At KEPS, we just love reading and writing!
During the school day, children may read in small groups or 1-to-1 with an adult, with a peer, as a whole class or even as a whole key-stage during one of our “author assemblies”. They may listen to audio CDs of favourite books and enjoy ‘story time’ with their teacher. Whatever the reading activity, we place a strong emphasis on high quality ‘book talk’ whereby all children are able to discuss and unpick carefully chosen, high quality texts. We expose children to a wide range of texts, styles and genres, including stories, non-fiction and poetry and both classic and contemporary texts. We use a variety of reading schemes and books linked to current interests and topics to support the children’s reading development. We believe that, at all levels, good quality reading is invaluable for good quality writing!
Home Learning Ideas
Words for Life (National Literacy Trust)
Home School Book Guide – Recommended Reads
Places to read, watch or listen to stories online
https://my.risingstars-uk.com/Default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fCourseHome.aspx%3fcsid%3d9781510417700&csid=9781510417700
Bring Hogwarts to You: Famous Faces reading extracts of the Harry Potter books
Storyline Online – real stories read by real people!
myON – free e-books and news articles
Story Time from Space – books read from the International Space Station!
The Book Trust – stories to read or watch
Cressida Cowell – How to Train Your Dragon (Youtube)
READING AT HOME
Research shows that learning to read and developing a love for reading, is directly linked to a child’s success at school. A child who reads for 20 minutes every day is 5 times more likely to reach the level expected at the end of their year.’ This therefore, has to be worth doing!
After your child has finished their reading encourage them to talk about the book, try finding out
- What happened in the text?
- What did you find out?
- Can you describe the setting, character?
- What is your favourite part?
- What do you think this word means?
- What do you think will happen next?
Games and activities are a good way to help your child deepen their understanding of the book –
- How many times can you find the word …?
- How many words can you spot ending with …? i.e. ‘ing’
- Can you spot a word with your phonic sounds for this week?
- Your pile/My pile – quick recall of key words if they get it they keep it!
- Jump on it! – for those that like to move – place flash cards on the floor – children to jump on the correct word
- Word bingo – select key words from text – tick them off as you read them
- Cut up sentence – write a sentence from the text, cut it up into words – child to re-make the sentence
