Project X FAQs
Click on an FAQ below to see the answers
 What can I use Project X for?
Project X has been designed for use as a guided/group reading programme. This means that the books have been written and levelled with just the right amount of support and challenge for a guided reading session. The books are also ideal for children's free-choice and independent reading. Using the Project X Interactive Stories software, selected stories can be used for shared reading with the whole class on an interactive whiteboard. How are the Project X books levelled?
The Project X books have been levelled according to Book Bands for Guided Reading (Key Stage 1) and Guiding Reading (Key Stage 2) to offer just the right amount of support and challenge for a guided reading session. The books are discretely colour coded according to their Book Band level - see the tab at the top of each book that wraps around the spine. The books have also been correlated to the Oxford Reading Tree stages and this information can be found on the back cover of every book. Is Project X a phonic programme?
No. Project X is not a phonic programme but it does recognize the importance of decoding and word recognition skills to early reading. At all levels of the programme, the books provide opportunities for children to practise and reinforce the phonic skills they have acquired. As appropriate, children can also apply other strategies to their reading of new words. The levelling of the Reception and Year 1 books broadly correlates to the progression in Letters and Sounds, so children will meet many words that they can decode successfully, as well as many irregular high frequency words. Are all the books about the same characters?
No. Within Project X there are a core of fiction books featuring the adventures of Max, Cat, Ant and Tiger. These books form a motivating character 'soap' strand, illustrated using 3D digital artwork. These characters and the storylines based on their amazing watches and shrinking powers, develop through the levels of the programme. There are 84 fiction books in Project X, of which 56 feature our core 3D characters. The remaining 28 fiction books are all individual stories about different characters in different situations - ensuring children get a broad reading diet. In addition, half of the 56 non-fiction books in Project X are 'hosted' by our 3D characters. The characters are integrated in to the books and pose questions and make comments in order to engage the reader. How do the themes/clusters work?
At each level of Project X the books are organized in to thematic clusters. Each cluster contains five books - three fiction, two non-fiction - linked by a theme. There are 28 themes covered and they have been chosen based on children's interests and popular classroom topics.      At their simplest level, the Project X themes are designed to: For those schools wanting to take a more thematic, cross-curricular approach to their teaching and learning, the books within each theme also provide links between literacy and the wider curriculum. Ideas and advice on how to use the themes more widely are provided in the Teaching Handbook for each year of the programme. Project X says it's great for boy readers. What about the girls?
Project X is NOT just a programme for boys - we're very confident that girls will love it too, and this has certainly been borne out in our trials. Project X is designed to engage all children with reading but as the greater number of 'disengaged' readers are boys we have focused our attentions on their needs. Why? Because engaged boys give teachers more time to ensure that every child in their class is being helped to progress. The aim of Project X is therefore to engage the boys to the benefit of both boys and girls. In order to engage boy readers, the Project X books have been developed to appeal to the needs and tastes of boys. This is because in general boys have a narrower range of reading tastes than girls. Whilst most girls are happy to read action and adventure stories with male protagonists or books on topics such as dinosaurs, sports and animals, some boys are quickly turned off by stories 'about girls' or books that they consider 'for girls'. This doesn't mean that all the Project X books reflect macho stereotypes. There are strong female as well as male characters in the stories, emotions and feelings are dealt with, and the selected non-fiction content offers plenty of appeal to girls. How does Project X support assessment for learning?
Guided/group reading is an ideal way to gather evidence of children's reading (and speaking and listening) progress. The Guided/Group Reading Notes in Project X provide clear objectives and targets for each reading session, plus assessment points to support assessment for learning during and after reading. In the Teaching Handbook for each year you will also find further assessment support including: How do I use the Project X Interactive Stories software?
The Project X Interactive Stories software is flexible and easy to navigate and can be used to support your literacy lessons in any of the following ways. How do I use Project X alongside Oxford Reading Tree?
It couldn't be easier to use Project X alongside the UK's favourite reading programme! You can use Project X as a guided reading programme alongside Oxford Reading Tree. Or you can use Project X to broaden the range of your independent reading resources. All of the Project X books are clearly correlated to the Oxford Reading Tree stages to help you organize your resources quickly and effectively. Can I arrange for my local Educational Sales Representative to demonstrate Project X to me?
A free, no obligation service is available to you and your school. Your local sales representative can come and talk to you on a one-to-one basis. They also have information on local advisory schools that use Oxford Primary resources, and are happy to be contacted directly. Click here to arrange a demonstration! |
