What are SuperBooks?

SuperBooks are Sequential Phonics- Based Books for children ages 4-8. They are exciting, colorful, easy-to-read stories that provide a primary library for beginning readers. SuperBooks Kit I contains 40 eight-page stories of familiar childhood experiences, adventure and fantasy.

The phonics-based vocabulary makes reading simple and fun.

Fluency and skill in reading grow as the stories become more detailed. The combination of phonics and comprehension creates a balanced approach. SuperBooks Kit 2 with 40 additional titles provides a complete program that includes all the skills necessary for students to become fluent and proficient readers.

The SuperBooks Program includes: SuperBooks Kit I (5 copies of 40 titles—200 books)

SuperBooks Kit II (5 copies of 40 titles—200 books) , Kit I Teacher Manual, Kit II Teacher Manual, SuperStory Pac 1 (40 individual titles) StoryPac 2 (40 individual titles)

and Take Home Story Pacs (reproducible sheets) for Kits 1 and 2.

Click here to see what others have to say about SuperBooks!

JoAnne Nelson, author of SuperBooks, has a Master’s Degree in the Teaching of Reading from the University of Wisconsin and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Washington State University. Her graduate thesis describes a phonics based reading/ writing program she developed for Primary grade students. This became the basis for SuperBooks.

JoAnne Nelson’s educational experiences include: curriculum development and gifted education at the local, state and regional levels, Reading Specialist, Language Arts Consultant and Director of Kindergarten and Early ChildhoodProgams at the local and regional levels.. Her classroom experience includes teaching assignments in Edmonds, WA., Madison & Lake Mills, WI, and Magnolia, N.J. JoAnne Nelson has written 150 books that have been published in the education market in the U.S. and has recently published a trade book entitled, “The Witches’ Little Sister’.

The ability to read words quickly, accurately and effortlessly, is critical to skillful reading comprehension. 

To become fluent in reading requires an understanding of the basic features of the English language; ie., how to select and translate letter patterns into spoken language by using phonics, syllabication and word parts. 

SuperBooks use a phonics based vocabulary, emphasizing word patterns (rhyming words or phonograms), combined with context and picture clues to develop successful readers.

Comprehension is emphasized from the beginning.  There is no “either-or” aspect to Super Books.  It’s not either phonics or comprehension—it is both!!  

Children want to feel successful as they learn to read.  This is why SuperBooks are 8 pages long, and are colorful and fun to read.  SuperBooks are simple—in the good sense of simple.  The program is easy to use—is motivating—the children want to read the next book as soon as they finish the first one.  The program is systematic and sequential.  It’s easy for teachers to use and just as easy for parents, grandparents and para- professionals.  Because of the phonics based vocabulary, SuperBooks provide easy access to the English Language for ESL, LEP  and Special Education students. 

References:

Support for the teaching of a balanced literacy program which includes phonics instruction can be found in: Beginning to Read , by Marilyn Jager Adams, et. al.;  Reading/Language Arts Framework for California Public Schools, and The Reading Crisis, Why Poor Readers Fall Behind  by Jeanne Chall, Vicki Jacobs & Luke Baldwin. 

Marilyn Adams On the importance of Phonics.. 

“…Approaches in which systematic code instruction is included alongside meaning emphasis, language instruction and connected reading are found to result in superior reading achievement overall.” 

Definition of Phonics:  Phonics refers to a system of teaching reading that teaches the correspondences between letters or groups of letters and their pronunciation.  

On Fluency and Comprehension  “ Laboratory research indicates that the most critical factor in fluent word reading is the ability to recognize letters, spelling patterns and whole words effortlessly, automatically and visually.  The central goal of all reading instruction – comprehension- depends critically on this ability.” 

Chall on “The Fourth Grade Slump”

…The fourth grade slump has its roots in primary grades.  Studies show that above and  below average readers differed in fluency and phonics knowledge.  Automatic word recognition and phonics are the critical skills for success at 4th grade and beyond because children are able to tackle more complex stories and informational books.  Difficulty with decoding, fluency and word meanings ultimately affects reading comprehension.