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Reading information for parents

Reading with your child

Children need a range of reading materials and the home-reading books your child brings home will have been self-selected from a range of banded books they have been assessed in. These books will be at a carefully assessed instructional level . They will help them to be relaxed about reading and become more confident.

Before you read

Try to find a quiet place away from distractions like television.
It might help to have a regular time to read: before breakfast? When she/he gets home from school?
A short time each day is better than half an hour each week.

Find time to talk about the book

Start with the title, look at the cover and briefly chat about what you might find inside.

As you read, encourage your child to predict what might happen next.

Use a dictionary or thesaurus and use it to check the meanings of new words.

Making mistakes when reading

If your child misreads a word without changing the meaning, e.g. ‘Dad’ for ‘Father’, accept it. If they hesitate, repeat a word or leave one out, say nothing provided the meaning is not lost.

If they say a word which does change the meaning, or they are simply stuck, you can help them by;

Pointing to the picture if it is relevant
Asking a question to remind them of the context, e.g. ‘Where did they say they were going?’
Re-reading the sentence up to the unknown word to remind them of the context
Saying or pointing to the first letter of the word
Telling your child the word to avoid losing momentum and understanding
If the word can be read easily by sounding out the letters, encourage them or help them to do this.

PAUSE to help them work out the new words.

PROMPT by using some of the techniques mentioned.

PRAISE them for trying whether they are right or wrong.

It is important to use as many clues as possible to help your child when they find something a bit difficult.

When you have finished reading

Encourage your child to retell the story you have just shared. This will give you an idea of how much they have understood. You can help them summarise and respond to the book by asking -What happened in the story? Does this remind them of anything in their lives or anything they have read before? Did they think the book was funny? Did they spot any interesting words and phrases? Did they enjoy the book? What might happen next? Would they recommend the book to a friend and why?

What else can your child read?

Encourage your child to pick the kinds of books or texts which she/he enjoys; reading is for pleasure!

Comics
Magazines
Travel brochures
Instructions or recipes
What’s on television tonight
Information books
Newspapers
Poems
Recorded stories
Sports Reports
Shopping lists

“If you want your child to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want your child to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales” Albert Einstein.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.

Useful reading links for parent

Please find below some examples of websites that have a range of games, activities, printable resources and information for parents/carers that are suitable for children of all ages to enjoy and develop their skills across the English curriculum.

www.readwithphonics.com

Play phonics games that link to the Letters and Sounds program that is used at Four Oaks. Practice a range of phonics skills from blending and segmenting, grapheme recognition, word comprehension and more! A phonics guide is also available for parents to read.

www.phonicsplay.co.uk

Interactive phonics games, printable resources and advice for parents.

www.lettersandsounds.com

Printable resources and phonics games.

www.phonicsbloom.com

Interactive online phonics games and information for parents.

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zt3rkqt

Online games and activities for KS1 and KS2.

www.everyschool.co.uk/english

Online games and activities to develop children’s reading and writing skills

www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games

Online games and activities for children of all ages linked to the English curriculum