I need phonics controlled, basal reader suggestions...

[Heathermomster]

Can someone please recommend a good, phonics controlled basal reader series that utilizes few sight words?  

 

We've used the Beginner Bob books, books by Nora Gaydos, and I just ordered the McGuffey Eclectic primer.  What else is there?

 

Thank-you and blessings, H

[PrincessAriel]

Possibly All About Reading? 

[PeterPan]

Don't do it!!!   :lol:   You know I'm just having fun with you.  I taught dd with SWR, so she went right into real books.  She hated easy readers.  She liked comics, Magic Treehouse, that kind of thing.  There's a book "How to Teach Reading with Books" that has grade leveled lists, so I used it to find picture books and simple books for that stage.  She wasn't really into them either, but she's a crazy kid.  I remember some were Eric Carle books, that kind of thing.  

 

Sonlight has really cute readers if a kid is inclined to read by word families and sounding out.  Your library should also have step books.  Mainly though, just read real stuff.  It always makes me freaky to think about what reading junk writing does to their vocabulary and sentence structure over time.  I tried to avoid anything ill-written.  If it didn't make me smile with charm and wit, out it went.  That's the only reason I said don't do it, because so much of it is just nasty.  But do what you want. If she doesn't have any working memory or other issues, then it's probably not going to matter a year from now anyway.  :)

 

http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/001678/7bb69cc1224a03a2ca40a5fd  Here, we'll start a run on it, hehe!  Looks like it has gone out of print.  Maybe your library has it?  It's Teach a Child to Read with Children's books.  Teach a Child to Read With Childrens Books 4ED  Rainbow has it, or try your used haunts.  It's really expensive on amazon right now.  Not earthshattering, but at least interesting.

 

Ds is gleefully squealing yes, yes as he circles items in the Fat Brain catalog.  What a hoot.

[Heathermomster]

Don't do it!!!   :lol:   You know I'm just having fun with you.  I taught dd with SWR, so she went right into real books.  She hated easy readers.  She liked comics, Magic Treehouse, that kind of thing.  There's a book "How to Teach Reading with Books" that has grade leveled lists, so I used it to find picture books and simple books for that stage.  She wasn't really into them either, but she's a crazy kid.  I remember some were Eric Carle books, that kind of thing.  

 

Sonlight has really cute readers if a kid is inclined to read by word families and sounding out.  Your library should also have step books.  Mainly though, just read real stuff.  It always makes me freaky to think about what reading junk writing does to their vocabulary and sentence structure over time.  I tried to avoid anything ill-written.  If it didn't make me smile with charm and wit, out it went.  That's the only reason I said don't do it, because so much of it is just nasty.  But do what you want. If she doesn't have any working memory or other issues, then it's probably not going to matter a year from now anyway.   :)

 

http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/001678/7bb69cc1224a03a2ca40a5fd  Here, we'll start a run on it, hehe!  Looks like it has gone out of print.  Maybe your library has it?  It's Teach a Child to Read with Children's books.  Teach a Child to Read With Childrens Books 4ED  Rainbow has it, or try your used haunts.  It's really expensive on amazon right now.  Not earthshattering, but at least interesting.

 

Ds is gleefully squealing yes, yes as he circles items in the Fat Brain catalog.  What a hoot.

Thank-you for the links...I need books that don't refer to pigs and have consonant blends.  For a $1, you know there will be a run on the RR link. :D

[PeterPan]

What in the world has she been reading with too many pigs???   :lol:  :lol:  :lol:   

[Terabith]

Miss Rhonda's Readers  

I See Sam books

 

I hate not being able to copy and paste.  Why doesn't that feature work?

[Ottakee]

The I See Sam books are the BEST we have ever used. www.iseesam.com or www.3rsplus.com You can google I See Sam to find the first 2 sets in PDF format to print out for free if you want as they are in the public domain. These were the ONLY books that got my girls reading.

[kwg]

Fwiw, If you google "Teach Your Child to Read with Picture Books pdf" a link comes up for the second edition.  I do not know the differences in editions but am excited to give it a look through.  Thanks for the idea!

