Magic Town

Magic Town is a recent discovery for us. It's a website and app containing a virtual world of stories.

Reuben really likes the independence of reading virtual books, so this website is really nice for him. We only use the free version but you can upgrade to a paid subscription and get more stories. The free version has around 15 books and a new story each day. There is also a download section with free activity worksheets.

When you arrive in Magic Town, you’ll meet the guides Izzy and Max. They’re there to show you around. You’ll see lots of houses that hold the stories and games. And if you click on the big tree at the top of the landscape, you meet Louis the Storyteller. Louis is a wise old lion who has travelled the world, collecting stories that he’s brought to Magic Town. Click on Louis to get the free story of the day.

Some of the free books include: Elmer the elephant, Winnie the Witch, The little princess, and classics like Little red riding hood and The boy who cried wolf.

Junior Scrabble

I didn't know this existed until my partner bought it for his older children, but we didn't really look at it as Reuben can't read or write confidently yet. Then he spotted it today and wanted to give it a go, it was a lot of fun and he started making some words. Isaac also joined in, mainly counting the letters.

 

 

We have the Mattel version with a double board, one side is like a picture crossword and is suitable for ages (I'd say) 4 to 6, the other side looks more like a conventional scrabble board but without values allocated to letters and no complex scoring system.

What I also liked about the game was the fact that the boys didn't really have to play a "proper" game, they could just mess around with the letters and familiarise themselves with how words are made.

 







Websites for learning to read

Reuben, my eldest is four and a half but has been fascinated by the alphabet and reading since he was two, these are some of the resources he uses (the ages represent when Reuben started using them so it's just a vague guideline).

• Youtube and endless repetition of the alphabet song in as many guises as he could find (age 2)
• Reading Eggs http://readingeggs.co.uk/ subscription only, a lot of children use it but Reuben doesn't like the linear/building blocks approach (you must finish one activity before you go on to another) and the fact that you get eggs as rewards allowing you to use them in the arcade bit of the website. Reuben loves jumping from one task to another so got very frustrated and then he has no idea of how the rewards system works (never having been to school of received pocket money) so doesn't understand the egg thing at all... But from feedback from other home ed families, this is very popular and children enjoy it (from age 3)

• Starfall http://www.starfall.com free, and the subscription version http://more.starfall.com/m/welcome/index/load.htm we really like this website so also use the subscription one, it is phonic based (which Reuben doesn't seem to be going with, he prefers to recognise whole words) but Reuben can pick and mix his activities (also numeracy and other topics like music and art) and he really likes the story book format (from age 4)

• Early Learning at home http://www.earlylearningathome.com/home a ton of resources, mainly things to make and do at home, Reuben has not seen this himself as I tend to print things out for him if I see he has an interest in a particular area, it's the same sort of activities children do at school, see video as an example (from age 3)
• Oxford Owl http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk from the publishing house, books to read online with activities/quizzes (from age 4)

I'll be happy to hear what other children are using, and having compiled this list I realised that the biggest motivator for learning to read is necessity! Reuben uses the computer and ipad himself so he really needs to know what all the writing means!!

Oh and a little end note: I'm writing this in the evening and about half an hour ago I heard some noises from upstairs, I went to see and Reuben was still awake, sitting up in bed, "reading" Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss... a REAL paper book!!