Reading at Upperthong
Reading for pleasure
At Upperthong, we endeavour to develop a passion for reading into our children from the beginning. All classes take part in daily quiet reading sessions, enjoy regular story time sessions and visit our school library each week. As well as this, children love taking part in our regular reading events - including World Book Day and enjoy celebrating books and authors throughout the year especially with our close links with local bookshop Read in Holmfirth,.
How we Teach Reading
Reading is given high priority at Upperthong and is threaded throughout our curriculum.
Reading skills are taught daily as a discrete lesson (Whole Class Reading/Practice Reading session), during which, time is spent on vocabulary and comprehension.
Early Reading
From Reception to Year 2 we have daily phonics sessions that follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised phonics scheme. This teaches children the sounds and tricky words needed to support them with their early reading and writing.
The children take home one book a week which is they have used in their phonics teaching/activities throughout the week and linked with the phase of phonics they’re working on, along with a ‘reading for pleasure’ book when they’re ready. They are encouraged to share both of these books with an adult.
Reading in Key Stages One and Two
Throughout school, children are encouraged to read regularly and have books available to them within the colour-banded scheme, class libraries and whole school library. Children’s reading and book choices are monitored to ensure that they are reading often and changing books regularly.
The DFE have produced some top tips on reading with your child:
1. Encourage your child to read
Reading helps your child’s wellbeing, develops imagination and has educational benefits too. Just a few minutes a day can have a big impact on children of all ages.
2. Read aloud regularly
Try to read to your child every day. It’s a special time to snuggle up and enjoy a story. Stories matter and children love re-reading them and poring over the pictures. Try adding funny voices to bring characters to life.
3. Encourage reading choice
Give children lots of opportunities to read different things in their own time - it doesn’t just have to be books. There’s fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comics, magazines, recipes and much more. Try leaving interesting reading material in different places around the home and see who picks it up.
4. Read together
Choose a favourite time to read together as a family and enjoy it. This might be everyone reading the same book together, reading different things at the same time, or getting your children to read to each other. This time spent reading together can be relaxing for all.
5. Create a comfortable environment
Make a calm, comfortable place for your family to relax and read independently - or together.
6. Make use of your local library
Libraries in England are able to open from 4 July, so visit them when you’re able to and explore all sorts of reading ideas. Local libraries also offer brilliant online materials, including audiobooks and e-books to borrow. See Libraries Connected for more digital library services and resources.
7. Talk about books
This is a great way to make connections, develop understanding and make reading even more enjoyable. Start by discussing the front cover and talking about what it reveals and suggests the book could be about. Then talk about what you’ve been reading and share ideas. You could discuss something that happened that surprised you, or something new that you found out. You could talk about how the book makes you feel and whether it reminds you of anything.
8. Bring reading to life
You could try cooking a recipe you’ve read together. Would you recommend it to a friend? Alternatively, play a game where you pretend to be the characters in a book, or discuss an interesting article you’ve read.
9. Make reading active
Play games that involve making connections between pictures, objects and words, such as reading about an object and finding similar things in your home. You could organise treasure hunts related to what you’re reading. Try creating your child’s very own book by using photos from your day and adding captions.
10. Engage your child in reading in a way that suits them
You know your child best and you’ll know the best times for your child to read. If they have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) then short, creative activities may be the way to get them most interested. If English is an additional language, encourage reading in a child’s first language, as well as in English. What matters most is that they enjoy it.