Reading
Reading at Chartham
Reading is at the heart of teaching and learning at Chartham Primary School
Reading is placed in the heart of the curriculum at Chartham School - being able to read supports children’s learning across all subjects .We strive to develop the children’s wider reading as their journey through the school progresses, encouraging the development of reading for pleasure which is a major contributor to well being.
Intent
Teachers use good quality texts across the curriculum to expand the children's knowledge and skills, to foster a love of literature and to establish life-long reading habits. Through reading and literature in particular, children have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Being immersed in good quality literature develops pupils’ acquisition of a wide vocabulary, thus addressing any vocabulary gaps, and allowing children to explore and appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage.
Implementation
· Discrete Little Wandle phonics lessons, taught daily in Key Stage 1.
· 1:1 interventions provide phonics Keep Up, and Little Wandle Reading Practice Groups continue into KS2 according to need, targeting children with specific gaps in knowledge.
· Focus readers are targeted to ensure regular practice, with opportunities to decode and consolidate sounds from Reception to Year 6. Assessment information and pupil premium eligibility is used to determine the frequency of 1:1 reading sessions.
· In Key Stage 1, children are regularly assessed as part of Little Wandle, ensuring reading practice books are closely aligned with their stage of learning to read. Once the children have completed their Little Wandle reading journey, they are are regularly benchmarked using STAR Reading assessment. Results are matched into Accelerated Reader which ensures reading books are closely aligned with pupils’ stage of learning.
-STAR and AR continue throughout Key Stage 2.
· Whole class texts are carefully chosen to be ambitious and contextually relevant to the school.
· Daily whole class reading lessons develop vocabulary, comprehension, deductive reasoning and immersion with the class text and a range of other high-quality texts from the Literacy Shed.
· There is a whole school focus on developing a love of reading: book corners in every classroom, weekly ‘Chatterbooks’ sessions and daily read aloud time built into class timetables, as well as book fairs, book swaps and various book themed initiatives throughout the school year.
· Visits to the school library are timetabled so that all children can develop their own curiosity and exploration of what inspires a love of reading.
· Reading at home during the school term and during school holidays is incentivised to promote engagement with reading outside of the classroom.
· We involve parents, so they can become partners in their child’s reading journey through regular opportunities for in-school reading as well as parent workshops to support reading with their child at home.
Impact
In the Early years and KS1, children’s progress in phonics is continually reviewed through daily informal and half termly formal phonic assessments and evidence from their reading and writing. Assessment is used to monitor progress and to identify any child needing additional support as soon as they need it.
Please check the Reading News section in the Parent area to keep updated on reading developments in school.
Phonics (see phonics section) is the focus of the early reading journey in KS1 with fluency and the foundations of comprehension taught as integral strands.
In KS2 (and Y2 in Terms 5 & 6 ready for transition) we begin the VIPERS approach to teach whole class reading skills
Fluency and phrasing, expression and pitch are essential to support understanding and continue to be modelled and practised.
To find out more about reading in the primary curriculum, click here:
https:/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/335186/PRIMARY_national_curriculum_-_English_220714.pdf
Progression of Knowledge and Skills
Reading for Pleasure #rfp
We are a book loving community; alongside the teaching of the skills of reading we are passionate about developing reading for pleasure.
‘Reading for pleasure is the single most important indicator of a child’s success.’ (OECD 2002)
‘The will influences the skill and vice versa.’ (OECD 2010)
We value reading for pleasure highly and continue to work hard as a school to grow our Reading for Pleasure pedagogy. Research carried out by Teresa Cremin at the Open University supports the crucial balance between reading for pleasure and reading instruction, and we know that without embedding a strong foundation of reading for pleasure, we cannot effectively instil the knowledge and skills required for reading comprehension. We strive for our children to become lifelong readers who choose to pick up a book and read because they enjoy it! Our weekly 'Chatterbooks' sessions give the children an opportunity to bring well loved books from home to share and discuss with their friends - a great way to encourage talk, gain recommendations and perhaps explore new genres. Children and their grown ups can visit Early Bird Readers once a week before to school to use the library and share books together. As a community we have book fairs, book swaps, and we often take part in nationally recognised book events - all part of our drive to develop Reading for Pleasure.
