Teach Secondary - Issue 14.6

To get students reading, the last thing they’ll want is to be presented with a slab of text containing thousands of words. For many at KS3, their reading opportunities need to include shorter phonics books with a good mix of engaging content, ideally presented in a standard paperback format. Older students can easily feel self- conscious carrying around books that outwardly appear to be too childish for them, so finding an appropriate entry point is paramount. Get it right, and you’ll ensure a positive reading experience. This is precisely what Collins has done. Their new Fully Booked series of decodable fiction and non-fiction books place phonics at the heart of students’ reading, with the aim of boosting their self-efficacy. Why does this matter? Because students who are still developing their phonics skills, especially those not yet reading fluently, can benefit greatly from reading decodable books, which purposefully aim to build confidence, improve fluency and provide a strong foundation for comprehension. These new books from Collins are both highly accessible and extremely engaging, and should do a good job of providing targeted practice to address reading gaps and building confidence in decoding skills. Though aimed at KS3, these decodable readers aren’t age-specific, so much as skill-specific. There are 10 engrossing fiction titles and 10 inspiring non-fiction titles available, giving students plenty of options to explore, each with solid hooks to ensnare readers’ attention. The titles alone – which include Night of the Chickens , The Thing in the Deep , Stranded Under the Stars , A Day in the Life of an Astronaut , Football Skills and Spider Strike – should give you a sense of the genre variety on offer. The books themselves range in length from 24 to 32 pages, and feature top quality illustrations and presentation throughout. The relatable themes found across the series are bound to resonate with students’ experiences and interests, and are conveyed through straightforward, approachable writing. Some editions include glossaries, too. In terms of their main aim – providing a means for students to engage in sequential phonics practice, so that they can develop their foundations in reading – the books hit all the bases, being well-written, with engaging content and numerous opportunities for practising and solidifying phonics skills. Collins’ Fully Booked series will ultimately help students develop the crucial foundational reading skills they’ll need to succeed at KS3 and beyond, while at the same time taking big strides towards becoming fluent, independent readers. Age-appropriate decodable readers like these can help give older students a sense of achievement, while also compelling them to read more. Collins would seem to have a real hit on their hands here – if you want to find out Boost your students’ reading confidence with these compelling new books from Collins A T A G L ANCE ENG L I SH • A new series of 20 decodable fiction and non-fiction phonics books • Designed to appeal to students aged 11+ • Introduces words and word structures in a planned sequence • Provides rich opportunities to practise decoding skills • Accompanied by free teacher notes Titles in the Fully Booked series are priced from £6.99 to £7.99; for more information, visit collins.co.uk/FullyBooked Helps students practise their decoding skills, rather than relying on pictures or guesswork Strengthens orthographic memory and mastery of phonic structures Provides students with a sense of achievement, while boosting their enjoyment of reading Supports students with developing their level of independent reading comprehension You’re looking for engaging and effective resources that can promote independent reading and set students up for future reading success. V E RD I C T P I CK UP I F . . . REVIEWED BY: JOHN DABELL Fully Booked more, visit the Collins website, where you’ll be able to access some free teacher notes aimed at helping you further develop students’ comprehension skills, vocabulary acquisition and recall. R E V I E W 95 teachwire.net/secondary