Reading

When you are reading with your child you can help by using some of these strategies:

• Talk about the pictures on each page, noting the key words that appear in the text. This helps the children understand the context for each sentence.
• When they get to a tricky word, sound out the first letter and let them finish the word
• If they get stuck ask them to guess what word would fit in the sentence.
• Re-read the sentence leaving a gap for the tricky word and help your child to fill in the word.
• Use the picture to give a clue to the word.
• If they are stuck, tell them the word. They are learning and you can point out tricky words each time you meet them.

In EYFS children begin reading with a structured programme of phonic acquisition based on the government recommend Letters and Sounds document and during these phonic sessions children also practise blending and segmenting regular words and learning a series of irregular words (tricky words that cannot be decoded).  When they have developed a secure phonic knowledge and are blending and segmenting confidently they begin reading from the Oxford Reading Tree Scheme.

In Key Stage 1, children continue to learn phonics using the government Letters and Sounds programme alongside ‘Oxford Reading Tree’ which is the main reading scheme. Follow the link for some great resources and ideas.

http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading-owl/find-a-book

http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/children/booklists/241/

We encourage the children to be independent readers and to change their book when they have finished it. Each child has a reading record book, to record the books read and make notes for the teacher. 

In Key Stage 2, the children will continue with the Oxford Reading scheme until they are a ‘free’ reader and able to select their own age appropriate reading material.

All children in Key Stage 1 and 2 have a guided reading session each week with their teacher. This is a structured reading lesson where the teacher chooses a book/text for a group which they read together. The teacher asks specific questions or shows the children a specific skill, like scanning a text for information or predicting what might come next in a story.

You can help your child by reading to or with your child each day. This should be an enjoyable time for both of you. It is as important to talk about the story as it is to read the words. Conversation about stories helps improve reading comprehension, which is an important reading skill. As children move in to years 5 and 6, it is as important to read to your child, as it is to read with your child. Sharing more complex novels and discussing them is not only a great shared experience, but an important part of their continued reading development. We have a rich legacy of children's novels which you can enjoy together. Check out some great books for older children:

http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/children/booklists.

Please also refer to the link to view a PowerPoint from Mrs Kearn highlighting some key areas for readers.