 

 

[Pen]

If DC aged 7 or up: My son needed progressive very controlled phonics based readers.   http://www.highnoonbooks.com's Sound Out Chapter books worked for him until he was ready to launch onto easy real books like Magic Tree House.  I do not know I See Sam, but if it starts with See and Sam in same book, then it is probably less progressive than the Sound Out Chapter Books which start with just CVC pattern words and a very few sight words to make a sensible story at the first level.   So my son's first really successful book was "The Red Cap"  about a lab dog, Max, and his pal, Ted.   By level 6 it has books that actually have a bit of information like about the sinking city of Venice, Italy, and the underground tunnels of Portland, Oregon, for example.  My ds was ready for Magic Tree House before he got there, but it still had some interest to it even in a phonics based reader.

[beishan]

If DC aged 7 or up: My son needed progressive very controlled phonics based readers.   http://www.highnoonbooks.com's Sound Out Chapter books worked for him until he was ready to launch onto easy real books like Magic Tree House.  I do not know I See Sam, but if it starts with See and Sam in same book, then it is probably less progressive than the Sound Out Chapter Books which start with just CVC pattern words and a very few sight words to make a sensible story at the first level.   So my son's first really successful book was "The Red Cap"  about a lab dog, Max, and his pal, Ted.   By level 6 it has books that actually have a bit of information like about the sinking city of Venice, Italy, and the underground tunnels of Portland, Oregon, for example.  My ds was ready for Magic Tree House before he got there, but it still had some interest to it even in a phonics based reader.

 

 

We are using I SEE SAM set5 but my son started to lose interest. I think most of kids in his class (2nd grade) are reading chapter books so he is ready to move on but still struggle to read Magic treehouse independently. HN sound out chapter books look like a good fit. Do I need to get all sets? Is workbooks necessary?

[Pen]

We are using I SEE SAM set5 but my son started to lose interest. I think most of kids in his class (2nd grade) are reading chapter books so he is ready to move on but still struggle to read Magic treehouse independently. HN sound out chapter books look like a good fit. Do I need to get all sets? Is workbooks necessary?

 

We did not need workbooks.  We had one workbook set and it was fun, and added some other LA components, but certainly not needed for us, and I did not get any others.   For us, we did have and did need, the Reading Intervention Program also, but I would suggest not getting it to start unless you feel you need more.  What it gives that the Chapter Books do not is the individual steps are each done alone with practice readings and exercises (for example, just short-a words, or just a single blend would get separately practiced instead of having a book that will have short a, e, i, o, u all in the same book, or, at a higher level reader, a book that will have multiple blends all in the same book.

 

  I would start one set at what seems like the right level for him and see how it goes.   The sets are sold with 3 books at each of 2 levels.   For example, 3 CVC books and 3 CVCe (if that is the next level as I recall it is) come together.   If at the end of the first 3 CVC (or whatever level he is at) books, he seemed to need more before the next level, then you could get another set at the same level.   There are 3 sets at each level, so 9 total books at each level--but you may well not need them all, and may or may not need the A-1 level to start...though if he has not got excellent fluency and automaticity at that level it might be a good idea.    We did end up using all the books at the lower levels as my son worked to gain automaticity and fluency--by third reading he could do it with feeling and flow to it,if that had taken more readings, I would have done that, or if fewer were needed to get there I would have done fewer.  Also because for him he memorizes easily and I needed him to be able to go through several and then back again to ensure he was actually reading, not memorizing, and to have one saved out to do after several had been done 3 times each for a cold reading to see he had actually grasped that skill level.  As I saw that it seemed to take him all 9 books I then bought the rest, thinking that pattern would continue, however, at about level 3-4, he became able to read books like Magic Tree House.  In theory that would not be the transition point from one to the other, but it was where he personally became ready for the transition.  I do not regret having gotten more than ended up needed, because it is what worked for him and I feel grateful, but I also could have bought less.  

