I Can Read Now! Animals

Subject: English Language
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 11 - 14
Order Number: 5215

There are still children in Years 7 and 8 who cannot read. They may be dyslexic or have Moderate Learning Difficulties, or simply have been left behind by the Literacy Strategy, but they need to learn to read, and fast.

Animals can be copied and made up into little A5 booklets of 8 pages. The booklet is big enough to be worthwhile, but not so big that children are daunted or intimidated by them. The illustrations make them very user friendly, as well as giving context clues.

The little book teach's reading through repetition of high frequency words and regular phonic patterns. More importantly, they enable new readers to develop skills of prediction using pictures and context. Previous knowledge and interest in the subject matter are employed to good effect, to build word recognition and confidence.

The book is best used with small groups, who predict, discuss, read, and fill the gaps together. However, they can also be used for work with individual children, perhaps by parents, or older pupils who have learned how to do paired reading.

Animals - starts with an assumption of no reading skills at all.