Reading
‘When I read great literature, great drama, speeches, or sermons, I feel that the human mind has not achieved anything greater than the ability to share feelings and thoughts through language.’
James Earl Jones
At Shirley Heath, we believe that equipping our children with the skills to read fluently and confidently with good understanding, as well as acquiring a wide vocabulary, will ensure successful participation in society. Reading enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know and, in turn, good comprehension draws on children’s knowledge of the world. Consequently, our aim is for all children to develop and maintain positive attitudes to reading widely for both pleasure and information.
Children are taught Reading Comprehension, for approximately half an hour four times per week. Weekly lessons focus on vocabulary, fluency and comprehension strategies. In Years 3 & 4 we focus on fluency by using the EEF recommended Reading Theatre.
Children are exposed to a wide range of quality texts that either support their Literacy writing or where children already possess relevant background knowledge to aid with comprehension. These texts are the basis for the explicit teaching of the suite of reading comprehension skills and new vocabulary as well as discussions with the teacher. Throughout KS2 children will study fiction, non-fiction, poetry and play scripts each year. Reading is embedded across the curriculum, where teachers seek opportunities for children to use their comprehension skills and further develop their vocabulary.
Children’s reading is carefully monitored and assessed throughout the year and timely, effective interventions are put in place to support children that require it. Any child that joins us with gaps in their phonics knowledge are identified quickly and phonic interventions groups take place using the Read, Write, Inc. scheme of work.
Each child has access to school library books and online eBooks that are in line with their reading age and ability. Children’s independent reading is monitored with the use of Accelerated Reader, ensuring that their progress is carefully checked throughout the year. There are daily independent reading and class story time sessions. In addition, children produce work for a weekly newsletter showcasing their Reading in class that week, we hold celebratory reading events and book swaps, as well as a number of one-off reading events each year, all of which contribute to the positive reading environment at Shirley Heath.
Click below for tips from Cressida Cowell, the Children's Laureate.