[Terabith]

Both of my kids LOVED Mr. Putter and Tabby and to a lesser degree, Henry and Mudge.  We're also big Frog and Toad fans.  There are "chapters," but the amount of white space makes it less intimidating.  They aren't phonics controlled, so their reading needs to be a little bit better, but they worked for us.   I would convince her that the cat couldn't wait to hear the next installment.  

[Lecka]

My suggestion is to do joint reading of books he has some interest in, but you read all the words that are not reasonable for him. I would run my finger, not try to make it too hard.

 

It was the least-frustrating way for my son to practice.

 

Once he gets a little farther, my son likes Fly Giy by Tedd Arnold, and he loved a book about Bed Bugs by Jan Thomas.

 

My son is in 3rd and he is not reading chapter books yet. He can read several pages of MTH but he does not keep going. In school he is in the grade-level reading group and they will be doing chapter books later in the year.

 

Some slightly harder, but not too hard, ideas: Dumb Bunnies by Dav Pilkey, Tiny Titans comics, D.C. Super Heroes comics, Squad Up comic book, "from the black lagoon" books, diary of a...by Cronin. Some of those are on the harder side.

 

Henry and Mudge are really cute, if he might like them. My son never read them on his own, but he liked to work on them with me.

 

I am afraid that by 2nd grade there are not many good options -- I would say to try High Noon. I haven't tried them, but most series are going to be too babyish, they are aimed at Kers.

 

You did not ask -- but my son hates flashcards, but did better with sight words printed across a page. That was the format with Abecedarian. He did better with a mastery approach -- he focused on five at a time, that had similar patterns. He spent two weeks per five words for several months, and then at the end he had picked up some patterns a little more easily and he had an easier time.

 

It is so hard at the beginning when they don't know any.

 

For MTH you might read ahead and underline sentences he can read as you come to them. There will be some very phonetic sentences here and there, especially in the earlier books. The word "ancient" is in that series constantly and is a really hard word. I would not sweat it -- just read it for him for the near term. (I always thought "I should teach him that word" and it was a stupid idea.).

[Lecka]

http://www.abcdrp.com/docs/ABCD_100_words_Level_A.pdf

 

This is basically what I used for sight words, but 100 words was too much, I made 3 lines of 5 words.

 

But just as an alternative to flashcards if flashcards do not go over well, but you are interested in something a little similar.

[beishan]

Unfortunately, my son does not like Henry and Mudge. i tried several times and even made him read one book to start (he is resistant to new thing).It is not like he cannot read that book, he just does not like the content. Frog and Toad, Mouse Soup, Owl in the house are the same thing. Even I made him read through every one of them, but he did not ask for more. Fly guy he likes and we have all the collections including the latest non-fiction one which has higher reading level. He also like the little critter and dumb bunnies. He read all we can found from library. Recently he starts to read Young Cam Jansen. One book per sitting. He won't pick up to read by himeself till I ask him but once he started, he wanted to finish it

.

His tutor is the reading specialist from neighborbood private school and she said they will need to be able to read MTH in second grade here. She thinks he can do it so she makes him read one chapter per week when they meet. He can retell the content he read. He just reluctant to read it and it always involves whinny and complaining every time when it comes to MTH. Recently I got him few books of My Weird School from book fair by my office and he likes it. He reads 3-4 pages a day now and he wants to keep going. I checked the reading level and it should be same as MTH but he said it is easier. There are 3-4 long words per chapter but he can normally use content clue to read without issue as the story is talking about second grade happening. i guess the big word in MTH is harder for him to guess so he is kind of scared.

[Terabith]

Well, interest makes a huge difference in how easy one perceives a book as being.  My kids weren't huge MTH fans, either.

[Lecka]

Oh, I would make a time of day to read, let him choose his books, and make it very cozy.

 

There is no reason he needs to read MTH if he is not interested in it. 

 

My Weird School will build his reading level just as well. 

 

There are a lot of books out there.  I like MTH but it is stupid to act like kids have to read them. 

