Learning to Read

How to use Resources

The resources listed help in equipping children with essential skills in reading as they develop from infancy through to young adulthood. They are particularly helpful in reinforcing reading skills and encouraging reluctant or struggling readers.  As a brief guide to the main publishers in the field, the series listed below will help you identify a suitable, age appropriate programme - or range of books - for your child to use. Most follow a graded reading scheme comprising, in summary:

• Pre-Readers: Tadpoles, for example. Suitable for Junior Infants
• Emergent Readers: Hopscotch, for example. Suitable for Senior Infants, First Class
• Independent Readers: Sparklers, for example. Suitable for Second and Third Class
• Confident Readers: Treetops, for example. Suitable for Fourth and Fifth Class
• Older Readers: Zone 13, for example. Suitable for Sixth Class

If, as a parent, you want to find out more about reading programmes and how best to encourage and motivate your child, the links below are useful starting points:

• Read at Home: Provides parents and carers with clear, practical advice and support for helping children learn to read
• Oxford Reading Tree: Page for Parents
• Pops Resources: Strategies to foster a love of reading and develop reading skills

Oxford Primary Literacy

The choice of many education professionals, Oxford Reading Tree and Oxford graded reading materials are available in main branch libraries. Watch out for:

• Allstars: Chapter books for able infant readers
• Songbirds Phonics: Developing early reading skills
• Snapdragons: Gentle progression, ideal for independent, group or guided reading
• Treetops: For confident readers building comprehension skills
  

Pearson Education

• Storyworlds: Successful graded series for 4-7 year olds
• Rigby Star Family: Perfect for phonics, guided, shared and independent reading
• Pocket Books: Fiction and non-fiction to capture your child's imagination
• New Reading 360: Infant rore readers to build reading confidence and junior core readers to develop those skills
• Sails Foundation: Vibrant and colourfully illustrated books perfect for pre-readers

Franklin Watts

• Reading Corner: Covers three grades of early reading ability, with each grade featuring three levels of difficulty. Perfect for early reading development
• Tadpoles: First reading books, ideal for emergent readers
• Leapfrog: Brightly illustrated, and perfect for newly independent readers
• Hopscotch: For building reading confidence in the independent reader

Nelson Thornes

• PM Readers: Graded stories featuring controlled vocabulary and supportive picture clues, ideal for 5-9 year olds
• Sparklers: High interest chapter books perfect for guided reading
• Buzzwords: Hig interest, low reading level titles, suitable for reluctant readers
• Wellington Square: Designed to meet the needs of children aged 7-11+ who are having difficulty in learning to read
• Zone 13: High interest stories aimed at 9-13 year olds, featuring fast moving, intriguing narratives
  

Pops Resources, Jolly Readers, Fuzzbuzz

• Pops: Reading programme designed for children who are struggling to read. Contains over 32 titles at different levels
• Jolly Readers: Engaging and lively stories which children enjoy and designed to start once a child has learned all the 42 sounds in Jolly Phonics, and can read new words by blending the sounds together
• Fuzzbuzz: Series designed for struggling readers. Based on phonics and high frequency words, it is a good scheme to use with any child that needs to develop and reinforce basic skills
  

O'Brien Press

• Cubs: Perfect for early, emergent readers
• Pandas: Ideal for newly independent readers
• Flyers: Developing confidence and comprehension in independent readers
• Red and Blue branded tiotles for older, more confident readers

Some more to watch out for..

• Twisters: First reading books with colourful illustrations
• Zigzag: Ideal for emergent readers
• Kids & Co.:Brand new range of 16 reading books aimed at children aged 6 to 7, featuring real-life stories about a group of neighbourhood kids
• Usborne Young Readers: New! Pick up a title from this recommended series for independent readers

Explore a complete range of exciting titles only available in libraries. There are always new series and colourful, engaging books to be discovered!