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’.
Helping your child with reading at home: 7_Top_Tips_to_Support_Reading_at_Home
Reading at Home
Fostering a love of reading is something we are passionate about at Grimsargh St Michael’s, and you can really support your child in being able 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, thus, encourage you, as parents/carers, to read and listen to your child read every night (this only needs to be for 10/15 minutes). For children in the upper juniors who are competent readers, children should be reading for more sustained periods and also independently, which we encourage, but please check they are reading suitable books, are understanding what they are reading, and support their understanding 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.
Reading Lists
Below you will find the recommended reading lists for each year group.
Extra Reading Links:
Free website links for books