 

If he likes any comic books or cartoon collections, those might be a good choice, too.  My son also loves guide books for things like NInjago, Power Rangers, Pokémon, and Skylander Giants (which we will not allow but he loves the guide book anyway).

 

It is all going to build his reading level. 

 

I would also try to happen to have a treat for him at the end of reading time.  Make it a good time to play a little game with him, or fix him a tea or a little snack.  It can go a long way. 

 

I am impressed he can read independently!  Young Cam Jansen are not easy!  There are a ton in that series.  If he likes detectives, Nate the Great is another dectective series.  My son does not really like detective series, but I would look for all detective series if he did.  He might go into Boxcar Children instead of MTH.  I would ask his reading tutor to switch to those, I think they are a similar level to MTH.  I would look it up (google titles and "guided reading level" or something).

 

I would also look in non-fiction and look for books at his level in anything he is interested in.  I also have luck with my son looking at non-fiction books and reading the captions and headings, even if he is not reading everything on the page.  If he finds a heading interesting, he will read it, and others, he will skip.   

 

Overall I would look at behavioral things to make it more enticing to read.  Like, in the "encourage your reluctant reader" genre.  The usual stuff is: schedule a time to read, make it positive, provide reading materials they will like.   

 

It is a different situation than having a struggling reader who needs help to read.  But I think here, having a struggling reader has transitioned into having a reluctant reader, to some extent.  Now my son can do independent reading and I do "reluctant reader" strategies.  He also needs some "reading with mom" time and I think of "struggling reader " strategies for that (though it is closer and closer to all reluctant reader strategies). 

 

I like the model where you compare it to piano lessons.  Sometimes kids don't want to practice, but if you are committed to lessons, you are going to put up with the attitude or try to make it more pleasant.  That has always been a helpful analogy to me. The point is kind-of -- no on is surprised when kids whine about practicing piano sometimes, but then, they are supposed to have an awesome attitude for reading or something is really wrong. 

[beishan]

Lecka

 

Thanks for the great advice.

 

[Pen]

Unfortunately, my son does not like Henry and Mudge. i tried several times and even made him read one book to start (he is resistant to new thing).It is not like he cannot read that book, he just does not like the content. Frog and Toad, Mouse Soup, Owl in the house are the same thing. Even I made him read through every one of them, but he did not ask for more. Fly guy he likes and we have all the collections including the latest non-fiction one which has higher reading level. He also like the little critter and dumb bunnies. He read all we can found from library. Recently he starts to read Young Cam Jansen. One book per sitting. He won't pick up to read by himeself till I ask him but once he started, he wanted to finish it

.

His tutor is the reading specialist from neighborbood private school and she said they will need to be able to read MTH in second grade here. She thinks he can do it so she makes him read one chapter per week when they meet. He can retell the content he read. He just reluctant to read it and it always involves whinny and complaining every time when it comes to MTH. Recently I got him few books of My Weird School from book fair by my office and he likes it. He reads 3-4 pages a day now and he wants to keep going. I checked the reading level and it should be same as MTH but he said it is easier. There are 3-4 long words per chapter but he can normally use content clue to read without issue as the story is talking about second grade happening. i guess the big word in MTH is harder for him to guess so he is kind of scared.

 If he can read such books then he would be beyond the Sound Out Chapter Books stage...       I highlighted a sentence and underlined a word above catching my attention, however.  If he is doing a lot of reading by guessing, it may be a problem that should be remedied by still working on progressive  phonics type books along with more interesting (to him) books.   Guessing can result in reading problems that surface later when material gets too hard for guessing to work.  It is easier to fix when still younger and when there are materials to work on that are fairly in synch with interest level still available.

 

You can also work on reading by first reading a book aloud to your son and then having him read it aloud to you.

 

"Easy" or "hard" can also reflect things like type size and white space, and sentence complexity, as well as the words and content.

