All About Getting Help for Students Weak in English

[autumnbronze]

Hi Dokomo,


Zoophonics is a methodology of studying phonics. There are several of these schools in Singapore. Here is the link:

http://www.zoophonics.com.sg/

I have signed my DS1 for their holiday programs before and he thoroughly enjoyed them.

Hope this helps

[iLoveChubby]

Hi dokomo!

You may wish to chk this website, they hv few branches :
http://www.zoophonics.com.sg/
My son used to attend Growing up Gifted wkend enrichmt - they also teach zoophonics.

I thk some (or all) Popular doesnt carry Usborne series - you can try Kinokuniya, alot of selections - else you can look out for SMH bulk purchase, its cheaper.

[hokkiengirl]

Hi, Dokomo!


Actually, I taught my kids to read myself. It’s not really that hard, but does require patience. I used this book which cost 30 plus bucks. The price was the main draw, when I compared it to the rest of the courses on the market. I mean, ONE lesson is 30 bucks! The title of the book is ‘Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons’ by Siegfried Engelmann. At least, I think that is the title. Am not entirely sure as I’ve lent the book to a friend.

It is available in the library. Can reserve it to take a look before ordering. Some people find it too technical, but once you get the hang of how to use it, it is quite straightforward (like using a new-fangled vacuum cleaner). You just need to follow the spoken instructions to lead the child to blend words like m-a-n.

Warning: it is NOT the most interesting of books for the child. The mini stories in each lesson which are used for daily practice can be a little trite, but they are crafted to build on what the child has learnt up to that point.

It just requires around 15 min a day. Not really worth it to hire an external party to do it…

[schweppes]

hokkiengirl:

Hi, Dokomo!


Actually, I taught my kids to read myself. It's not really that hard, but does require patience. I used this book which cost 30 plus bucks. The price was the main draw, when I compared it to the rest of the courses on the market. I mean, ONE lesson is 30 bucks! The title of the book is 'Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons' by Siegfried Engelmann. At least, I think that is the title. Am not entirely sure as I've lent the book to a friend.

It is available in the library. Can reserve it to take a look before ordering. Some people find it too technical, but once you get the hang of how to use it, it is quite straightforward (like using a new-fangled vacuum cleaner). You just need to follow the spoken instructions to lead the child to blend words like m-a-n.

Warning: it is NOT the most interesting of books for the child. The mini stories in each lesson which are used for daily practice can be a little trite, but they are crafted to build on what the child has learnt up to that point.

It just requires around 15 min a day. Not really worth it to hire an external party to do it...

Agree. This is a fantastic book to teach your child with. Taught both my girls to read using Engelmann. A friend recommended the book to me too.

To supplement the above mentioned book, I also got my kids started with the Rigby Readers and the Magic Key series. Those are of course more interesting and fun to read.

[lim_ks]

I have 3 kids and the eldest is P2. I have come to realised that the long term benefit to do English well is to get your child to love books! My sister’s children were sent to learning centre from age of 4 or 5. They can read very well for their age then but now in secondary school now, their English standard is not too bad but stagnant(or not good enough)! Reason being that they have not fall in love with books! My sister regrets her actions. She said that if she can start all over again, she will inculcate thier love for reading.

[cherrygal]

I don’t think your sis needs to regret lah. It’s difficult to inculcate the love of reading in kids nowadays… there are too many electronic distractions and toys… yes, we can read to them now, make them read when they are young etc but once they reach a certain age, they will know it’s really not as entertaining as electronic media becoz most pple are audio-visual creatures.


I met many teenagers who don’t even read or watch TV. They are all glued to the net. It is rare indeed to have older kids devouring books like we used to.

Anyone who actually has teenagers who love to read despite the various distractions? Pls share how you maintained the love?

[bbc]

This is the Usborne book that hokkiengirl was referring to:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Phonic-Stories-Frog-on-Log-Other-Tales-Phil-Roxbee-Cox/9780794518875

Very gd book for reinforcing phonics.

You could buy a brand-new copy from one of the sellers at motherhood forum at $23.19 only.

[hokkiengirl]

Here's a selection of books which kindergarten or lower primary kids may enjoy:


1) The shorter Roald Dahl's children's stories (The Twits, The Fantastic Mr Fox, The Enormous Crocodile, The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me)
2) Crook Catcher series by Karen Wallace
3) Minnie and Moo series by Denys Cazet
4) actually, most books by Denys Cazet
5) anything by Arnold Lobel (Frog and Toad series, etc)
6) The Mr Men series
7) Tales of Oliver Pig series
most books by Margaret Wise Brown
9) The Frances series by Russell Loban

Hope that helps as a start. The books have nice pictures and big print and the words are generally simple. Choose more complex books to read to your boy. This will get him used to sophisticated language. And practise active reading; ie. ask him questions about the story (how he feels about it, what he thinks will happen next, how he thinks the character feels, etc). Er, don't make it like a formal compre; just have a loving and relaxed time with your child.

Press on and don't give up! There's still time!

[bbc]

The following are recommended for beginner readers:

The Big Blue Book of Beginner Books
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Big-Blue-Beginner-Books-Eastman/9780375855528
The Big Green Book of Beginner Books
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Big-Green-Beginner-Books-Dr-Seuss/9780375858079
The Big Red Book of Beginner Books
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Big-Red-Beginner-Books-Eastman/9780375865312

They are available for borrowing at the public libraries.

[buds]

iLoveChubby:

Hey buds...

Heyya iLoveChubby! :peekaboo:

iLoveChubby:

It's me again...your \"stalker\"... :rotflmao:

Wow! My very own stalker! :please:

Take heart that you're not alone. :evil:
There are many more! :rotflmao:

iLoveChubby:

Dont :siam: first , want to chk w u sth...really lah.... ....: Does purely reading storybooks suffice on their memory of sight words or do we really have to get \"sight word readers\"?

I'm not siam-ing laa.. :hugs:

The frequency of the reading plays a part and so does the child's best ways of absorption or retention. You see.. different children have different learning styles. Meaning different children learn BEST in many different ways. When we can bank in on how they enjoy learning best, that is when the learning will come from the heart and not because it is forced upon them. With this, the progress or acceleration of their learning pace will and can be faster.

I got to pick up reading from both phonemic awareness and sight reading... and my mumsie was not English educated. I shared it here in this http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/how-i-started-reading

iLoveChubby:

Do you have gd recommendations on any specific titles on sight word readers? I thk there are some under Scholastic?

Yes. Scholastic has plenty to choose from plus some are easily available at Popular bookstores these days. I personally used Peter and Jane cos that was what Mumsie used for us. It is a wee dry after a while especially for children who enjoy more colourful or more cartoonish graphics and more interesting story line that they can relate to.

Thematic readers are also fine. Good phonics readers will contain sight words inclusion to ensure children grasp both phonics and sight words as learning in tandem makes more sense in the reading and also the fluency. Without sight words, proper sentences are impossible to be constructed. I have shared some thematic readers at this http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=3082&hilit=thematic+readers

I love these at this http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?p=28603#p28603, plus it is free for when you want it done with your kiddies. Enjoy!

I have more of course, but haven't had the time to update... as usual. :politebleah: Just remember, they don't hafta be expensive to be effective. :celebrate: Some best things in life are free.