Reading
Our aim is for children to become confident and independent readers who gain both pleasure and insight from the reading activities and texts they regularly engage with. Reading is an essential skill for participation in all areas of life. Competence enables enjoyment and appreciation of literature and access to information from a variety of sources.
We recognise the value of reading aloud to children, in order to improve their grasp of story language, to enthuse them with a love of books and inspire them as writers.
To continue to highlight and encourage children to read, many exciting and rewarding activities are arranged in school to promote the pleasure and knowledge that can be gained from books, i.e. “Book Week”, visits by published authors, in school performances by professional theatre groups, and through the making of books.At All Souls', we love reading!
Helping Your Child With Reading
Reading with your child is vital. Research shows that it's the single most important thing you can do to help your child's education. It's best to read little and often, so try to put aside some time for it every day.
Think of ways to make reading fun - you want your child to learn how pleasurable books can be. If you're both enjoying talking about the content of a particular page, linger over it for as long as you like.
Books aren't just about reading the words on the page, they can also present new ideas and topics for you and your child to discuss.
Tips for helping your child to enjoy books:
- Encourage your child to pretend to 'read' a book before he or she can read words.
- Visit the library as often as possible - take out CDs, DVDs, story bags as well as books.
- Schedule a regular time for reading - perhaps when you get home from school or just before bed.
- Buy dual-language books if English isn’t your family’s first language - you can talk about books and stories, and develop a love for them, in any language.
- Look for books on topics that you know your child is interested in - maybe dragons, insects, cookery or a certain sport.
- Make sure that children’s books are easily accessible in different rooms around your house.
- Try to ask a variety of questions to check understanding (see example VIPERS questions below).
- Please ensure your child’s reading activity is logged in their reading record book.