[beishan]

Pen

 

Thanks. We are working on Dancing Bears fast track at home while his tutor is also reviewing phonics with him using OG method when they meet once a week. In addition, he is receiving reading pullout at school and they are doing phonics (vowel teams) in pullout lesson as well. We all agree that he still needs intensive phonics instruction. He knows his sounds and rules. He does it perfectly well when reading the word list or play phonics game, but he often forgets or needs reminder for those rules when he reads those words in the books. Oddly, he does not have problem with his spelling. He can spell by sounds without issue. He only has issue recalling the rules automatically when he reads. But it gets better with a lot of practices in books. That's why I started I SEE SAM on top of Dancing Bears and hoping Nigh Noon sound out books also can provide that extra practicing for him in case he gets tired of I SEE SAM. The phonics we are currently working on are spreading between level 4-5 in sound out chapter books so I think he still can benefit from those books.

[Pen]

Pen

 

Thanks. We are working on Dancing Bears fast track at home while his tutor is also reviewing phonics with him using OG method when they meet once a week. In addition, he is receiving reading pullout at school and they are doing phonics (vowel teams) in pullout lesson as well. We all agree that he still needs intensive phonics instruction. He knows his sounds and rules. He does it perfectly well when reading the word list or play phonics game, but he often forgets or needs reminder for those rules when he reads those words in the books. Oddly, he does not have problem with his spelling. He can spell by sounds without issue. He only has issue recalling the rules automatically when he reads. But it gets better with a lot of practices in books. That's why I started I SEE SAM on top of Dancing Bears and hoping Nigh Noon sound out books also can provide that extra practicing for him in case he gets tired of I SEE SAM. The phonics we are currently working on are spreading between level 4-5 in sound out chapter books so I think he still can benefit from those books.

 

 

Highnoon was wonderful for just what you say he needs.  What it precisely did is have the reading become automatic and fluent rather than having to think about and apply rules.  And the longish books without many pictures and with lots of similar words meant he really had to read, not guess.   One thing, in that case you might consider is a double set of a first level, because I found that unless I could see exactly what was written I might miss something like that my son had read that, say, "Tom set the rock in a pail."   instead of say, "Tim set the rock on a pile."  That may not be an exact example, but the idea is that one had to stop a good guesser from guessing.  At the very least, read through the book yourself before you let him read it so you know if a character is Max or Mack or Tim or Tom, for example, or plan to sit where you can both look at the page at the same time.  If he were to practice saying Tim where it is supposed to be Tom, though it hardly matters for the story, it does matter a lot for the purposes of achieving correct automaticity.  We had a rule that was for math word problems names did not matter, but for reading practice they (and other words) had to be done right.

[beishan]

Highnoon was wonderful for just what you say he needs.  What it precisely did is have the reading become automatic and fluent rather than having to think about and apply rules.  And the longish books without many pictures and with lots of similar words meant he really had to read, not guess.   One thing, in that case you might consider is a double set of a first level, because I found that unless I could see exactly what was written I might miss something like that my son had read that, say, "Tom set the rock in a pail."   instead of say, "Tim set the rock on a pile."  That may not be an exact example, but the idea is that one had to stop a good guesser from guessing.  At the very least, read through the book yourself before you let him read it so you know if a character is Max or Mack or Tim or Tom, for example, or plan to sit where you can both look at the page at the same time.  If he were to practice saying Tim where it is supposed to be Tom, though it hardly matters for the story, it does matter a lot for the purposes of achieving correct automaticity.  We had a rule that was for math word problems names did not matter, but for reading practice they (and other words) had to be done right.

 

Yes, I always sit with him at the desk for reading instruction. We both see the books togather and I remind him even he forgets the ending sound -s.

[ElizabethB]

http://www.donpotter.net/pdf/bplitebooks.pdf

 

The School Phonics workbooks are also good:

 

http://www.didax.com/shop/searchresults.cfm/Keyword/School%20phonics.cfm

 

And, I like to use the phonovisual chart with my students while they are reading for a few months, then wean them off of it.

 

https://www.phonovisual.com/products.php?id=207