Homeschooling Downunder
We love this book! Each double page has a large letter (capital and small) on one page and a full colour painting" by a famous artist filling the opposite page. The painting has an object in it that begins with the letter opposite. Practice phonics by going through the book together, and become familiar with famous art at the same time. Ages 4 +
Alphabet Book - Fitzroy
The first step to learning to read English is to learn the letters of the alphabet and their associated sounds. This book teaches letter recognition and sound recognition. There are tracing and printing exercises, pictures and easy letter quizzes. Once this book has been completed the child is ready to learn to read. Ages 4 -8 yrs
Blending Sounds (from beginner to advanced)
This is a full phonics programme which combines the best of phonics mechanics with a contagious love of reading. Scripted and illustrated, parent and child work together through the book. Gentle and non-intimidating. Valerie includes games and stories children will love. Valerie has a real ministry to parents of young children, and her love for and affinity with the children shows through. 108 lessons designed to be worked on 3 days a week for 36 weeks.
My (Michelle’s)personal favourite resource for teaching reading is Teach Your Child to Read in 100 easy lessons. Here is a Donna Young review also http://donnayoung.org/penmanship/using-100ez-lessons.htm
This is an easy to follow resource that is cheap and you run it at your own pace sitting on the couch.
“The Fitzroy readers were well used in our home. Personally I found the boxed sets 1-10,1X-11X, 11-20, and 21-30 most helpful. Personally I wouldn’t bother with the word skills as I found the children’s reading ability grew at a faster pace than the word skill activities. For word skills I would find a different resource such as copywork, dictation and Emma Serl ” Michelle
Fitzroy Readers #1-10
Each of these ten books introduce a new sound, from 'a' in A Fat Cat to 'oo' in My Pup. These are short mostly one-syllable words with large print, designed to build confidence is beginners. Only available in a boxed set of ten books. Fitzroy Word Skills corresponds to these readers.
Word Skills - Fitzroy Readers
These books each have 7 pages of separate exercises tied to each of the ten basic readers. Each exercise provides reinforcement of the sounds and grammar learned in the book as the child reads. If they don't need all the exercises for each book, don't use them all, but for many beginners, comprehension, dictation, composition, drawing pictures, matching, rhyming, spelling and writing is just what they need to help them to not forget the new sounds. There is such variety in each page that they are unlikely to become bored.
Fitzroy Readers # 1X-11X
When learning readers are just getting confidence at blending, they need plenty of practice at a level they can cope with before moving on. This is why this set of readers was created...it introduces no sounds not already covered in Readers I - 10, but introduces them in longer two syllable words in many cases. By the time beginners master this set of readers, they are ready for dipthongs such as aw, oy and tion.
If your child is reading very easily by the end of books I - 10, you may wish to skip this set. If they need more practice after books I -I0, this set fills a vital spot. Goes with Fitzroy Word Skills IX
Fitzroy Readers I I - 20
Moving on from short vowel sounds, this level of readers introduces the sounds e as in be, y as in my, er in sister, all in tall, oo in cook, sh in fish, ing in sing, ar in mark and ay in day. Only one new sound is introduced in each book. This set of readers corresponds to Fitzroy Word Skills 2
Fitzroy Readers 21 - 30
This set of readers continues one new sound per book, teaching the following sounds: ch in chug, y in happy, wh in when, aw in paw, ed in barked, igh in night, th in thing, owin blow, ow in how, ear in learn, ee in tree and n't in didn't. Corresponds to Fitzroy Word Skills 3
Fitzroy Readers 31 - 40
This set of books increases to 2 or 3 new sounds per book. Here the following sounds are introduced: long a, ou in out, oa in boat, u in bush, long i and o, ea in head, or in sort ew in crew, ie in pie, of in coin, ea in heat, ur in burn and air in hair. Corresponds with Fitzroy Word Skills 4. If your child is not keeping up with 2 - 3 new sounds per book, this book will support that learning.
Fitzroy Readers 41 - 50
Continuing with a few new sounds each book, in this set we introduce: long u, g in cage, ai in rain, kn in knee, ph in photo, are in care, oy in boy, c in ice, ir in bird, er in fern, gu in guess, ire in fire, wor in work, ure in culture, ous in famous, ions in devious, wa in wash, wr in write, tion in fraction and sion in pension. Corresponds to Fitzroy Word Skills 5. Helpful to help readers keep up the pace and not get discouraged at all the new sounds.
Fitzroy Readers 5I - 60
The final set of readers. By the end of this set of ten books, readers will know all sounds used in the English language. Interesting, thoughtful stories are geared toward ages 8 - I I yrs. Introduces sounds: au in Paul, ought in bought, a in path, war in warm, ie in chief o in won, ch in chord. Corresponds to Fitzroy Word Skills 6A and 6B, also called Practical Grammar 6A and Practical Grammar 6B. These cover all the necessary grammar needed by educated persons today. They are tied to the stories.
Alphabetics - the Game -Fitzroy
This is a great game for the whole family or a mismatched group of readers. Anyone who knows all the vowels and consonants and can blend simple 3 letter words can play. A lot of similarities to Scrabble and just as fun. Each person takes 5 laminated cards and makes words when it is their turn. When you can't make more words you take another card each turn until you can. You can plunder others' cards by making a new word by adding to their old one, getting that score for yourself. Ages 5 to adult.
Bob Books - Bobby Maslen . These books are the American equivalent of Australia's Fitzroy Readers. Simple line drawings illustrate fun stories of 12 – 24 pages each. This progressive approach will assure children success and have them saying "I read the whole book!" Ages 4 - 8 yrs
Choose:
Experienced educator, Ruth Beechick, encouraged parents and teachers to allow children to read plenty of easy books at or just below their reading ability, to foster a love of reading and increase speed. The graded readers below may suit this purpose.
Step Into Reading -
Graded reader books that are just great stories.
Ages 5 - 9 yrs
Titles in the series:
My First Little House
Large print picture books using sentences straight from the original books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Wonderful for beginning readers. Ages 3 - 8 yrs.
Choose from:
If you have young children enjoying these books, they may also enjoy the Little House Paper Doll sets. Choose Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie or Little House Christmas.
DK readers
Filled with coloured photos of objects and places seen in the story. Large print.