Beginning your child's reading journey at Chartham
If you would like more information about how to support your child with phonics at home, please follow this link to find the Reception and Year 1 overview as well as videos of the sound pronunciations, letter formation sheets and other helpful resources. See also the phonics section.
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/
All children due to start each September, are gifted a book to keep and share at home. We hope that this supports our new pupils on their journey to becoming lifelong readers for pleasure!
Reader of the Week
Every Friday, each class has a reader of the week. The award is not necessarily about being the BEST reader, but for displaying something which we feel is important: fluency, expression, segmenting, blending, reading more at home than usual, comprehension - the list is endless! These children will be recognised in Celebration Assembly and they will be awarded with a certificate to take home and celebrate.
Reading mileage
Research has found that early readers need to read about 600 to 1000 words a week to become competent readers! This is called reading mileage. So the more they read, the better, and this impacts upon the rest of the curriculum. Lots of reading at home will contribute to your child’s reading mileage; it can be familiar books as well as new ones, comics, magazines, newspapers, the list is endless!!
Getting the most out of reading with your child...
Familiar books
Books that children have read more than once are considered ‘familiar’ texts, and are an important part of the early literacy journey. Reading books that are easy over and over again helps children to practise reading fluently, which means that reading sounds smooth and not choppy or robotic. It should sound like talking, with expression and intonation. Children need to read familiar books many times before their reading is quick, expressive and like spoken language. Good fluency leads to good comprehension, an easier transition to the next reading level and it increases confidence.
Remember, it is not necessary to have a new book every day and it is good if your child returns to a book that they have chosen in the past.
Take a sneak peek yourself before you read it together
This will enable you to give your child a brief overview of what the story is about, the characters’ names and activities and a sense of where to direct your conversation to ‘activate’ related vocabulary and/or any prior life experiences that will help your child connect on an emotional level to the book.
Have a quick look through the pictures together before reading the book; talk about the story and the characters
Looking through the pictures prior to reading will give the reader clues about the story, and will help them to predict what is coming up as they tackle the words and phrases on each page. It also helps refresh the reader’s memory for new vocabulary and character’s names to avoid stumbling on them in the middle of a sentence.
Take turns reading
Your reading sets an example and the pace for your time together. It also helps you get through more stories in less time! Another perk? Reading comprehension. An experienced reader can bring characters to life with exaggerated voices, sound effects and expression. Another advantage of shared reading is that both partners can be listening to ensure that what is being read makes sense.
Keep it short and sweet!
A parent knows their own child best. Goal number one is to ensure an enjoyment of books and reading. Light hearted fun, praise for a great time together and some laughter is a positive outcome.
There are also super tips here on how to read with your child, whatever age:
http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/children/how-to-share-books/top-tips-on-sharing-books/
Finding time to read at home
Everyone is incredibly busy; finding time to read with your child can often be a challenge. BookTrust have some fabulous ideas to help with this. Check out the BookTrust website:
How to find little pockets of time to fill with family reading.
Top tips from Julia Donaldson for reading at home
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/reading-owl/top-tips--3/julia-donaldsons-top-tips
Ideas for great books to share
If you are looking for help when choosing suitable books for your children to read then have a look at one of these websites, they are great for finding out about all things bookish! There are recommended book lists for different age groups, news and blogs and occasional competitions or incentives. Enjoy!
https://www.booksfortopics.com/ages/
www.telegraph.co.uk/childrens-books/100-best-childrens-books-of-all-time
E books to read at home
Log on to www.oxfordowl.co.uk to find lots of fabulous E books. Just another way to keep up your child's reading mileage!
The children will use the website at school but you can create your own profile at home, it's free and great fun.
A member of Inspira Academy Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales, with company number 13188733.