Supporting students with Literacy at home   

READING 

“Reading is the Gateway for children that makes all other learning possible”    

                                                                      Barack Obama 

Reading really is the key to success. The National Literacy Trust research highlights the link between enjoyment of reading and attainment and shows that the longer children can keep an enjoyment of reading going, the greater the benefits in the classroom. Twelve-year-olds who enjoy reading have a reading age 2.1 years higher than their peers who don’t enjoy reading and this rises to a gap of 3.3 years for fourteen-year-olds. 

Suggestions what you can do to support your child’s reading at home. 

• Make time to read. Set a regular time to read together during the day so your child has a reading routine. Little and often works best. Reading for just 30 minutes a day can make a huge difference.  

• Let your child choose what to read. Join your local library for free and your child can pick from a wide selection of books that suit his/her interests. 

• Take regular trips to the library with your child. Explore what is available in the children’s section or young adult section together or ask the librarian to recommend suitable books. Often, students think they don’t enjoy reading but, in many instances, this is because they have not found the right book. Asking for advice from librarians and teachers is important. There’s a book out there for everyone!  

• If your child is a reluctant reader of fiction, encourage reading through different reading materials and formats. As well as fiction, there is a world of comics, magazines, e-books, read-along audio books and non-fiction for your child to discover.                                         

If your child is struggling to read, share strategies with them about what they can do to breakdown the text. Talk to your child’s English teacher so you can build on the strategies they are using to break down the text. Common strategies include asking questions breaking down sentences into units of meaning and using different strategies to work out the meaning of new words (Word Attack strategies.)  All students in Year 7 have access to Accelerated Reader, Bedrock and some students have access to Lexia, and they will be given their log in details in Term 1.  Encourage your child to complete these activities carefully and ask them about how it will help them to read for understanding in all subjects. All students at SCA will be aware of the reading process and this structure supports students in becoming better readers.                                                                                         

• Be positive. Praise your child for trying hard at their reading and let them know it is okay to make mistakes. This will encourage them to show determination and continue reading for pleasure.  

• Talk to your child about what they are reading so reading becomes a social and shared experience for them. Ask questions before they read, whilst they are reading and after they have read the book. This will bring the book to life for them and make reading more enjoyable. It will also support your child in reading well because questions will encourage them to reflect and evaluate what they read and make inferences. This will encourage your child to read for pleasure which increases their chance of becoming a lifelong reader. 

Questions to ask before your child has started reading the book 

• Why have you chosen this book? 

• Have you read any books by this author before? 

• Will this book challenge you? 

• Have you asked the librarian to recommend any other books by your favourite author? 

A lot of students read books from the same series and may not choose other books.  

For example, a lot of students read Horrid Henry, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and books by David Walliams and Jacqueline Wilson. It is important to read more challenging books i.e. books by different authors and books written before 1960. This will develop students’ reading skills, so they read well. 

Question to ask whilst your child is reading the book 

•  What has happened so far?  

•  What do you predict will happen? Why? 

•  Who is your favourite character so far? Why? 

Questions to ask after your child has read the book 

•  What happened in the book? Did it surprise you? Why? 

•  Who is your favourite character and why? 

•  Would you recommend this book to other students? Why? 

• What did you think about the author’s style of writing? 

•  Did it interest you as a reader? Why? 

Give books as treats and presents so children value reading and have a more positive attitude towards it.  

Model reading so your child sees you reading for pleasure and understands that reading is important. Talk to them about books you are enjoying or news articles that you have found interesting. Be a reading role model and if your child sees you enjoying and valuing books, they can be greatly inspired to read too.  

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Eccles Library

Supporting Children with Dyslexia

Bedrock https://bedrocklearning.org/

National Literacy Trust https://literacytrust.org.uk/

BookTrust https://www.booktrust.org.uk/

The British Library https://www.bl.uk/

Top 10 tips to help children enjoy reading https://www.pearson.com/uk/learners/primary-parents/learn-at-home/help-your-child-to-enjoy-reading/top-10-tips-to-help-children-enjoy-reading.html

Waterstones - Book Lists  https://www.waterstones.com/book-lists

World Book Day https://www.worldbookday.com/

100 fiction books all children should read before leaving secondary school https://www.tes.com/news/100-fiction-books-all-children-should-read-leaving-secondary-school-according-teachers