Dandelion Catchup Readers - SPELD NSW Online Store

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Dandelion Catchup Readers

Dandelion Phonic Books – Catch-up Readers and Workbooks

Dandelion’s popular Catch-up Readers and Workbooks are suitable for readers aged 8 – 14 and are designed to introduce the English Phonic Code in small sequential steps.  The purpose of these Series is to fill in the missing gaps in phonic skills and knowledge for older students  that are preventing these students from making progress and becoming fluent readers.

Special features to engage students include:

  • Age-appropriate illustrations and storyline involving quests and missions in chapter book format;
  • Each Reader has reading practice and vocabulary pages to develop receptive and expressive language;
  • Multi-syllable words are split into syllables on each page to assist the reader.

Comprehensive Workbooks supporting each set of Readers include pre and post reading activities.

Moon Dog Series

The Moon Dog Series are designed for older students who are working at the very early stages of reading skill.  They have a highly controlled introduction of new phonic code. Short, humorous stories using contemporary illustrations engage older students with story lines based on the adventures of a group of teenage friends in a band.

Magic Belt Series

Catch-Up Readers aimed at pupils with prior knowledge of the sound and letters of the alphabet.  The stories in this Series have a fantasy theme and relate to Zak’s quest to find 10 magical gems to help cure his grandfather. These exciting, age appropriate tales take the pupils from CVC and CVCC word level text through to adjacent consonants, consonant digraphs and suffixes.

This series has the same phonic progression as the That Dog! Series and can be used in parallel.  This Series introduce: adjacent consonants: CVC, CVCC, CCVC and CCVCC; consonant diagraphs: ch, tch, sh, th, ck, qu, ng, wh and le; suffixes: ed and ing. Word Structure: 1 and 2 letter graphemes / 2 and 3 syllable words.

That Dog! Series

Catch-Up Readers aimed at pupils with prior knowledge of the sound and letters of the alphabet.  The stories in this Series have an adventure theme and relate to Ben’s adventures when a stray dog follows him home.  These exciting, age appropriate tales take the pupils from CVC and CVCC word level text through to adjacent consonants, consonant digraphs and suffixes.

These series share the same phonic progression Magic Belt Series and can be used in parallel.  This Series introduce: adjacent consonants: CVC, CVCC, CCVC and CCVCC; consonant diagraphs: ch, tch, sh, th, ck, qu, ng, wh and le; suffixes: ed and ing. Word Structure: 1 and 2 letter graphemes / 2 and 3 syllable words.

Totem Series

Zak’s adventures begin when he’s captured by two men and his shepherd’s staff acquires special powers.  These Catch-Up Readers have a fantasy theme and are aimed at pupils able to read a simple text at CVC level and who know most of the consonant digraphs but have poor knowledge of vowel digraphs.

This Series recaps and quickly progresses through: adjacent consonant: CVC, CVCC, CCVC and CCVCC;  consonant diagraphs: sh, ch, th, ck, ng, qu and wh. Vowel spellings are introduced for the following vowel phonemes: /ae/ /ee/ /oa/ /er/ /ow/ /ie/ /too/. Word Structure: − 1, 2 and 3 letter graphemes / 2 and 3 syllable words.

This Series shares the same phonic progression as the Alba Series and can be used in parallel.  The story in this Series follows on from that in the Magic Belt Series. 

Alba Series

Alba, a feisty, resourceful female heroine steps in to save the day when someone threatens to jeopardise her father’s important scientific work.  These Catch Up Readers have an adventure theme and are aimed at pupils able to read a simple text at CVC level and who know most of the consonant digraphs but have poor knowledge of vowel digraphs.

This Series recap and quickly progress through:  adjacent consonant: CVC, CVCC, CCVC and CCVCC;  consonant diagraphs: sh, ch, th, ck, ng, qu and wh. Vowel spellings are introduced for the following vowel phonemes: /ae/ /ee/ /oa/ /er/ /ow/ /ie/ /too/. Word Structure: − 1, 2 and 3 letter graphemes / 2 and 3 syllable words.

This Series shares the same phonic progression as the Totem Series and can be used in parallel.

Talisman 1 Series

Zak’s adventures begin when his Grandpa gives him a talisman with special powers. From this day on, Zak’s life is never the same again.

These Catch-Up Readers have a fantasy theme and are aimed at pupils who are developing knowledge of the alternative spellings for vowel sounds. They introduce alternate spellings for the following vowel phonemes: − /ae/ /ee/ /oe/ /er/ /ow/ /oi/ /oo/ /ie/ /or/ /air/ /ar/.  Word Structures: − 1, 2, 3 and 4 letter graphemes / 1 and 2 syllable words.

This Series shares the same phonic progression as the Rescue Series and the Island Adventure Series and can be used in parallel.  The story in this Series follows on from the Totem Series.

Talisman Card Games

Rescue Series

Heroine Erin and her best friend Danny embark on an epic adventure to save baby brother Jack. 

These Catch-Up Readers have an adventure theme and are aimed at pupils who are developing knowledge of the alternative spellings for vowel sounds.  They introduce alternate spellings for the following vowel phonemes: − /ae/ /ee/ /oe/ /er/ /ow/ /oi/ /oo/ /ie/ /or/ /air/ /ar/.  Word Structures: − 1, 2, 3 and 4 letter graphemes / 1 and 2 syllable words. 

This Series shares the same phonic progression as the Talisman 1 and the Island Adventure Series and can be used in parallel.

Island Adventure Series

Jack and his little sister, Snub, are visiting Gran and Grandpa on a remote Scottish island where they live. An accident brings them closer together, but a subsequent calamity is the beginning of an exciting quest.

