[senco-forum] KS3 Literacy catch up programmes

I think it interesting that it is assumed that a child working at below L3 has a comprehension problem.  I work with children at L3 or below and I generally find that once they have cracked the word attack skills (decoding) they have very little problem with comprehension.  It was their inability to read the words on the page that was holding them back, not a lack of comprehension skills.  

I wouldn't say that they all turn out to have adequate comprehension skills, but most of them do. That's why I like to use a programme that tackles decoding and reveals the  comprehension skills at the same time.

Most of the reading schemes that I have seen tend to be based on whole language book 'levels' and even the supposedly 'low reading age' books  contain many words which are quite beyond the children's decoding abilities.

Maggie

barbara <barbht at saqnet.co.uk> wrote: If you use toe by toe and are not supporting it with pc eg Lexia or
Electronic library you probably need to a whole load of books -from a
variety of sources but preferably not a 'reading scheme' since  ( I assume
secondary) reading schemes have already failed him! There are loads but I'm
brain dead at the moment and can't visualise the sources of any of them
although in our room at school!
Toe by toe addresses the decoding -what you're looking for is something that
addresses the comprehension so 'real books' that child discusses so showing
comprehension

Have you tried using the various settings in windows to maximise screen,
produce ruler on screen etc ie accessibility options before you dismiss pc
based programmes as the advantage of these is that they are non judgemental
which many weaker pupils enjoy  barbara ht

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of Alice Chenneour
Randall
Sent: 11 December 2006 22:46
To: senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: [senco-forum] KS3 Literacy catch up programmes

I deleted the last mail on literacy catch-up programmes and regretted this
when I was asked by the SENCo of the school where I support a VI learner, if
there was a programme suitable for him (he's got quite a severe VI and is
working below Level 3); the difficulty is that there is so much material out
there and very little which can be delivered by a relatively inexperienced
soul; the ICT programmes are a complete non-starter for him. Any
thoughts/ideas would be most welcome but my own thoughts would be for a
combination of 'Toe by Toe' and something else!!!!!
  Alice

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