Recent results of the Year 1 Phonics Check show that schools in deprived communities can do as well as, if not better than, schools in leafy suburbs. Take St George’s, a school in Wandsworth, which reported 100% success in the Y1 Phonics Check this year. This school is situated in a challenging catchment area. What […]
Read Moredecodable books
How decodable books can expand vocabulary
Critics of synthetic phonics have claimed that the language of phonic reading books (decodable books) limits children’s vocabulary. Instead of enriching their vocabulary, they read about a ‘cat’ that ‘sat on a mat’. To this, I would say, “Have you seen the variety of decodable books that publishers have produced in recent years? Many of them […]
Read MoreWhy are children still guessing and not decoding?
Reports are coming back from schools that, despite Synthetic Phonics being taught in Reception classes, many children are failing to learn to decode. This has been reflected in the results of the Year 1 Phonics Check, with 58% of children reading 32 out of 40 words correctly. Why is this happening?
Read MorePHONIC BOOKS COMPETITION!!!
As we have just launched our new Phonic Books Ltd Facebook page, we are annoucing our first Phonic Books Competition! The 100th, 150th, 200th and 250th person to ‘Like’ our new Phonic Books Ltd page will win any set of books from our Dandelion Books range or from our catch-up range, including the brand new Magic Belt […]
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 […]
Read MoreWhat are decodable books?
Many people have preconceived ideas about decodable books. Some believe they are intended to compete with ‘real’ children’s literature. In fact, decodable books have unique purposes of their own.
Read More7 fun activities using decodable books
Now that decodable reading books are being used alongside phonics programmes, there are lots of ways to use them to develop literacy.
Read MoreTotem Series out now!
At last the much awaited Totem Series is out! Check out this new set of decodable books for older struggling readers. The idea here is to fill in the gaps that older pupils may have in their phonic knowledge. It has great illustrations and stories and it starts at CVC and CVCC level. There is also a really […]
Read MoreShould beginner readers use ONLY decodable books?
Susan Godsland has posted a useful list of ten reasons why beginner readers should use only decodable books here (I have copied it in full below). What do you think?
Read MoreChoosing decodable books
I found this great post via mumsnet yesterday on how to pick decodable books.
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