Get involved: Send pictures, video, news and views - text NEWS
SHOPPER to 80360 or email us 'Many methods' needed for reading
Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson has warned against the
Government's focus on using a single method to teach youngsters
to read. Young children learn in "various different ways", she
argued, and the new reading test could leave some pupils feeling
like they are "not quite up to scratch". The Government is
promoting phonics, a system which focuses on sounds rather than
recognising whole words, as the best way to raise reading
standards. Speaking as she launched a series of plays aimed at
boosting young children's reading skills, Mrs Donaldson, author
of The Gruffalo, said: "What I've always thought is that
children learn in various different ways. Some children respond
better to phonics, some to looking and seeing words and some
learn by osmosis. Any good teacher knows you need a variety of
ways of reading." Mrs Donaldson, who said she is a fan of
phonics, suggested there was a time