Read or listen to a clear explanation why teachers should teach children explicitly about graphemes that can represent different sounds on the Literacy blog. Well worth it! http://www.theliteracyblog.com/
Read MoreLearning to Read
How to make phonic reading material age-appropriate for older pupils
One way to make older pupils fell comfortable about reading a phonic reading scheme is to make the illustrations age-appropriate and the stories fast moving and exciting. Another way is to introduce chapters into even the simplest of texts. It makes children feel that they are reading texts their peers would like to have a […]
Read MoreThe importance of age-appropriate phonic reading material for ‘catch-up’ pupils
When older pupils, who are struggling with literacy, come to the learning centre where I teach, they often have low self-esteem. Offering them babyish looking books will compound their sense of failure. If they are given books that young primary school children are reading, what does that say about them?
Read MoreMagic Belt Workbooks now available!
At last our much awaited Magic Belt workbooks are in stock! There are two workbooks: 1. The Introductory Workbook prepares the pupil for reading the Magic Belt Series. It is for children who have weak letter/sound correspondences. It starts with wordbuilding CVC words with the sounds of the alphabet. 2. The Magic Belt Workbook complements the […]
Read MoreDyslexia Awareness Week – tips for teaching dyslexic pupils
Dyslexia Awareness Week has just flashed by. Here are some tips for teachers teaching dyslexic pupils.
Read MorePupil Premium – FAQ’s
“Britain has one of the widest and most entrenched education attainment gaps between poor and wealthier children in Europe…. Children from low income backgrounds are half as likely to get five good grades at GCSE as their classmates. … They are more likely to leave school at 16, more likely to become Neets (not in […]
Read MoreTwo new workbooks to complement the Magic Belt Series
For all those who have been anticipating the workbooks that complement the new Magic Belt Series – two new workbooks are in the last stages of production! These are comprehensive workbooks that will really build up the reading skills of an older, ‘catch-up’ pupils.
Read MoreOfsted recommendations on Pupil Premium spending
Ofsted recommendations on Pupil Premium spending A recent report by Ofsted on the use of Pupil Premium spending in schools concludes with the following recommendations:
Read MorePhonic Code video clip just passed 100,000 clicks
Our free video, ‘Sounds of the English Phonic Code’ on You tube has had more than 100,000 clicks. It is handy for training teachers, TAs and parents in the spellings and precise pronunciation of the 44 sounds in the English Language. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwJx1NSineE Our ‘Pip Phonics’ video that is also free on You tube and covers the […]
Read MoreShould Systematic Synthetic Phonics be denied to our weakest readers?
The DfE has carefully approved and selected phonics programmes and resources for mainstream classrooms and ‘catch-up’ pupils according to strict synthetic phonics criteria. These are featured in the DfE Phonics Match-Funding catalogue. This follows the Jim Rose report that concludes that Systematic Synthetic Phonics is the best method of teaching children to read. Next we hear that the DfE has […]
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