READING

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD WITH READING

Although your child will be taught to read at school, parent's can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home.

There are two types of reading book that your child may bring home:

Reading Practice Book

This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.

Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.

Every child will be given a reading record so that parents can document that they read at home. We would ask parents to support your child by completing the record weekly. Below is a simple guide on how to do this.

Sharing Book

In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you to enjoy together.

Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this alone. Read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun!

HOW TO READ AT HOME

Time and space to read needs to be protected within the routine of home life.

Younger children need to read for at least 15 minutes a day, building up to at least 30 minutes a day by Year 6.

There must be a calm and quiet environment in the home, away from electronic devices, to enable your child to concentrate and be fully engaged with their book.

Before You Read...

Look at the title and available pictures with the child and discuss what you think the story may be about.

Questions...

Stop reading at regular intervals and ask your child questions about what has been read so far and what he/she thinks may happen next in the text.

Decoding the words...

Help to sound out and blend words and also identify non-decodable words that need to be recognised on sight.

Predicting...

Discuss what you think might happen next based on what has occurred so far.

Using the pictures...

Encourage your child to take notice of the pictures as they may help him/her to identify an unknown word, at any age!

Reading fluently...

Time how many words per minute is being read and set small targets.

Using expression...

Read the book like the author, paying attention to punctuation and character dialogue.

Have fun with it!

Choose books to read that your child enjoys reading! Stories, information texts, comics, atlases... the lists are endless!

READING RECORDS

All children will have reading record, which will come home with them and their reading book.

There are two different reading records:

Yellow - Used for children in the infant classes, which are Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.

Green - Used for children in the Junior classes, which are Year 3 to Year 6.

How to Complete an Infant Reading Record

A member of staff will record the date and the name of the book your child is reading.
Your child will have a different book each week
Parents should simply record with a simple tick or smiley face when you have read with your child. If you wish you can leave a comment but this is not required.

How to Complete a Junior Reading Record

A member of staff will record the date and the name of the book your child is reading.
In the Juniors, most children will be reading chapter books. This means that they may have the same book for several weeks.
Parents should simply record with a simple tick or smiley face when you have read with your child. If you wish you can leave a comment but this is not required.

Miss Devlin is our English Subject Leader

For more information about the English Curriculum, including Writing, Reading and Phonics, feel free to speak to her and ask any questions you may have.

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