Here at Woodlands, we absolutely love reading! We really look forward to our daily story time sessions and we are so lucky to have access to cosy  well-stocked book corners, which we use daily. We take great pleasure in reading and we really enjoy our visits to the school library. We love answering questions about what we read and discussing and learning the meaning of new words, as this really helps to improve our comprehension skills.

 

 

How is Reading taught at Woodlands?

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 take part in Reading Practice Sessions. We use fully decodable books published by HarperCollins for Little Wandle.

Reading Teaching Sessions are:

• Timetabled 3 times a week
• Taught by trained teachers and Learning Support Staff
• Taught in small groups

The children read the same book three times a week. The first time we work on decoding (sounding out) the words, the second time we work on prosody, which is reading with expression- making the book sound more interesting with our storyteller voice- and the third time we look at comprehension. We read the book three times in school because we want to develop fluency. The more children see words, the more they begin to read them automatically without having to sound them out.

Supporting your child with reading at home

 

Nursery

Children in Nursery will take home a ‘Sharing Book’ each week. We encourage parents to read and enjoy this book with their child. A sharing book should be enjoyed by the child (and the parent!), it is a great way to discuss what is happening in the story and draw your child’s attention to language and pattern in books.

 

Reception, Year 1 and Year 2

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.

There will be three types of reading book that your child will bring home:

1. A Reading Practice Book.
2. A sharing book
3. A School Library book

 

1. A Reading Practice Book

These decodable books have been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. Your child will have seen and read this book three times in school so when they bring it home to you it should be seen as a time to ‘celebrate’ what they have been reading at school with you at home! Their experience of reading should always be a positive one as this brings enjoyment and increases confidence. When listening to them read the book please remember to give them lots of praise- celebrate their success and where necessary their perseverance!

 

Tips:

• If they cannot read a word, allow them time to use their sounds to build it up, where necessary help them to build the word or read it to them.
• Re-read sentences with your child to develop rhythm and intonation.
• After they have finished, talk about the book together.

 

2. 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 from their classroom for you to enjoy together.

Please remember that you should not 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 characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is to have fun!

 

3. A School Library Book

Your child will have access to a school library book. This book is chosen by your child and will be swapped regularly. Our school library is a wonderful resource full of amazing books which I am sure your child will enjoy choosing from.

 

Reading Records

Reading Records will be used to note your child’s assigned books and any additional comments regarding your child’s reading journey may be indicated in here by teaching staff.  It is important to us that the record is easy for families to complete so please leave a short comment in the record weekly, to let us know how your child got on with their reading at home. We are always interested to hear how they got on.

 

Here are six of the best tips to help your child with reading comprehension:

Understanding what you are reading is just as important as being able to decode the words.  Here are six tips to help your child develop their reading comprehension skills:

• Ask your child to read aloud. This forces them to go slower and create more time to process what they read. They are not only seeing the words, they are hearing them too. You can also take turns reading aloud.

• Make sure books aren’t difficult. They should recognise at least 90 percent of the words without any help.

• Reread to build fluency. To gain meaning from what they have read they need to read quickly and smoothly. Rereading familiar, simple books gives your child practice at becoming more fluent.

• Talk to a teacher. If your child is struggling, they may need more help with their reading.

• Supplement class reading. If your child’s class is studying a particular theme, look for easy-to-read books or magazines on the topic.

• Talk about what they are reading. This helps them think through the themes of the book. Ask questions before, during, and after a session.

TEN BENEFITS OF READING:

1. Children who read often and widely get better at it.

After all, practice makes perfect in almost everything humans do, and reading in no different.

 

2. Reading exercises our brain.

Reading is a much more complex task for the human brain rather than watching TV, for example. Reading strengthens brains connections and builds NEW connections.

 

3. Reading improves concentration.

Children have to sit still and quietly so that they can focus on the story when they are reading. If the read often, they will develop the skill to do this for longer.

 

4. Reading teaches children about the world around them.

Through reading a variety of books children learn about people, places, and events outside of their own experience.

 

5. Reading improves vocabulary and language skills.

Children learn new words as they read. Subconsciously, they absorb information on how to structure sentences and how to use words and other language features effectively in their writing and speaking.

 

6. Reading develops a child's imagination.

As we read our brains translate the descriptions we read of people, places and things into pictures. While we are engaged in a story we are also imagining how a character is feeling. Young children then bring this knowledge into their everyday play.

 

7. Reading helps children to develop empathy.

As children develop they begin to imagine how they would feel in that situation.

 

8. Reading is a fun.

A book or an e-reader doesn't take up much space and is light to carry, so you take it anywhere so you can never be bored if you have a book in your bag.

 

9. Reading is a great way to spend time together.

Reading together on the sofa, bedtimes stories and visiting the library are just some ways of spending time together.

 

10. Children who read achieve better in school.

Reading promotes achievement in all subjects, not just English. Children who are good readers tend to achieve better across the curriculum.

DID YOU KNOW....?

 

Research has found that when a child knows eight or more nursery rhymes by heart, at the age of 4, that they are usually one of the best at reading and spelling in their class by the age of 8! 

 

90% of our vocabulary comes from reading a wide range of books.