READING
Reading consists of two main areas:
- Word reading
- Comprehension (both listening and reading)
Skilled word reading involves both the speedy working out of the pronunciation of unfamiliar printed words (decoding) and the speedy recognition of familiar printed words. Underpinning both is the understanding that the letters on the page represent the sounds in spoken words. This is why phonics should be emphasised in the early teaching of reading to beginners (ie unskilled readers) when they start school.
Good comprehension draws from linguistic knowledge (in particular of vocabulary and grammar) and on knowledge of the world. Comprehension skills develop through pupils’ experience of high-quality discussion with the teacher, as well as from reading and discussing a range of stories, poems and non-fiction.
All pupils are encouraged to read widely across both fiction and non-fiction to develop their knowledge of themselves and the world they live in, to establish an appreciation and love of reading, and to gain knowledge across the curriculum. Reading widely and often increases pupils’ vocabulary because they encounter words they would rarely hear or use in everyday speech. Reading also feeds pupils’ imagination and opens up a treasure house of wonder and joy for curious young minds.
Here at Haslington Primary Academy, we use the Read Write Inc scheme to introduce reading skills. (More information can be found in the Early Literacy section of the website). Once children successfully complete the scheme, they transition to a focused RWI Comprehension based group and carry out individualised reading assessments to help determine which level book they are reading at. These coloured ‘book bands’ then continue through to Year 6. Children from Years 1-6 also develop their comprehension skills in their main English lessons based on the Read to Write scheme as well as through focused guided reading sessions each week.
The importance of daily personalised reading practice cannot be overstated. Recent studies indicate that when students spend 25 minutes a day reading suitably challenging books which they successfully comprehend (demonstrated by achieving 90% or more on the reading practice quiz), then children will achieve optimal progress. Through the use of home reading journals, we actively encourage parental engagement to support reading development at home.