An alarming report about literacy and numeracy levels of young people in England. Read Robert Peston’s report. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24442248
Read MoreLearning to Read
Who’s afraid of dictation?
Phonic Books has just published a new workbook , the ‘Dandelion Book of Dictation’. It consists of dictation and punctuation exercises which follow the progression of the Dandelion Books reading scheme, Units 1-20. Yes, we love dictation. It is a really useful way to get children to practise spelling words and sentences as they develop their reading. It […]
Read MoreQuality of teaching = quality of training
Read the feedback from a recent Sounds-Write course given by John Walker and Mary Gladstone in Perth, Australia. That is just how I felt when I attended the course! http://topnotchteaching.com/lesson-ideas/teach-children-to-read/ To find out more about Sounds-Write visit: http://www.sounds-write.co.uk/
Read MoreHow to teach so that all children learn
Read John Walker’s article based on Barak Rosenshine’s six principles of direct instruction. This is how all teaching should be delivered so that no child is left behind! http://literacyblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Read MoreHow decodable texts help beginner and catch-up readers
The new National Curriculum now requires teachers to use decodable texts with children learning to read. Children are offered ‘controlled’ texts that include words they can decode independently, using the phonic knowledge they have been taught. These decodable texts enable pupils to focus on a specific spelling or group of spellings at each level. Pupils […]
Read MoreAlba Series reviewed in the DSF Bulletin
The Dyslexia – SPELD Foundation’s publication ‘The bulletin’, Autumn 2013, has just published an article reviewing the ‘Alba’ reading series. I have scanned it – but the print is a bit small so here is the summary: “As with the very popular existing catch-up readers produced by Phonic Books, this series will develop reading skills and confidence through […]
Read MoreWhole Language – The Medusa’s head
Read this informative post by Susan Godsland on the Reading Reform message board on the multiple lives of ‘whole language’ approach to reading despite having poor evidence to back its efficacy. http://www.rrf.org.uk/messageforum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5360
Read MoreMoon Dogs Series – do we really need another phonic series?
Some may question the need for yet another phonic series. Well, the Moon Dogs series is different. It really offers the older, struggling reader a chance for a fresh start from the very beginning. And I mean – the VERY beginning. This series is aimed at older pupils who, mid-programme you discover, do not know the […]
Read MoreNew Moon Dog Series for older, struggling readers now available
We are delighted to announce that the new Moon Dog Series for older, struggling readers is now in stock! This brand new series is designed for older pupils who need to secure the sounds of the alphabet at CVC level text. The series includes two sets of eight books. Set 1 introduces the alphabet sounds. Set 2 […]
Read MoreWhere is the evidence for using mixed methods in teaching reading?
Here is a powerful blog post by Teaching Battle Ground explaining how weak the evidence of teaching children to read with alternative or mixed methods as opposed to Synthetic Phonics. http://teachingbattleground.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/the-latest-iteration-of-the-phonics-debate/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
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