The Totem Series has just been reviewed in SNIP, Special Needs Information Press. This is a really useful publication full of a wealth of information and resources for Special Needs teachers.
The Totem readers series consists of twelve books aimed at engaging those whose reading interest age is between 8 and 14 but whose reading age is at KS1 level.
This series rehearses phonic knowledge from CVC to CCVCC words and includes phonemes such as ‘ae’. ‘ee’ and ‘oe’ as well as a range of digraphs. These books precede the Talisman series from the same publisher and follow the same model i.e. phonically decodable text that is supported by colourful illustrations.
Each 12 page book contains a reading practice and vocabulary page, followed by story pages that have multi-syllabic words printed at the bottom, in beats, to help the reader. The series has a structured progression and gradually introduces high frequency words.
There is additional support material supplied in a workbook which contains activities to develop speaking and listening, offers extra practice in reading, spelling, comprehension,and free writing. Examples of these activities include sound discrimination tasks, completion tasks, syllabification, true or false quizzes and word games etc.
These high interest books and their associated support materials will be of appeal to older readers due to the accessible story-lines and colourful graphics.