looking for a phonics/vocab book pls help me clarify

[FireWithin]

My 6 year old son asked for a workbook that would help him "spell out big words better." I think he is reading at a 3rd grade level.

I thought about a spelling book, but it didn't seem to be a good match. Either the words would be too easy, or too much writing.

I asked him for clarification and I finally understood that he wants to be able to read "bigger" words. He is reading really well, but he is naturally feeling stuck on larger words.
Within our conversation I realized what he meant about spelling out bigger words. He doesn't sound out words that he knows or doesn't know. He explains that he spells them out really quickly in his head, figures out the meaning, and then make a judgement whether it is right or wrong with contextual clues. This is how he explains it, although it is not entirely clear to me. He does this very rapidly with very little loss to the fluidity of his reading.

He used Headsprouts to teach him how to read, and he has been mostly on his own ever since. So he has some phonics background.

So I am looking for a workbook that will help him with his next level of reading. Would this be a more advanced phonics? vocabulary? I'm just not sure.

We do have HOP master reader. It is not bad, but he doesn't want a computer program, he wants a workbook.

[broodymama]

Subbing. My DS is doing Headsprout right now too, and I'm wondering about a good phonics program for later this year or next year.

[lach]

There's a good workbook series I've used with kids in the past that's called 100 Words Kids Need to Read By [grade]. I've gotten them in the past at Barnes and Noble. It has a poster with all the words printed on it, which is always a hit.

Barnes and Noble has the best selection of workbooks, IME. The ones that they put out themselves are really good, so far as Workbooks go. I don't know if the series has a title, but their covers have vertical same-color stripes in a few different shades. They have them for different subjects, and I would bet there's a vocabulary series.

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by lach

There's a good workbook series I've used with kids in the past that's called 100 Words Kids Need to Read By [grade]. I've gotten them in the past at Barnes and Noble. It has a poster with all the words printed on it, which is always a hit.

Barnes and Noble has the best selection of workbooks, IME. The ones that they put out themselves are really good, so far as Workbooks go. I don't know if the series has a title, but their covers have vertical same-color stripes in a few different shades. They have them for different subjects, and I would bet there's a vocabulary series.

do these books focuse more on sight words -- tghat is just learning the 100 words by memory -- or do they do it based on phonics or sounding out the words and learning new sounds and blends?

I am looking for a good way to start phonics.

AImee

[AAK]

That kinda sucks! I've read that kids who read by the way your son describes max out at around a fourth grade level. It sounds like he actually needs some basic sounding out practice. I would do the exercises in reading reflex (available at the library) along with explode the code (workbook) or whatever. I think he needs to realize that each word is made of sounds that are blended. Then, to break bigger words into syllables. If you get the reading reflex, read the first three chapters. Then do the assessments with your son. You may be surprised. I would expect him to move rapidly through the exercises and be to the advance code stuff really soon, but I wouldn't skip the other exercises unless he can demonstrate the ability to separate sounds and to blend sounds.

Amy

[chfriend]

My kids like Sequential Spelling. It sounds like it might dovetail nicely with the way your ds reads.

[FireWithin]

thanks AAK. I will look into reading reflex. We happened to get explode the code. It is good. He has chosen to use it a few times already.


I will keep sequential spelling in mind. You are right it does seem to match the way he reads.

He insists that he doesn't sound out in his head, but he does actively apply reading rules that he has been taught.
He is right now lying next to me reading a kids physics book by Basher and truly understanding it. I don't want to mess with his approach too much. He just seems so happy and comfortable right now.

[babycarrier]

We like explode the code for this. Seems like middle of book four it starts giving more rules that are helping my son break down larger words.

[FireWithin]

Originally Posted by farmlife

We like explode the code for this. Seems like middle of book four it starts giving more rules that are helping my son break down larger words.

wow good to know. we picked book four.

[ocelotmom]

I wonder if English From The Roots Up or something similar would be what he's looking for. It teaches the latin and greek roots of English words, which can help with deciphering complex English words.

[AAK]

Originally Posted by Mammo2Sammo

thanks AAK. I will look into reading reflex. We happened to get explode the code. It is good. He has chosen to use it a few times already.


I will keep sequential spelling in mind. You are right it does seem to match the way he reads.

He insists that he doesn't sound out in his head, but he does actively apply reading rules that he has been taught.
He is right now lying next to me reading a kids physics book by Basher and truly understanding it. I don't want to mess with his approach too much. He just seems so happy and comfortable right now.

Well, then maybe he does know how to sound out and blend and just doesn't realize it because he has gotten quite fluent. You might try short nonsense words and see what he does with them.

Amy

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by AAK

That kinda sucks! I've read that kids who read by the way your son describes max out at around a fourth grade level. It sounds like he actually needs some basic sounding out practice.

I'm curious-- where did you read this? It doesn't sound to me like he needs practice sounding things out at all, just that he's looking for more advanced phonics and vocabulary work.