A real problem for young teenagers with severe reading difficulties, including dyslexia, is the shortage of stories they want to read. (Obviously books aimed at young children are not appropriate.) Based on their considerable research and wide-ranging trials, Anna and Sydney Higgins have written the graded series of books, FUN READ.
‘WHEN THE SONG WAS OVER’ is the 4th book in the series its Flesch Reading Ease score is 95.3. It is graded as ‘very easy to read’. Based on 8 standard readability formulas, it is appropriate for beginners (= 3rd grade/year). The content is most suitable for female students aged 11-16. There are 94 pages and 26 illustrations.
‘WHEN THE SONG WAS OVER’ deals with problematic relationships that are experienced by many teenagers:
Susan was very keen on Terry who played in a pop group but he took no notice of her. When she was walking past Terry’s house with her dog, it escaped, chased a cat and smashed Terry’s drum set. Poor Susan said she would pay for the damage. Another boy at school, Samson, talked her into singing during the interval at the dance where Terry’s group was playing. The singing was a disaster but….
The text is displayed not in complete sentences but in phrases - a system that the writers’ research has shown is the most effective printed layout for easy reading and comprehension.
Both Sydney and Anna Higgins have many years of teaching experience. After being a Senior Advisor for English in the UK, Sydney moved to Italy where he became a professor of English. His wife, Anna, has been for over 20 years a university teacher and an examiner for the Cambridge EFL examinations.
The other books in the FUN READ series are:
1. FUN READ 1
1) ‘Old Man Moon’ 2) ‘Shouts in the Night’ 3) ‘The Run-Away’ 4) ‘At the Dance’
Graded as ‘very, very easy to read’ – for beginners (= 3rd grade/year). The content is most suitable for male students aged 10 - 15. There are 66 pages and 64 illustrations.
2. FUN READ 2
1) ‘Down Rope Walk’ 2) ‘CRASH!’
Graded as ‘very easy to read’ – for beginners (= 3rd grade/year). The content is most suitable for male students aged 10 - 15. There are 86 pages and 26 illustrations.
3. FUN READ 3
1) ‘Lonely Girl’ 2) ‘No Time to Scream’
Graded as ‘easy to read’ – for beginners (= 3rd grade/year). The content is most suitable for female students aged 11-16. There are 92 pages and 26 illustrations.
5. VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES, GHOSTS & UFOs
Graded as ‘very easy to read’ - for beginners (= 4th grade/year). Content is most suitable for male students aged 11-16. There are 98 pages and 76 illustrations.
6. THE PRICE OF FRIENDSHIP
Graded as ‘easy to read’ - for beginners (= 4th grade/year). The content is most suitable for female students aged 11-16. There are 114 pages and 8 illustrations.
‘WHEN THE SONG WAS OVER’ is the 4th book in the series its Flesch Reading Ease score is 95.3. It is graded as ‘very easy to read’. Based on 8 standard readability formulas, it is appropriate for beginners (= 3rd grade/year). The content is most suitable for female students aged 11-16. There are 94 pages and 26 illustrations.
‘WHEN THE SONG WAS OVER’ deals with problematic relationships that are experienced by many teenagers:
Susan was very keen on Terry who played in a pop group but he took no notice of her. When she was walking past Terry’s house with her dog, it escaped, chased a cat and smashed Terry’s drum set. Poor Susan said she would pay for the damage. Another boy at school, Samson, talked her into singing during the interval at the dance where Terry’s group was playing. The singing was a disaster but….
The text is displayed not in complete sentences but in phrases - a system that the writers’ research has shown is the most effective printed layout for easy reading and comprehension.
Both Sydney and Anna Higgins have many years of teaching experience. After being a Senior Advisor for English in the UK, Sydney moved to Italy where he became a professor of English. His wife, Anna, has been for over 20 years a university teacher and an examiner for the Cambridge EFL examinations.
The other books in the FUN READ series are:
1. FUN READ 1
1) ‘Old Man Moon’ 2) ‘Shouts in the Night’ 3) ‘The Run-Away’ 4) ‘At the Dance’
Graded as ‘very, very easy to read’ – for beginners (= 3rd grade/year). The content is most suitable for male students aged 10 - 15. There are 66 pages and 64 illustrations.
2. FUN READ 2
1) ‘Down Rope Walk’ 2) ‘CRASH!’
Graded as ‘very easy to read’ – for beginners (= 3rd grade/year). The content is most suitable for male students aged 10 - 15. There are 86 pages and 26 illustrations.
3. FUN READ 3
1) ‘Lonely Girl’ 2) ‘No Time to Scream’
Graded as ‘easy to read’ – for beginners (= 3rd grade/year). The content is most suitable for female students aged 11-16. There are 92 pages and 26 illustrations.
5. VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES, GHOSTS & UFOs
Graded as ‘very easy to read’ - for beginners (= 4th grade/year). Content is most suitable for male students aged 11-16. There are 98 pages and 76 illustrations.
6. THE PRICE OF FRIENDSHIP
Graded as ‘easy to read’ - for beginners (= 4th grade/year). The content is most suitable for female students aged 11-16. There are 114 pages and 8 illustrations.
