins Big cat books. The books are great, totally different stories in each one, some are fiction, some factual and some just plain daft It's much more interesting for both ds and I to have such a variety of books to read/listen to.

DS's reading has come on in leaps and bounds since they started this new system and just about every other parent is really impressed too.

Broken_hearted

I find the ORT very boring and repetative my eldest got bored very quickly. The youngest reads at home where he can pick which books he enjoys.