Reading
Why read with your child at home?
Reading a book and chatting about it has a positive impact on children’s ability to:
• understand words and sentences
• use a wide range of vocabulary
• develop listening comprehension skills
Supporting your child with reading
• Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home.
• Whilst children are being taught to read (Reception, Y1 and Y2), there are two types of reading book that your child may bring home:
A reading practice book.
• This will be at the correct phonic stage for your child. They should be able to read this fluently and independently. 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.
A sharing book.
• Your child will not be able to read this on their own. This book is for you both to read and enjoy together. 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!
• Once children have learnt to read, children will just have the reading book of their choice. Please continue to support and enjoy books together when they get to this stage.
• When you read with your child or when they read themselves this should be logged in the reading record. Children are rewarded for reading regularly through our:
Reading Challenge
Our whole school reading initiative has been put in place to help encourage and motivate children of all ages, to read regularly. This regular reading should be a mixture of sharing books/texts for enjoyment (e.g. picture books, non-fiction, newspapers etc) and frequent practice with their regular reading book (from the reading bands or fiction book).
Each child in school has a school bookmark.
Reception – Year 2 have a grid. Children will be rewarded with a sticker if they read at least 4 times per week at home (this will be checked on a Monday). When children have filled their grid (reading regularly for the term) they will be awarded a book voucher. Book vouchers entitle them to book for themselves and their class. Once the book arrives it will have a certificate in the front acknowledging their achievement. Once they have read their book it is donated to the class for others to read.
Years 3-6 have recommended books/authors on their bookmark and there is plenty of choice in school. When children finish a book they will be rewarded with a sticker.
When children have read 5 books they will be awarded a Book Voucher to spend as described above.
Happy reading!!