These Catch-Up Readers have an adventure theme and are aimed at older students who are developing knowledge of the alternative spellings for vowel sounds.  They introduce alternative spellings for the following vowel phonemes: – /ae/ /ee/ /oe/ /er/ /ow/ /oi/ /oo/ /ie/ /or/ /air/ /ar/.  Word Structures: – 1, 2, 3 and 4 letter graphemes / 1 and 2 syllable words.

This Series shares the same phonic progression as the Rescue Series and Talisman 1 Series and can be used in parallel.

Titan’s Gauntlet Series

A gripping quest story. Finn has been chosen to stop the evil Winged One from destroying the world.

These Catch-Up Readers are aimed at pupils who have gaps in their knowledge of the phonic code. This Series introduces alternative spellings for the following vowel and consonant phonemes: /ue/ /u/ /o/ /s/ /l/ /j/ /f/. The following common Latin suffixes are introduced: -ture, -tion, -tial, -cial and –sion. Word Structure: − 1 and 2 letter graphemes / 2 and 3 syllable words.

After reading the Titan’s Gauntlet Series students can progress to the Talisman 2 Series which follows the same phonic sequence but with additional alternative spellings and more text per page.

Talisman 2 Series

The night before his 14th birthday, Zak has a strange dream. A mysterious lady appears before him bearing an important message…

These Catch-Up Readers have a fantasy theme and are aimed at pupils who have gaps in their knowledge of the phonic code.  This Series follows on from Titan’s Gauntlets introducing further alternative vowels, consonant spellings, common Latin suffixes and more text per page.  The story in this Series follows on from the story in the Talisman 1 Series.

Hidden in Paris Series

Follow Ash, Frank and Ted as the three bandmates embark on an exciting adventure through the streets of Paris that they would never have dreamt possible!  Ash starts her day trying to cross a river on a rope. By the end of the day, she and her two friends are involved in a mysterious trail that will take them to Paris!

Phonic Books Hidden in Paris series comprises ten books covering alternative vowel and consonant spellings and common Latin suffixes. 

Amber Guardians Series

A chance discovery of an ancient necklace in an old bazaar soon leads Finn and his friends on an incredible quest.  The story in this Series follows on from the story in the Titan’s Gauntlet Series.

The Amber Guardians Series helps readers further develop their reading by increasing their morphological knowledge and skills.  Students learn to recognise and understand the structure of words and parts of words through the study of morphology.  The morphemes in this Series include prefixes, suffixes and root words and are grouped according to their function or meaning.  Identifying morphemes and their meaning helps increase comprehension, reading and spelling.

With a higher ratio of text to illustration, this Series allows the reader to make the important step towards understanding meaning purely from text.

These Dandelion Catch-up Readers Packs are a great resource for upper primary school and high school classrooms and Learning Support Teams.  Each Pack contains books that works through the Dandelion Phonics book progression in sequence.

  • Each Pack contains the Readers in each Series and a Workbook for each Series.
  • The Readers and Workbooks can be used as part of a literacy intervention or as a classroom or reading group activity.
  •  These resources are ideal for students in years 3 to 8 who need to fill missing gaps in their knowledge of the phonic code and develop their reading and spelling skills.
  • Dandelion Catch-Up Reader Pack have no postage.  
  • Please contact SPELD NSW for prices for Packs with more copies of each Series of Readers or without workbooks.
When selecting your pack you can choose a pack with three or six copies of each set of readers.  You can also choose whether or not your pack includes the workbooks. SPELD NSW Members receive discounts at the online store.

Catch-up Readers Moon Dog Pack

The Moon Dog Series follows the adventures of a group of friends in a band.  The Pack starts at the beginning of the phonics scope and sequence and is ideal for older students who need to learn the individual letter sounds and develop blending skills. 

  • Moon Dog Set 1
  • Moon Dog Workbook Set 1
  • Moon Dog Extras Set 1
  • Moon Dog Extras Workbook Set 1
  • Moon Dog Set 2
  • Moon Dog Workbook Set 2
  • Moon Dog Set 3
  • Moon Dog Workbook Set 
** NEW – Moon Dog Pack now includes Moon Dog Extras Set 1! **

Catch Up Readers Adventure Series Pack

The Adventure Pack includes the Dandelion Catch-Up Series with an adventure theme.  This Pack is ideal for older students who have learnt the individual letter sounds and need to develop their blending skills with longer words and learn the alternate spellings for the vowels.  

  • That Dog! Series 
  • That Dog! Workbook
  • Alba Series 
  • Alba Workbook
  • Rescue Series
  • Rescue Workbook
  • Island Adventure Series
  • Island Adventure Workbook
  • Titan’s Gauntlet Series
  • Titan’s Gauntlet Workbook

** Adventure Series Pack now includes Island Adventure Series **

Fantasy Series

Catch Up Readers Fantasy Pack

The Fantasy Pack includes the Dandelion Catch-Up Series with a fantasy theme.  This Pack is ideal for older students who have learnt the individual letter sounds and need to develop their blending skills with longer words and learn the alternate spellings for the vowels.  

  • Magic Belt Series and
  • Magic Belt Workbook
  • Totem Series
  • Totem Workbook
  • Talisman 1 Series 
  • Talisman 1 Workbook
  • Talisman 2 Series
  • Talisman 2 Workbook

When a student begins a reading program it is important to assess the student’s current phonic knowledge in order to establish what they know and where to start the phonics teaching. Using the results from the Informal Assessment correlated with the Reader Placement Chart, an appropriate Series to commence at is suggested from either the Beginner Readers Series or the Catch-up Reader Series

Assess a student's skills to determine which Dandelion Series to start

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