Reading
Reading is at the heart of our school curriculum here at Grimsargh St Michael’s.
It is woven through the wider curriculum ensuring that reading is always a priority. Our objective is ‘to develop a reading environment and reading culture across the school community’ which will support out aim ‘to encourage all children to be lifelong readers’.
Here is our bespoke reading leaflet to help reading with your child at home:
Reading with Children
Reading at Home
Fostering a love of reading is something we are passionate about at Grimsargh St Michael’s. You can support your child to access the whole curriculum by simply listening to them read, by reading to them and by asking them questions about the books you share.
We encourage you, as first educators, to listen to your child read every night for approximately 10-20 minutes depending on the year group. This time should be a combination of listening to them read aloud, followed by and including discussion about what they have read using some of the questions contained in this booklet.
For those children who find reading a challenge, you could also take it in turns to read a page aloud.
The conversation between you and your child when listening to them read is as important as encouraging them to read fluently.
For children in the upper juniors who are competent readers, reading should take place for sustained periods. This can be with an adult or independently; we would encourage a combination of both. At home, please check they are reading suitable and challenging books, are understanding what they are reading, and support their under-standing of tricky vocabulary.
Reading Books
Reception
Phonics Bug /Little Blend/Word Sparks (fully decodable and matched to the Red Rose Letters and Sounds phonics scheme)
Children will have their books changed once or twice a week depending on ability. The phonics books are fully decodable and matched to your child’s reading ability and phonics phase. The children will also bring home a library book; these books will not be fully decodable and should be for shared reading at home. These have been chosen to support developing comprehension skills, vocabulary understanding and a love of reading.
Year 1
Phonics Bug/Little Blend/Word Sparks (fully decodable and matched to the Red Rose Letters and Sounds phonics scheme)
Children will have their books changed weekly. The phonics books are fully decodable and matched to your child’s reading ability and phonics phase. The children will also bring home a library book; these books will not be fully decodable and should be for shared reading at home. These have been chosen to support developing comprehension skills, vocabulary understanding and a love of reading.
Year 2
Oxford Reading Tree/Phonics Bug books/Little Blend Books/Word Sparks
Children will have two books changed once a week. Most children will be reading Oxford Reading Tree levelled books as they are secure with their phonics knowledge. Any children who require phonics support will continue to read fully decodable books matched to their phonic ability. The children will also bring home a library book; these books will not be fully decodable and should be for shared reading at home. These have been chosen to support developing comprehension skills, vocabulary understanding and a love of reading.
Year 3
Oxford Reading Tree levels
Children will be encourage to change their books frequently (usually once per week). Some higher ability readers may become ‘free readers’ once they have progressed through the reading levels, these children will be encouraged and supported to choose challenging novels and non-fiction books suitable to their reading ability. The children will also be encourage to take home books from the library to develop a love of wider reading.
Year 4
Oxford Reading Tree levels
Children will be encourage to change their books frequently (usually once per week). Some higher ability readers may become ‘free readers’ once they have progressed through the reading levels, these children will be encouraged and supported to choose challenging novels and non-fiction books suitable to their reading ability. The children will also be encourage to take home books from the library to develop a love of wider reading.
Year 5
Oxford Reading Tree levels
Children will be encouraged to change their books as frequently as needed. Some higher ability readers may become ‘free readers’ once they have progressed through the reading levels, these children will be encouraged and supported to choose challenging novels and non-fiction books suitable to their reading ability. The children will also be encourage to take home books from the library to develop a love of wider reading.
Year 6
Oxford Reading Tree levels
Children will be encouraged to change their books as frequently as needed, however this is likely to be less frequently due to children reading longer novels. Once children have progressed through the reading levels they will become ‘free-readers’; these children will be encouraged and supported to choose challenging novels and non-fiction books suitable to their reading ability. The children will also be encourage to take home books from the library to develop a love of wider reading.
Children who require additional reading support in Key Stage 2 may continue reading Phonics Bug books alongside phonics interventions in school. We also may support your child’s readings using the Barrington Stoke reading books (for struggling readings/dyslexia friendly/reluctant readers) or the Reading Recover Books.
Oxford Owl e-book Library
If you would like access to e-books at home, here is the link to the Oxford Owl e-book library where you will find a range of books to read and enjoy at home that are suitable for your reading ability.
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/
Log in to the school/student area using the class username provided by your class teacher. Click ‘Oxford Owl e-book Library’ and change the settings to suit your age and reading level.
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Useful Resources and Websites National Literacy Trust Virtual Library: https://wordsforlife.org.uk/virtual-school-library/ Books for Topics – Storytime Online: books for topics storytime online Sooper Books audio books: https://sooperbooks.com/bedtime-stories Oxford Owl for Home: Love Reading for Kids activities: https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/kids-zone/ Book Trust Home Time: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/have-some-fun/ Reading Zone Activities: https://www.readingzone.com/ |
Sooper Books has kindly donated all of their award-winning stories and audiobooks to our school. Please use the following links to access the stories and audiobooks free of charge from school or from home:
Bedtime stories — a selection of the world’s best 5-10 minute bedtime stories and audiobooks
Fairy tales — a selection of classic fairy tales retold in a modern and fun way
Sooper Series — a selection of original stories in episode format. Each episode is a separate 10-15 minute story
Rhymes & Poems — a selection of 3-5 minute funny rhymes
Aesop’s fables — a selection of 3-5 minute moral tales, retold in a fun and modern way”
Reading Lists
Below you will find the recommended reading lists for each year group.
Extra Reading Links: Free website links for books