Reading

At EWPA we believe that it is not just about giving children the skills to be able to read and decode, it is also about instilling a love of a variety of different kinds of literature and books.

Our curriculum is centred around a variety of engaging core texts both in the daily SFA English lessons and within the cross curricular topics. We aim to immerse children in a topic of learning which enables them to deepen their understanding of the knowledge and skills needed for each concept and theme.

Reading at School

At EWPA we want our children to become enthusiastic, engaged readers and to develop a lifelong love of books and literature.

We introduce children to a wide range of high quality fiction, non-fiction and poetry books in our English SFA lessons and our cross curricular topic lessons.

In the early stages of reading, children are taught to decode words using phonic skills as their main approach, alongside this children are also taught sight vocabulary.

Children read in small groups during their daily 90 minute English lessons and also individually with the class teacher or teaching assistant during the week.

Reading at home

Developing readers will bring home a levelled reading book (according to their reading stage) and in Keystage 1 a book of their choice from the class book corner. We expect children to read their levelled book to their adult at home every evening and for the adult to read the book from the reading corner to their child. In Reception and Keystage 1 books are changed on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In Keystage 2 books are changed as required (children in Keystage 2 will be reading longer books will may last for several days/week). The older children are expected to write the date and their chosen book in their reading record book, for the younger children we ask that the parents record the date and the book title for their child. We ask that parents/carers sign the reading record book when they have heard their child read.

Your child should be reading at home for around 10-15 minutes (at least) each day. Your support with this is essential in order to develop your child’s reading skills, confidence and understanding.

If your child is an independent reader, it is still vital that you continue to read with them, listen to them and discuss the books they are reading.

Tips for reading with your child

• Try to find a regular time to read together. 10-15 minutes per day is better than a longer session once a week. Set this time aside and make it part of your daily routine.
• Reading together should be a positive experience. Ensure that there are no distraction during reading time. This time should be relaxing, remember to praise your child’s efforts.
• Encourage your child to have a go at reading words, by using their phonic skills to read unfamiliar words and by working on developing their sight vocabulary.
• Talk with your child about the meanings of words in order to help them to understand what they are reading about.
• Encourage your child to read a range of texts such as stories, newspapers, comics, leaflets, signs, etc.
• Read books to your child regularly. Younger children will bring home a book from the class book corner for you to read to them. With older children choose a favourite author and read a chapter a night to them.
• Ask children questions about the text in order to develop their understanding of what they have read.

Question to develop understanding

• Where/when does the story take place?
• Who are the characters in the story?
• What happens in this part of the story?
• Tell me one/two things that the main character does in this part of the story?
• Can you retell the story in your own words?
• Tell me what the character was like?
• Tell me the most interesting/exciting/funniest part of the story. Why?
• What do you think the character feels about….? How do you know?
• What do you think would have happened if…?
• What do you think is going to happen next?
• Which part of the book did you like the best/least? Why?
• How has the author used words/phrases to make this character funny/sad/clever/frightening etc?
• Why is….a good title for this book?
• Do you know anymore stories like this? How are they alike?
• Do you know another story with similar characters? Tell me how they are similar.
• What do you think the story is telling us?
• Has anything like this happened to you?