Welcome Buddies! Today’s Training Objectives: To know what your role is and the commitment that is expected. To understand why the role is so important to the school

The Role… Every Friday during morning tutor time, you will be a buddy to a lower school reader. You will help the reader to: read aloud; pronounce and understand difficult words; think about what it is that they’re reading and, most importantly; enjoy what they are reading.

You are going to be a role model….. …for reading: If you are going to promote reading, what kind of attitude do you think you need to show towards reading?

Helping your buddy to engage with successful reading Always, wherever possible, ensure that the text is one that will interest the buddy that you are working with. How would you do this?

Pre-Reading Show the book and say the title and the genre and ask your buddy what they think the book might be about. Why do you think this helps reading skills?

Pre-Reading If a “blurb” is available, look at it together and ask your buddy – “what is this book about?” Why do you think this helps reading skills? Summarising and prior knowledge is important to understanding.

Reading Encourage your buddy to read as independently as possible Help them to blend words using phonetics.

Reading Always encourage your buddy to have a go – try to prompt before giving / telling them what the word is. Why do you think this helps reading skills?

Reading Help your buddy to access the book by questioning their understanding? Questions like – do you know what that word means? Why do you think the writer used that word? Can you tell me what’s just happened?

Use specific praise It is important to use specific praise. This will instil confidence in your buddy and they will understand exactly what they have done well. i.e. “well done, that was a really hard word!” “well done, that was really good reading aloud” “You’ve done really well with some hard words today.”

Specifics:

Managing your Sessions: Reading Folder: Use this to store your Reading Buddy documents / evidence of the activities and reading that you do with your buddy. Review the contents regularly as a way to praise and encourage your buddy. The folder must remain in school and be returned to the box in the LRC. Reading Record: This needs to be completed at the end of every session. Make sure you tell your buddy what you are recording. You could ask them for comments too and write these down. It should be a positive record of what has been achieved. Register: Ensure that both you and your buddy ‘sign in’ for each session. Using the LRC: Find a comfortable space to sit and read or use the tables if that’s more appropriate to what you want to do. Remember this is a quiet space so manage your voice and behaviour appropriately.

Contract You are asked to sign a Reading Buddy Contract. By signing the contract you are stating, in writing, your commitment to the reading buddy programme. Sign and return the contract to me now (excluding the additional meeting time which you will agree with your buddy.)

The First Meeting Your first meeting should be a social one where you get to know your buddy. Bring something you like to read e.g. a favourite book or magazine. Ask your reading buddy some questions to find our more about their reading likes/dislikes: What is your favourite book(s)? What do you like to read about? What book are you reading at the moment? What book did you read before that? Do you enjoy fiction and non-fiction? Do you enjoy fantasy? Mystery? Real life? Romance? Action? Make a record of this and store it in your Reading Record Folder. Make sure your reading buddy knows that he/she can choose the books you will read together.

What happens next? Come to the LRC on Friday at morning tutor time and you will meet your buddy. Make sure that you agree the additional meeting time with your buddy and complete the contract.

Welcome Buddies! Today’s Training Objectives: To know what your role is and the commitment that is expected. To understand why the role is so important to the school