Effective Readers Sets 1&2 and Activity Sheets

A downloadable reading scheme for children starting or struggling to read (age 4-7+) and with Specific Learning Difficulties like dyslexia. Key word repetition throughout the books, and in the activity sheets which relate to each book, build in lots of practice so words can be committed to long term memory before moving on. This builds confidence and success.

Each set is made up of 6 little books in a locked pdf format. The books are made from printing on both sides (duplex) of 2 or 3 pieces paper, giving the books, 8 or 12 pages - including the cover and back (Please see downloadable printing instructions with photos). The stories are about Tom and his animal friends and the adventures they have.

Reading uses lots of skills including phonic skills, language skills, memory, comprehension and the ability to use the context of what we are reading. I have written and illustrated these books so that all these skills are developed and practised.

The books are written to support parents and carers in helping their children to learn to read. At the front of the books, there is a list of all the new and known key words used in the book, along with tips on helping children read. On the back of every book there is a:

• ‘Chat about the book’ section, with example questions to develop language and comprehension skills
• ‘Book Look’ section which provides a little teaching and asks the child to look back in the book to reinforce an aspect of learning, for example in a word hunt
• ‘Possible Activities’ section, which suggests games and activities that will reinforce the skills and learning from the book. Some of these link to the Effective Readers Activity Sheets for Sets 1 and 2

Effective Readers can be used:

• before traditional reading schemes. Due to its structure, and the frequent repetition of key words, when children, who have read ‘Effective Readers’, move on to traditional schemes, they will already have a secure bank of sight words and reading strategies to draw on. This aids their confidence and reading readiness
• with children who are having difficulty learning to read
• for remote learning
• for electively home educated children

Set 1 books lead straight into Set 2 Effective Readers which build on the words learnt in Set 1. Along with the development of a wide range of reading and phonic skills, there are 55 words targeted by the end of set 2.

Effective Readers activity sheets link to each of the books in sets 1 and 2. The 36 activity sheets and 7 certificates provide a range of reinforcement materials sheets help children to practice their reading skills and key words while having fun. They include:

• Ideas and instructions for games and activities
• Word cards for all the characters and key words in the books
• Sentence building ideas
• Phonic games and letter cards
• Templates for the children to make their own books to reinforce key words
• Board games to practice new words
• Bingo games to practice new words
• Creative extension activities
• Certificates

Printing activity sheets
You can either print off the all the activity sheets together so that you can use, or photo copy the sheets as required, or print them off individually when you need them.
Some of the sheets are purposely left bank, so if printing off all at once, you do not for example, have the cards for a game printed on the back of a certificate.
To print all the activity sheets at once: Choose to print on both sides (Duplex) and flip along the long edge. For further information see separate printing instructions.

In order for children to have the time to carry out the suggested activities and to practice the words to a level at which they can retain and generalise their learning it is anticipated that each book will last at about a week.

Children love returning to their early reading books and activity sheets to see how far they have come. With this scheme children are able to keep and treasure their own reading books and re-read them whenever they wish.