Reading Workshop for PARENTS 30th October 2017

Why is Reading Important? It helps children learn about the world in which they live. Good writing starts with good reading. It is a key skill needed to progress in all other subjects. Children learn how language works. Children develop a love of reading.

Three Aspects of Reading in Reception Whole word recognition Prediction picture grammar story Phonics Beginner readers will be practising one or more of these aspects until all three are used

Phonics A phonics approach focuses on learning to associate printed letters and combinations of letters with their corresponding sounds. Phonics instruction gives children strategies to unlock or decode words.

Letters and Sounds/Jolly Phonics Introduces new sounds starting with s, a, t, p, i, n Learn the names and the sounds the letters make. Practise blending these letters to make words. Practise segmenting these letters to make words. Practise letter formation (small and capital).

Letters and Sounds/Jolly Phonics As the scheme continues more sounds are introduced. There is time to revise the skills using previously learnt sounds. Continual practise recognising, reading, word building and letter formation with new sounds. Apply knowledge in word games and in sentences.

Naming the letters The alphabet song or alphabet game is sung/played at the end of most sessions. This helps children to learn the names of the letters. This also helps children to find the letters with ease for word building. Clearly identifying a ‘letter name’ as opposed to a sound.

At home please focus on the sounds the letters make and NOT the name.

This is essential for blending words. b - u - s = bus sh - o - p = shop c - oa - ch = coach

At home don’t be worried about giving a part of a word (like the oa in coat) and then letting the child sound and blend.

Example games: Sound bingo Sound snap Hunt for the sound Magnetic letters for letter finding and word building Buried treasure https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/BuriedTreasure2.htm l Chopped up sentences

Reading tricky words (non phonic) Some words are impossible for children to sound out. These are learnt through visual recognition. Your child will receive sets of eight look and say words/ HFW (high frequency words) All children are assessed on sight words and reading throughout the term and will be given the next set when they are ready.

Reading books At Mobberley Primary School we do not use one reading scheme, we believe it is essential that children experience a wide selection of books. In Reception, a member of staff listens to individual readers once a week. Children will also read to an adult helper. Children read once a week in small groups from the guided reading scheme. There are four formal English lessons per week in which the children will learn about various fiction and non fiction books.

Reading books We will assess your child’s reading on a regular basis. Each stage on the reading scheme is a coloured book band which is labelled on the side of the book. Children in Reception usually start on pink books and progress to red then yellow books. Children leaving Reception on blue books or beyond will be exceeding within reading. Children can be moved up a level where necessary. No need to read every book! Please come and see us if you feel your child is ready to move up a level.

Reading books We encourage children to read a range of different library books at home for variation including poems, non-fiction and comics. It is also beneficial to read a range of books to your children to immerse them in different language and vocabulary. The breadth of their reading helps them develop their speaking skills which also plays a key role in their ability to progress well with their writing.

Reading at home For early readers, daily reading practise at home is vital. Reading from child’s reading scheme book is important for progress. It is also of great benefit to read to your child from a book that is at a higher level than their own reading ability (library books) Word games e.g. Scrabble, Boggle, BBC Bitesize. Audio CDs.

Tips when reading with your child Discuss front cover and locate and read title. Predict what this book might be about. Walkthrough the book using the language used in the book. BE YOUR CHILDS READING FRIEND! USE PICTURES! Use a reading finger to track the words (pink and red books) model by tracking above the words as they track below. Tell your child the tricky word or sound if they cannot remember. Encourage them to use their phonic skills to sounds out the words you know they will be successful in blending.

Tips when reading with your child Notice the initial sound in words and encourage them to cross check this to the picture. Ask your child questions about the book (characters, events, setting, what might happen next.) Give children ‘Find It’ questions and ‘Prove It’ questions. • ‘Find It’ questions are literal questions – what colour was the ball? • ‘Prove It’ involves inference and deduction – why was the boy sad? Please sign your child’s reading diary.

All children start at different levels and will learn at different rates but your interest in their progress is crucial to their motivation.